There are many reasons why good staff members become poor performers and sometimes the cause is an illness. While you may have the greatest compassion for them, you still have a business to run.
What do you do when they are absent from work more often than they are present?
Step 1
Understand this is not a situation that can be remedied quickly. There is a process you need to follow and that takes time. Any attempt to short-circuit this process could have you in front of the Fair Work Tribunal.
Step 2
Establish whether the absences are due to a work-related health issue or just misfortune.
Step 3
If the illness is unrelated to work, your staff member is entitled to take all of his/her accumulated sick leave and annual leave. If they have been with you for several years, this accumulated leave may be substantial and possibly enough to cover their illness until they are well enough to begin a Return to Work program.
Step 4
If the unpaid absences accrue to 12 weeks or more in any 3 month period, you may be entitled to terminate the staff member on the basis they are “medically unfit for the job”.
Managing poor performance – including frequent or extended absences from work – are all tricky areas under employment law which you can’t afford to get wrong.
If you see there is a problem brewing, it’s best to act promptly so you can quickly regain control. The team at End2End are always available to help you with those tricky staff problems. For expert guidance, call us today on 02 8977 4002.