Being off work
Covered in this section:
Should your job be kept open if you are off sick?
Can my employer terminate my contract on medical grounds?
What is disability leave ?
Disability Champions
If you are in work and become disabled through illness, an accident or a medical condition, you may be worried about returning to work or whether your employer has an obligation to keep your job open for you.
Phased return to work - a gradual build up of hours - is the most common method used to help workers go back to work after a period of sickness absence. Failing to provide the facility often results in taking time off-sick again. Phased return to work arrangements should be organised by the patient/employee and occupational health or human resources department at work, taking advice for managers, rehabilitation case managers, health carer providers (GP, nurse, occupational therapist, counsellor, occupational health adviser) or other agencies, such as the Employment Service Access to Work Team, and disability associations.
Direct.Gov-Support while in work
Unison- About Disability Leave
Should your job be kept open if you are off sick?
If you are in work and become disabled through illness, an accident or a medical condition, you may be worried about returning to work or whether your employer has an obligation to keep your job open for you.
Direct.Gov-Support while in work
Can my employer terminate my contract on medical grounds?
Do you have problems at work for any reason including disability, harassment, discrimination? Are you facing disciplinary action? Are you failing to get employment because of some disability or discrimination problem?
Legal entitlements when you are ill
Consumer action group messageboard
Employees with disabilities are already entitled to have reasonable adjustments made to the workplace or to working practices in order to assist them. Time off for medical appointments, treatments or rehabilitation relating to disability may, therefore, be regarded as a ‘reasonable adjustment’ in relation to employees regarded as disabled under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). Most workplaces would give consideration in the first instance to flexible working and where this is not possible, then disability leave could be given. Where it is in operation, Disability leave is paid and recorded as such. It should not be confused with sickness entitlement and a separate record should be kept.
Unison- What is Disability Leave?
Disability Champions are trade union representatives with an interest in disability issues. There around 900 Champions at present. They work in a full range of jobs; public and private sector, large organisations and small businesses. Some Champions consider themselves disabled some do not. Some are male, some are female. Some are young, some are not so young. The common thread is a desire to see genuine equality for disabled people in the world of work. There may be one in your area, or you may be able to get advice from them.
