Sickness Absence Management Policy

16.Seeking a medical opinion

1. 16.1.

   At any time in operating this Policy, the Council may require employees to attend a medical examination by Occupational Health (OH).

2. 16.2.Employees will be asked for their consent to have full access to their medical reports and to discuss the contents with the relevant medical practitioner. They do not have to consent, but if they don't, a decision may be made based on existing medical and other information available.

3. 16.3.The final decisions about how to deal with an employee's sickness absence, and the impact on their employment situation, are managerial, not medical. However, the Council will seek medical advice where work is affecting an employee's health or where an employee's health is affecting their work, in order to help shape decisions being made. Due to this, the timing of an Occupational Health referral will depend on the particular circumstances of each case.

4. 16.4.Employees who feel they are fit to work but their line manager does not, will be put on medical suspension and need to be referred to Occupational Health as soon as it is decided they are not fit for work.

5. 16.5.The role of Occupational Health is to provide impartial guidance to the Council and its employees on the employee's ability to undertake their duties and what measures may be put in place to support them, where appropriate.