Managing Sickness Absence in the Police Service

A Review of Current Practices

Hayday S, Broughton A, Tyers C | Research Report RR582 | Health and Safety Executive | Aug 2007

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The Home Office and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) were working together to reduce the number of working days lost to ill health and/or injury in the police forces of England and Wales.

They commissioned this review of absence policies and management in seven police forces to inform the process.

This review is intended to be used by the Home Office and HSE to develop measures to improve current practice in line with the Ministerial Task Force (MTF) on Health, Safety and Productivity aims and the drive to improve public sector efficiency.

It presents an in-depth analysis of absence management in the case study forces and identifies the clear themes and issues which are vital for the effective management of absence.