🧠Managing Short Term Absence with Confidence - E-Learning Courses for Managers
Protect productivity and manage short term absence with confidence
As a business, you have a responsibility to
manage sickness absence fairly, consistently and lawfully.
In practice, this means you should:
- have clear absence and attendance policies in place
- set expectations around reporting, attendance and return to work
- equip managers to manage absence confidently and consistently
Getting this right helps ensure employees are supported appropriately, while maintaining fairness, performance and consistency across the business.
The Business Risk:
Poorly managed absence can quietly drain productivity and destabilise teams. Inconsistent approaches, delayed conversations or avoidance often lead to repeat absence, presenteeism, disengagement and reduced performance across teams.
Changes to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) in April 2026 increase the business cost. With SSP now payable from day one of absence, the direct cost of short-term sickness absence has increased for employers, particularly where absence is frequent, unmanaged or poorly controlled. This can now quickly add up financially.
From a legal perspective, absence management is also a common area of exposure. Poor handling can lead to discrimination claims, particularly where health conditions, disability or mental health are involved. Inconsistent treatment, lack of documentation, or poorly handled conversations can significantly weaken an organisation’s position.
Many businesses underestimate the true cost of absence, which includes not only SSP, but also management time, cover arrangements, lost productivity and the impact on wider team morale. Without clear processes and confident management, absence issues are allowed to drift, increasing both cost and risk over time.
The Solution:
Our absence management training helps you take a
clear, structured and proportionate approach to managing absence. We give managers the tools they need to act early, confidently and fairly.
Our training turns policy into practice. Managers learn how to recognise patterns, hold effective return-to-work and informal meetings, apply processes consistently, and balance wellbeing with clear expectations. Providing
realistic scenarios, practical tools and clear guidance, we help managers support employees effectively while protecting the organisation.
What the e-learning covers:
- Understanding short-term sickness absence and why early management matters
- Recognising absence patterns and potential underlying issues
- How to hold effective return-to-work and informal absence conversations
- Responding appropriately to absence concerns, including when and how to escalate
- Supporting wellbeing while maintaining clear attendance expectations
- Legal considerations to ensure fair, consistent absence management
Format: 3½-hour interactive module with realistic scenarios, reflection activities and knowledge checks
Perfect For:
All Supervisors, Managers and Senior Leaders
- Businesses that want managers to handle absence confidently and consistently
- Creating reliable, healthy teams
- Supporting fair, consistent absence management practices
How It Works:
Documentation Support - We provide easy to use templates within the e-learning module to ensure you have consistent and fair practices in place
Quick Setup - We configure the modules for your business and branding
Easy Deployment - Send secure links to participants or integrate with your systems
Progress Tracking - Monitor completion rates and individual progress
Completion Certificates - Automatic certificates for compliance records
Ongoing Support - Technical support and content updates included
Investment: £90 + VAT per learner. Discounts available for bulk purchases of over 5 learners. Please contact us for a quote. 
