Absence Management

Select the dotted underlined words for a definition.

It may become necessary for the employee to leave the workplace for a period of time to focus on regaining their health.

Note

For non-occupational absences, managers should refer to the Road Map for Managing Long Term Sick Leave which illustrates and summarizes required key actions and links to necessary templates and forms.

It is important that the manager and employee be aware of the Treasury Board Secretariat Directive on Leave and Special Working Arrangements – Appendix B and Policy on Injury-on-Duty Leave.

Key steps

  1. When an employee is experiencing a health-related situation Footnote 1, it is important to let their manager know immediately if they will be away from work and keep their manager up to date on the anticipated duration of the leave of absence.
  2. The employee has to provide their manager with the necessary medical information in order to substantiate their leave of absence including any subsequent extensions.
  3. The manager and employee should discuss income maintenance Footnote 2 options.
  4. The employee's leave must be kept current. Managers must provide leave forms Footnote 3 to the employee for completion and the employee should ensure the leave forms are completed and returned on a timely basis. The manager will sign the leave forms and submit a request through the Human Resources Service Centre Web Application. Copies of the leave forms must be attached to the request.
  5. The manager and employee will discuss the prognosis for a potential return-to-work throughout the period of leave. Returning to work when it is healthy and safe to do so is the primary objective.

Best Practices

It is important for the manager and employee to maintain on-going communication throughout the period of leave. Frequency of contacts as well as means to communicate (in person, telephone or e-mail) should be discussed and agreed upon. See the Staying Connected Tool (DOCX, 31 KB) for details.

As a manager, if you intend to backfill the position of an employee on sick leave without pay, please see the Backfilling Positions in Sick Leave Without Pay Situations page.