title: Sickness absence.
abstract: NHS Employers has launched a free online tool to improve the management of staff sick leave in the NHS. The tool is designed to help managers adopt a confident and consistent approach, and provides step-by-step information about what to do when staff call in sick, practical advice on some of the common reasons for sickness absence, and information on what to do if staff are off sick frequently or are on long-term sick leave. It also has information about managing return to work and how to prevent sickness absence. Visit the microsite at www.nhsemployers.org/sickness.