Advising new employees of sickness reporting arrangements
On taking up appointment all members of academic-related and university support staff should be informed of what to do when they are unable to attend work.
At the same time, new starters should be asked if they hold a leaver's statement - Form SSP 1 - issued by their former employer. (They may not have one; they are issued only if the person had at least one week's SSP in the eight weeks before his/her date of leaving). Any such statement should be sent immediately to the Salaries Section, a copy being kept in the department.
New employees should likewise be asked if they hold a 'linking' letter (referred to on the Sickness Absence Record Form (MS501) as an 'exclusion' letter), issued by the DSS at the end of a claim to state benefit such as sickness benefit, invalidity benefit or maternity allowance; and any existing members of staff, returning to work after receipt of such benefits, should likewise be asked to furnish the DSS 'linking' letter. Any 'linking' letters should be kept in your department, with a copy being sent to the Salaries Section for information.