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Management grade changes for delivery of sick leave procedures in Jobcentre Plus

DWP/BB/086/07

Inefficient and ineffective practices

Jobcentre Plus has overreacted to recent sickness absence statistics, showing an increase in working days lost, with a decision which will introduce inefficient and ineffective practices for delivery to day to day procedures.

Jobcentre Plus has decided that the first call checklist, and welcome back discussion, should be completed by senior grade managers (band D or even E/F) rather than the line manager.

This decision does not change the requirements for procedural fairness under the attendance management procedures. The DWP policy and procedure for sick leave and attendance management are unchanged. The only change in Jobcentre Plus is the grade of managers who may deliver the procedures. This change has not been agreed by PCS.

Procedural fairness standards

Branches should ensure that the change of grade is not allowed to impact on procedural fairness. Areas of concern include compliance with minimum standards which require:

  • Dismissal/demotion decision makers and appeal managers must have had no previous involvement in the case (attendance procedures para 6.5 and 7.0)
  • A formal meeting with the decision maker at each stage of the procedures (attendance policy paras 6 and 21)
  • Decision makers for improvement warnings must be the manager who hears the employees case at the formal meeting (attendance procedures para 3).

Guidance for members

PCS has not agreed any changes for the delivery of sick leave procedures in Jobcentre Plus.

PCS will continue to demand that DWP needs to attack the causes of sickness in the workplace not the victims of sickness.

Circular DWP/MB/031/07, from sick leave to welcome back discussions, has been issued to provide members with guidance on sick leave procedures and the right to procedural fairness.

PCS will always support members not imposed policies.

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      1. DWP cuts support for employee health conditions from 11 April 2011
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      5. Informal meetings for attendance management changes and PCS support for members
      6. Attendance review meetings and trade union representation
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      8. Attendance management backsliding procedure and the law at work
      9. Sick leave procedures updated
      10. Management grade changes for delivery of sick leave procedures in Jobcentre Plus
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      12. Attendance management: transparency, justice and fairness requirements
      13. Attendance management procedures: PCS compliance check
      14. Removal of work related stress absence category on RMS
      15. Attendance management and the employment equality (age) regulations
      16. Attendance management: clarification and confusion from 22 November 2007
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      19. Attendance management and consideration point reasonable adjustments
      20. DWP attendance management policy - unagreed, unfair and unacceptable
      21. Attendance management quarterly review meeting - April 2008
      22. HR briefing 001 - managing attendance for managers
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      25. Swine Flu Pandemic and Sick Leave in DWP
      26. Sick Absence and Statutory Annual Leave
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      28. Abolition of "must give a warning" policy
      29. “One off” absences
      30. Manager’s Discretion and Twelve Special Circumstances
      31. Focusing on back pain – revised DWP advice
      32. Attendance Management Changes from 25 January 2010 - for Case Conferences, SCS Engagement and OHS Referrals
      33. From sick note to fit note – work focused sick leave procedures
      34. First Call checklist – notifying sick leave in DWP
      35. Attendance Management - Return to work from long term absence & unfair dismissal
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