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Swine Flu Pandemic and Sick Leave in DWP

DWP/BB/077/09

DWP guidance for HR policy adaptations

The Departmental Trade Union Side (DTUS) is being informed and consulted about the implementation of DWP contingency planning for the swine flu pandemic on a day to day basis.

Within the Department very small numbers of staff have been confirmed with swine flu. DWP has issued guidance on adaptations of HR Policies, including special leave, sick leave and attendance management, to HR Directors, Shared Services and HR Business Partners. This guidance is for limited, not general distribution but Q&A advice for staff is being issued on the DWP Intranet.

Sick pay

Confirmed cases of swine flu will not count towards any calculation of contractual sick pay. This means that these absences will not cause employees to tip into the half and nil pay categories.

In cases where the employee is thought to have swine flu but it is subsequently confirmed that they do not, then the time they had off sick with suspected swine flu will count towards any calculation of contractual sick pay.

Attendance management

An absence due to swine flu, or suspected swine flu, will be disregarded under attendance management and not cause a warning, dismissal or failure of probation. This will apply even if the employee is subsequently confirmed not to have swine flu.

Any local attempt to apply warning, or dismissal, procedures for absence as a direct result of pandemic flu must be reported to Group Office immediately.

PCS advice for representatives

Advice for Representatives has been provided to Branches in Branch Briefing DWP/BB/073/09, dated 6 July 2009, issued by Rob Williams as PCS Group Assistant Secretary covering Health and Safety in DWP.

Representatives needing advice on swine flu should check the information sources highlighted in Branch Briefing DWP/BB/073/09. If there is a particular situation in an office which you are unsure how to deal with, Rob Williams can be contacted in Group Office or at robw@pcs.org.uk for advice.
 

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