Guidance for primary care and employers on the management of long term sickness and incapacity

This guidance is for all those who manage long-term (or recurring short- or long-term) sickness absence and incapacity, including employers and people working in the NHS. It will also be of interest to workplace representatives and trades unions, employees and those receiving incapacity benefit or employment and support allowance (ESA).

Three of the recommendations aim to help employers and employees work together to ensure the right support is available to help someone on sickness absence return to work as soon as they are able.

NICE recommendations for employers include:

• Identify someone who is suitably trained and impartial to undertake initial enquiries with an employee who is experiencing long-term sickness absence or recurring short- or long-term sickness absence.
• If necessary, arrange for a more detailed assessment by relevant specialist/s. This could be coordinated by a suitably trained case worker/s.
• Coordinate and support any health, occupational or rehabilitation interventions or services and any return-to-work plan agreed with the employee.

The guidance also recommends that those who are unemployed and claiming incapacity benefit or ESA should be offered an integrated programme of support to help them enter or return to work. This advice is aimed at the Department for Work and Pensions and other relevant commissioning bodies and organisations.

• Other information

  • PH19 Management of long-term sickness and incapacity for work: guidance (web format)

  How this guidance was produced

  Background information

  • External Appraisal of NICE Public Health Guidance
  • New NICE guidance on helping people return to work following long term sickness absence
  • PH19 Management of long-term sickness and incapacity for work: Fieldwork report
  • PH19 Management of long-term sickness and incapacity for work: Economic analysis report
  • PH19 Management of long-term sickness and incapacity for work: Evidence review 1
  • PH19 Management of long-term sickness and incapacity for work: Evidence review 2
  • PH19 Management of long-term sickness and incapacity for work: Evidence review 3
  • PH19 Management of long-term sickness and incapacity for work: Additional evidence consultation report
  • PH19 Management of long-term sickness and incapacity for work: Mapping review
  • PH19 Management of long-term sickness and incapacity for work: Expert paper 1
  • PH19 Management of long-term sickness and incapacity for work: Additional paper to support expert paper 1
  • PH19 Management of long-term sickness and incapacity for work: Expert paper 2
  • PH19 Management of long-term sickness and incapacity for work: Expert paper 3
  • PH19 Management of long-term sickness and incapacity for work: Expert paper 4
  • PH19 Management of long-term sickness and incapacity for work: Expert paper 5

Guidance formats

• Web format
• Quick reference guide (PDF)
• Full Guidance (PDF)