It is difficult to answer this definitively.
During an absence from work, there are generally three moments of contact where it is important that you, as an employer , actively listen to the employee :
- at the beginning of the absence,
- during the period of illness and
- when returning to work.
💪Opportunity: it is important that you, as an employer , maintain good contact with your employee during the absence period.
- If there is an absence or return to work policy within the organisation, then it is clear who contacts the employee, when and how often.
- Some organisations do not have such a policy (yet). This can make it more difficult if you have an employee on long-term sick leave or who is unwilling/unable to return to work.
🚧Challenge: if someone is incapacitated after a brain injury, this can – depending on its severity – immediately result in a lengthy period of disability. There may also be a period when your employee is in a coma and you cannot contact them directly. In this case, try to keep in touch with the employee’s friends and family and inform them that you are there as an employer if they have any questions.
🤝Together: if you, as an employer , are not sure what is expected of you when one of your employees is on long-term sick leave, you can ask the health service or occupational doctor for support.
💡Tips & tricks
- If possible, let the employee speak for themselves.
- Show interest in the employee’s well-being or that of their friends and family .
- Avoid making the employee or their friends and family feel that the contact is intended as a check on the disability.
- Gather information. Keep the employee and the nature of the absence in mind.
- Take time to listen or call back at a later time.
- Avoid negative reactions, such as hinting at prejudice or using an inappropriate tone of voice.
- Have your absent employee call their supervisor directly, rather than sending an e-mail to the human resources department.
- It is important to reassure the employee and/or their friends and family and be genuinely interested in the conversation.