Is it Time to Review the ‘Calling in Sick’ Protocol?

The policy of telephoning in sick has its origins back when the telephone was the most modern and efficient way to communicate quickly, so it made sense back then to ask for notification that way, but we’ve come a long way since then.

Can you think of the last time you called someone to tell them you weren’t able to make dinner or attend a social event? Most of us prefer to send a message instead, and most of us would actually prefer to receive a message too.

So why do many employers still require employees to personally make a telephone call to their line manager when they are unwell?

Surely being notified and communicating by other means such as a MS Team’s message, email, WhatsApp or text message is sufficient, basically any form of notification in writing should suffice. In fact, it actually gives employers something in writing which can be invaluable when managing attendance, as it provides a clear, time-stamped record of notification.

Forcing unwell employees to make a phone call is not only outdated but can feel unnecessarily punitive. The argument that it “deters” absence has its roots in an arguably old-school and mistrustful culture which seems at odds with the modern, inclusive workplaces most employers are aiming to build. What should really matter is that managers are notified as early as possible so they can put appropriate cover or provisions in place.

Maybe it’s time for Organisations to review or update their policies to allow notification of absence via other means like email, messaging platforms etc to reflect the modern world we live in whilst still maintaining operational effectiveness.

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