Introduction
Managing employee wellbeing after sickness is key to a safe and supportive workplace. This workflow kicks in automatically when a sickness entry is logged for an employee who requires a return to work form, based on your configured settings.
The employee first completes their section of the form using predefined questions, then their manager receives it for review and confirmation - ensuring a smooth, documented, and compliant return to work process.
We also have another variation of this workflow that has a final step for HR to review and sign off. If you are on the Elite package you can also edit these questions.
Configurations
If you are on the Elite and Enterprise tier and have access to the Workflow Hub, you can configure this workflow.
Instead of the Return to Work form being triggered as soon as the sickness is added, you can delay it until the next working day that does not have a sickness, or trigger automatically on the employee's first clock in back to work.
Click here to learn more about configurable workflows.
How it works (without Delay)
Employee receives a task to complete the first section of the return to work form.
Once the employee has completed all mandatory sections and ticked the 'Confirmation' tick box at the bottom, the option to 'Sign' will then become available.
The manager then receives an email confirming the employee has completed this, and will have a task to review and confirm.
Once all mandatory items have been completed, they will then be able to 'Sign' and complete the task and therefore, the return to work workflow will end.
How it works (with Delay until next clock)
1. Sickness is added
A sickness record is logged that requires a Return to Work completion.
2. Delay
The workflow delays until the employee next clocks in.
3. Trigger
Return to work form is triggered.
How it works (with Delay until next working day)
1. Sickness is added
A sickness record is logged that requires a Return to Work completion.
2. Initial delay
The workflow delays until one day after the sickness end date, or if one day sickness, tomorrow.
3. Check work pattern
After the delay, the workflow checks the employee’s work pattern for “today”:
If today is a non-working day:
The workflow delays until tomorrow and checks again until a working day.
If today is a working day:
If the work pattern includes a start time, the workflow delays until two hours after the start time.
If no work pattern exists, the workflow delays until 11:00 AM.
4. Check for active sickness
After that delay, the workflow checks if there is still a sickness record covering today:
If sickness is still active:
The workflow delays until tomorrow and returns to Step 3.If no sickness is active:
The workflow triggers the Return to work process.