All employers require a formal policy for managing sickness.
In the absence of such a policy employees can receive unequal treatment as Heads of Department and other Managers make their own interpretation of what is reasonable. This can lead to precedents which are to the detriment of fair and reasonable treatment of employees at a time when they are most vulnerable. The University has a responsibility to ensure that staff who are ill take sufficient sick leave and do not jeopardise their health by attempting to fulfil their duties when they are not fit to do so.