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  • vickyp
    Keymaster
      August 17, 2023 at 12:02 am
      Post count: 4922
      #80521
      Forum: Community

      Hello, We have a pretty straightforward approach to managing attendance (culpable and non-culpable), however, with COVID-19, policies and practices have had to be adjusted to reflect the need for people to stay or go home when sick. My understanding is that disciplining an employee for COVID-19 related absences is not allowed, but can we still discipline an employee with excessive attendance issues whose absences are not related to COVID-19? The term \”sick\” is very broad so it\’s hard to decipher when we can deploy our attendance management program. Looking forward to hearing your response. Thank you

      vickyp
      Keymaster
        August 17, 2023 at 12:02 am
        Post count: 4922
        #80520

        Absolutely you can continue to discipline employees for culpable absences. Basically, no need to change your policy due to COVID-19. All you need to do is what you’ve already done–recognize that COVID-19 absences, like any illness-related absences, are NONculpable and apply your normal rules. BTW, required self-isolation due to COVID-19 exposure is also nonculpable absence, even if the employee doesn’t have actual symptoms. Bottom line, as long as you follow your normal policy and treat everybody required under public health guidelines to be absent due to COVID as nonculpable, you’ll be fine. Hope that helps. Glenn

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