Back-to-work adviser urges employers to call staff who are off sick

Sir Charlie Mayfield says employers who rely on texts and emails risk leaving absent workers disengaged and less likely to return to work. He recommends telephone contact to maintain connection with staff on sick leave.

Sir Charlie Mayfield, serving as a back-to-work adviser, has urged employers to telephone employees who are off sick rather than relying mainly on texts and emails.

Mayfield told employers that impersonal written messages can leave absent staff feeling disconnected, and that disengagement while off sick makes a return to work less likely. He framed voice calls as a more effective way to keep in touch and sustain the employment relationship.

His comments underline a practical change to absence-management practices, with the adviser suggesting that regular telephone contact should be considered part of how organisations manage long or short-term sickness. He said the personal element of a phone conversation helps maintain lines of communication that written messages do not.

The adviser’s remarks add to ongoing conversations about how employers balance respect for privacy and recovery with keeping employees connected during periods away from work. Employers will need to weigh his recommendation against workplace policies, legal obligations and individual circumstances when deciding how to contact staff on sick leave.