We have added a new ‘Good practice guide’ to the site.
Good practice guides are meant as general guidance for practitioners to help them comply with the law and good practice, rather than explaining the law itself which is covered elsewhere on this site. The new guide is on fitness to attend capability and disciplinary interviews.
Occupational health professionals can assist here in several ways, with appropriate consent. Apart from stating whether the employee is fit to attend, they can liaise with the employee’s GP or specialist (who may state the employee is unfit to attend) pointing out the benefits to all parties of early resolution of a problem which will not disappear just because an employee is absent from the workplace, and highlighting adjustments that could be made.
OH can also (with consent) provide advice to the employer on adjustments and adaptations which would enable the employee to be more likely to attend and be able to participate in the interview more fully.