My disability-related sickness has triggered a formal warning during probation. What can I do?
Responding to a Disability-Related Attendance Warning During Probation
Hello,
I am still on probation and have received a formal attendance warning after several short absences linked to a long-term health condition. My manager knew about the condition, but no adjustment to the trigger point was considered before the warning.
The outcome letter says further absence could lead to probation failure. Occupational Health has now recommended flexibility and separate consideration of disability-related absence.
How should I challenge the warning and protect my probation?
Quick Answer
Probation does not remove the duty to consider reasonable adjustments. Ask for the warning and absence decision to be reviewed in light of the known condition, OH advice and any adjustment to trigger points or recording that may be reasonable. Check the appeal deadline immediately and keep the health, attendance and probation issues clearly connected.
Read our Civil Service Reasonable Adjustments at Work for the full guidance.
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How I Would Challenge the Warning and Stabilise the Probation Record
Continue reading to protect the appeal deadline, build the disability-related absence record and request practical adjustments before the next probation decision.
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