If managing staff sickness feels like a daily headache, you’re not alone. Many businesses struggle to keep absence reporting consistent, up to date, and compliant, especially across multiple sites or hybrid teams.
That’s why more organisations are introducing a dedicated sickness line for staff to call. A professionally managed sickness line ensures every absence is logged accurately from day one, reducing disruption while supporting employee wellbeing.
What Is a Sickness Line?
A sickness line is a dedicated telephone number that employees call when they are too unwell to work. Instead of sending texts, emails, or voicemails, your people speak directly to a trained operator who collects key details such as the reason for absence, symptoms, and expected return date.
At Lemon Contact Centre, our professional team manages these calls 24/7, 365 days a year, on behalf of employers, ensuring every sickness is handled promptly, empathetically, and in line with your company’s absence policy.
Benefits of Having a Sickness Line for Staff
Introducing a sickness line helps businesses take control of unplanned absence, streamline processes, and improve employee communication. Here are four powerful benefits.
1. Real-Time Visibility and Control
When staff call a sickness line, your HR and management teams are instantly notified of who is off, why, and for how long. That real-time data helps with planning, scheduling, and maintaining productivity across your teams.
2. Consistency Across Your Organisation
A sickness line ensures every absence is reported in the same structured way, no matter who is calling or where they work. It standardises your process and eliminates confusion, helping you stay compliant with HR policies and reduce admin workload.
3. Empathetic Early Support
Speaking to a real person on the first day of sickness provides reassurance and support. Our trained operators handle every call with sensitivity, identifying when someone might need further help, a wellbeing check, or referral to occupational health.
4. Fewer Short-Term Absences
Requiring staff to call in on their first day of sickness can significantly reduce casual absence. NHS statistics show that employees contacted on day one are 14% more likely to return promptly, and those contacted later are 28% less likely to do so. Early communication works.
Why a Sickness Line Improves Wellbeing and Productivity
A sickness line is more than a reporting tool; it is also a wellbeing initiative. By encouraging open, early conversations about health, you can identify stress, burnout, or recurring illness before they become long-term issues.
For employees, it shows your company cares about their welfare. For managers, it provides data-driven insight to guide better decisions on wellbeing and attendance.
Why Choose Lemon Contact Centre?
For over 20 years, Lemon Contact Centre has supported business across the UK with bespoke call-handling and absence management solutions.
Our sickness line service offers:
- 24/7 availability, 365 days a year
- Trained UK-based operators
- Secure data handling (ISO9001 and ISO27001 certified)
- Fully customisable reporting and escalation workflows
- Transparent pricing with no hidden costs
Every call is recorded, quality assured, and can be shared securely with your HR or management team, giving you complete confidence and compliance.
Ready to Set Up a Sickness Line for Your Business?
Whether you need a full absence management solution or a simple sickness reporting line, Lemon can tailor a service to suit your organisation.
- Reduce absence costs
- Improve employee wellbeing
- Stay compliant and consistent
Contact Lemon Contact Centre to arrange your sickness line today and make managing staff absence easier than ever.
