‘Calling in’ sick with a text or email must end, says work tsar

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Sir Charlie Mayfield has advised that employees should call their managers directly when reporting sickness instead of sending texts or emails to improve communication and support. He argues this change could help reduce long-term absences by enabling timely return-to-work plans and better workplace health support.

Employees should be required to speak directly with their managers when reporting sick, rather than simply sending a text or email, according to Sir Charlie Mayfield, a government adviser and former chairman of John Lewis. He urged a cultural shift to address what he described as an “insidious” norm that contributes to extensive workforce absences each year.

In an interview, Mayfield said the current system discourages open communication between employees and employers due to fears of formal complaints or potential employment tribunal claims. He advocated for establishing immediate contact and dialogue when an employee reports sickness, allowing discussions about the expected duration of absence and potential support options. “You can’t just text, send a WhatsApp, or send an email. You’ve actually got to ring somebody up,” he said, emphasizing the importance of personal interaction.

Mayfield argued that a more engaged approach could facilitate “return to work plans,” enabling employees to access workplace health services such as physiotherapy or mental health support, or to be offered alternative roles during recovery. He highlighted the long-term consequences of health-related economic inactivity, noting that individuals who fall out of the labour market for health reasons have only a 3.8 percent chance of returning to work within a year.

The adviser also pointed to an increase in the number of people claiming universal credit benefits who are required to seek work but have been on the scheme for a prolonged period. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the proportion of claimants required to look for work and claiming for a year or more has doubled, underscoring challenges in moving back into employment.

Mayfield called for reforms in how general practitioners issue “fit notes,” documents that certify an employee’s ability to work or need for absence. By encouraging earlier and more collaborative communication, he suggested the system could better support individuals in managing sickness absence and facilitate their reintegration into employment.

The proposal to end the practice of simply notifying employers via text or email is aimed at fostering a workplace environment where health issues are openly discussed, reducing absences, and improving return-to-work outcomes. Critics, however, may raise concerns about privacy and the practicality of requiring phone calls, particularly in large organisations. Nonetheless, Mayfield underscored the potential benefits of closer engagement between staff and employers in tackling long-term sickness absence.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.