Off sick? You need to phone your boss, back-to-work adviser says

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**Back-to-Work Adviser Urges Sick Employees to Call Employers, Citing Disengagement Risk**

**London, UK** – A prominent back-to-work adviser is advocating for a return to traditional phone calls for employees on sick leave, warning that relying on text messages and emails can lead to disengagement and a reduced likelihood of returning to work.

Sir Charlie Mayfield emphasized that direct verbal communication with a manager is crucial. “Relying on text and email means sick workers disengaged and were less likely to work again,” Mayfield stated, underscoring the potential for digital methods to foster a sense of detachment during an employee’s absence.

His advice challenges the increasingly common practice of brief digital notifications, suggesting that a phone call helps maintain a vital connection between the absent employee and their workplace, potentially facilitating a smoother return to duties.