Sick Workers Must Phone Boss, Not Text, Says UK Back-to-Work Adviser

Sir Charlie Mayfield, a prominent UK business figure and back-to-work adviser, has urged that employees who are off sick should telephone their boss rather than send a text or email. Speaking to BBC World Business, Mayfield said that relying on digital messages leaves sick workers disengaged and makes them less likely to return to work, a pattern he described as a barrier to recovery and re-employment.

Mayfield, a former chairman of the John Lewis Partnership who has advised the UK government on employment and skills, based his recommendation on evidence that personal contact maintains a stronger connection between employers and absent staff. The intervention comes as the UK grapples with high levels of economic inactivity due to long-term sickness, a issue that has drawn increasing political and economic attention. Mayfield’s comments echo broader concerns that remote and text-based communication can weaken workplace ties and delay returns.

The advice has implications for human resources practices across the UK and potentially beyond, with some employment experts likely to debate whether mandating phone calls adds unnecessary pressure on sick employees. Unions may argue that flexibility is needed for those with mental health conditions or caring responsibilities. Next steps could include updated guidance from the UK government’s back-to-work programme, and employers may review their sickness absence policies to encourage more direct communication while balancing employee welfare.