Attendance Support
I have been asked to attend an Attendance Support Meeting (ASM). What is this?
Do not panic! This is an informal procedure as your attendance levels are greater than or equal to the attendance targets. An ASM primarily aims to be supportive.
West Midlands Police has set annual attendance targets and uses these calculations to identify trigger points for managing attendance at work. This is designed to enable the Force to identify concerns at an early stage and take supportive action to help officers achieve improved and acceptable attendance.
The trigger points are eight working days, or three occasions of absence, calculated over a rolling twelve-month period. In addition to this, long-term absence is recognised as one period exceeding 28 days. If a particular pattern of absence is evident (including part day absence), this may also be regarded as a trigger.
ASMs are part of the informal procedure. If attendance levels are equal to, or greater than the attendance triggers, a line manager may invite the member to an ASM, to discuss absence/s from work along with objectives, actions, support and interventions that will help improve attendance at work or to facilitate a return to work. Always check that this meeting is an ASM and not Stage 1 of the attendance policy.
As the meeting is supportive, it is expected that in all but exceptional circumstances contact will be made directly between the member and their line manager, however, a Federation representative or workplace colleague may facilitate discussions regarding meeting arrangements.
Meetings will be held on Force premises where possible or alternatively a home visit/alternative location. Often these are now held via Skype or Teams.
The member should obtain necessary medical evidence to place a duty on the Force to implement Reasonable Adjustments. If they have a Reasonable Adjustments Passport (RAP) in place this should be up to date and be highlighted.
Meetings are not intended to imply absence is not genuine; this is a tool to support members in achieving acceptable and sustained attendance at work. The approach appropriate for everyone will be considered from the outset, and throughout a period of absence to ensure that this is individual to their needs.
General principles within the policy
