Setting trouble-free policies for parental and sick leave

Parental and sick leave are medical staff benefits that can lead to all kinds of problems. This article offers specific guidance for heading off the most common and difficult problems, focusing particularly on ways to provide fair benefits to employees who need them without inviting unnecessary absences and policy abuse. It reviews typical medical practice sick leave policies as well as four creative strategies for encouraging and rewarding excellent attendance and deterring abuse. In addition, this article suggests ways to structure a parental leave policy that will not only be fair to employees but also help the practice fulfill its legal obligations.