Statement of Fitness for Work or 'Fit Note'.
Absence management is a huge issue for employers and in June 2007 to June 2008 it is estimated that around 5.8 million scheduled working days were lost due to sickness or injury with a cost of millions to UK employers and the economy.
In an effort to help employees return to work sick notes are changing to Statements of Fitness for Work or ‘fit notes’ as from April 2010. The aim is for the fit note to focus on what an employee may be able to do at work rather than a sick note saying what they cannot do.
A GP will be able to suggest ways of helping an employee return to work which might include phased return to work, flexible working, adjustment to duties or workplace adaptations this is compared to the previous system of a decision to remain off work completely.
Louise Haward, Solicitor in the Employment Team at Smith Partnership in Derby reports that there are mixed views about how GP’s are going to be able to manage the provision of sick notes and whether this will create an additional burden on the NHS in turn leading to inappropriate or incomplete fit notes making it harder for employers to understand their obligations to their employees.
Louise advises that it is important for employers to recognise that reducing levels of long-term absences from work is about developing partnerships between line managers, individual employees, HR departments, occupational health and the GP. Louise’s advice to employers is to be cautious about using a fit note in isolation and instead ensure that effective absence management procedures are in place to create a culture encouraging employees to return rather than remain absent for long periods. If you would like more information on this topic or any employment law related matter Louise Haward can be contacted at 01332 225383.