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Fit note: Fit for business?

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6th Apr 2010
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New legislation will see employee sick notes replaced by a new ‘fit note’ from 6 April. Read on to find out what this could mean for your business.

From 6 April 2010, the sick note will be replaced by the 'fit note' in a bid to reduce sickness absence across the UK. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) predicts that fit notes will save the British economy £240m over the next decade.

The fit note is a new medical statement that GPs will issue to people who are on sick leave for over seven days. The new initiative focuses on employers providing extra support to staff to help them back to work earlier.

Key changes brought in by the fit note include the introduction of a new option, which allows GPs to recognise an individual as 'may be fit for work, taking account of the following advice…’. Tick boxes on the fit note will indicate simple adjustments that could aid return to work. This could include a phased return to work, altered hours, amended duties or workplace adaptations.

Common myths explored
To help managers get to the bottom of some of these issues, Rob Woollen of Rightway Employee Wellbeing Solutions has addressed some of the most common misconceptions associated with the new fit note.

Employers will be forced to make expensive adjustments to allow people to work.

In fact the guidance is not binding in law. If the employer and employee cannot find mutually beneficial ways of working then a "may be fit for work" acts in just the same way as a sick note, including all eligibility for benefits.

Doctors signing people on as "may be fit" are violating their relationship with the patient.
Evidence shows overwhelmingly that work is good for people. Well-designed jobs build self confidence, increase financial security and provide a sense of meaning and worth. Those off work for more than six months have an 80% chance of being off work for five years. GPs will act in the best interests of their patients, and if this involves discussing the possibilities of working then will want to do this.

Employer's liability insurance is not valid if the employee is not completely fit.
As long as you have carried out a risk assessment of the role, taking into account the medical information given by the employee, your insurance should be valid – according to Ben Wilmot of the CIPD after a statement from the Association of British Insurers.

Employees need to be signed back "on" to work by their GP before returning to normal duties from a period of absence or adjusted working.
There is a space on the new Med-3 for the GP to state that they wish to see the patient again before they return to work. In most cases they will not wish to see the patient again, and in all cases they will not issue a note stating that the employee is fit for work.

There is no occupational health support for those who do not have existing arrangements.

The government recently launched an occupational health advice line for small businesses. This free advice line provides expert support and information on helping people with health conditions to remain in work. In addition, all local Job Centre Plus locations have disability employment advisors who are glad to help employers to consider options for keeping people in work as well as finding work for the unemployed.

To find out more about the new fit note and how it could impact your business, visit the fit note page on our sister site HRZone.co.uk.
 

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