| Fit notes will be brought
into effect from April 2010 and are a
replacement for sick notes. The
information that doctors will be asked to
provide means that instead of giving
patients a sick note saying they are too
ill to work, they will be able to advise
whether a person may be fit for work with
some help and support, and what employers
can do to assist in this process.
Assistance could include a phased return
to work, altered hours, amended duties or
workplace adaptations.
According to the advice given on the
Business link website:
"If a doctor uses this option, they
will give advice about the effects of the
patient's health condition and, if
appropriate, some suggestions about the
types of adjustment or adaptations you
could consider making to help your
employee back to work.
While you won't have to act on the
doctor's advice in a 'may be fit for work'
statement, it may help you make simple and
practical adjustments to help your
employee return to work and reduce
unnecessary sickness absence.
If for any reason you can't make the
changes necessary to support your
employee's return to work, you should -
for sick pay purposes - consider the
statement as if the doctor had advised
that your employee is 'not fit for work'."
The initiative is designed to encourage
employers to be more responsible regarding
employee rehabilitation and aims to help
reduce the impact of long-term sick leave.
Internet links:
Department for Work and Pensions Business
link guidance for employers |
