A new government announcement sees the introduction of a new ‘fit note’ scheme, which aims to encourage employees to stay in work, rather than taking long-term sickness leave, and make it easier to return to the workplace after a period of illness.
The scheme is designed to advise employees on how they can best keep working, and give employers suggestions on supporting workers who have been off sick.
The new computer-generated forms will replace the old system of handwritten sick notes and are set to be rolled out across the country next spring.
Employers agree that managing sickness absence can be a challenge. This is compounded by a ‘sick note’ system that makes sickness absence a black and white issue – either you are unfit for work or you are not.
The government’s own figures estimate that ill health costs the British economy around £100billion annually, with around 600,000 people submitting incapacity benefit claims every year.
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