In April the relatively straight forward process of being off sick will become more complex with the introduction of “Fit Notes.”
The new Fit Notes will give doctors the option of confirming that an employee is either “Unfit for Work” or “May be fit for some work, taking account of the following advice…”
So the title “Fit Note” is actually misleading as the option of declaring the employee fit for work is not available.
So the title “Fit Note” is actually misleading as the option of declaring the employee fit for work is not available.
The Notes will also contain a list of 4 recommendations which doctors can chose from concerning the employee’s return to work – suggestions such as a phased return to work, amended duties, a change to existing hours and workplace adaptations.
The advantage of the Notes is that they will hopefully encourage both employers and employees to engage in discussions based on the information in the Notes about how the employee can return to work and if so when and how. Of course all best practice employers will be doing this already, but the Notes will hopefully encourage more employers, particularly smaller ones to think more laterally about how employees with health issues can usefully return and remain at work.
However, the new system appears to us to be a rather simplistic approach to often very complex and widely differing situations. Employers should also not forget that certain medical conditions may constitute a disability and failure to make reasonable adjustments, whether recommended on the Fit Note or otherwise may constitute discrimination.
Is this just more complicated bureaucracy or will it help get sick employees back to work faster?
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