Health At Work - Independent Review Of Sickness Absence

[brothermagrew]

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/health-at-work.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Independant

On the section of Meeting the needs of employers and employees

I have coloured as above, but when I think that employee is mentioned for the benefit of employer I have coloured it Orange.


25. Employers rely on the fit note as evidence to verify that sickness absences of over seven calendar days are justified, and to inform them when an individual is, or is expected to be, fit enough to return to work. Employers also rely on fit notes to identify those cases where an employee has a health condition which limits function, but could work if given sufficient support.

26. During the course of this Review we have heard from many employers, both large and small. A common theme to emerge from these discussions is that employers, of all types, do not believe that the certification system yet meets their needs.

27. They describe how, too often, sick individuals, whom they would want to support to remain in or return to work, are signed off as entirely unfit for work. They also report that too few fit notes describe an employee as ‘may be fit’, and when a ‘may be fit’ note is issued the advice given is often not as helpful as they would wish.

28. A recent survey of Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) line managers suggests that around 10 to 15 per cent of fit notes are issued containing a ‘may be fit’ assessment. Other large employers have reported to us that ‘may be fit’ assessments occur in as few as 2 per cent of cases.

29. These early findings suggest that over 85 per cent of patients off sick for more than a week may be being certified as entirely incapable of work. Although employers may themselves wish to take steps to support individuals back to work, the medical statement ‘not fit for work’ hinders this process. This leaves the patient further removed from the labour market, with risk to their well-being and indeed their health in the longer term.

So thats 5 Red, 2 Oranges and No Greens - Balanced - Not on this section - I'll have to read this from cover to cover when I have time.