| Since 6th April 2010 employees in Britain who are off | | | | Altered hours |
| sick for more than seven days will now receive 'fit | | | | Amended duties |
| notes' (Statement of Fitness for Work) rather than the | | | | Changes to the Workplace |
| sick note previously issued from a GP. | | | | This suggests that the 'fit note' and an employees |
| The idea of this new electronic 'fit note' was instigated | | | | medical situation will now be far more individualised |
| by Dame Carol Black, National Director for Health and | | | | with the onus on employers to act on the information |
| Work and author of Working for a Healthier | | | | given in the 'fit note', occupational health specialists, and |
| Tomorrow 2008. In her report Dame Carol suggested | | | | doctors to work in agreement and more closely |
| that ill-health was the British economy was losing | | | | together for the good of the patient so enabling a |
| £100 billion per year claiming that sections of British | | | | quicker and more appropriate return to work. If |
| society had 'drifted into a benefits culture'. | | | | employers consider staff to be their most valuable |
| The 'fit note is to concentrate on what an employee | | | | asset then the new 'fit note' may have a place in the |
| can do rather than what they can't do with the | | | | world of employment. |
| emphasis on getting the employee back to work as | | | | From a health perspective the most common reasons |
| soon as possible under particular circumstances | | | | for staff to be signed off work according to my |
| agreed by the employer, doctor and employee. Dame | | | | doctor colleagues is from stress (this can be at work |
| Carol said she believed it is a fundamental cultural and | | | | and at home), bullying, an unsuitable office working |
| mental change that you are no longer labelled sick and | | | | environment and accidents in the workplace. |
| that we get rid of the sick note culture. | | | | Government ministers have said the training and |
| There is evidence to show that work is generally good | | | | implementation of the new 'fit note' will cost £10million |
| for your health and that often going back to work can | | | | over ten years and would support disabled people, or |
| actually aid a person's recovery. On the other hand, | | | | those who became ill, to return or to stay in work by |
| staying off work can lead to long-term absence and | | | | helping them manage their condition and get help to |
| job loss with the risk of isolation, loss of confidence, | | | | keep their jobs. |
| mental health issues, de-skilling and social exclusion. | | | | What are your thoughts on the new 'fit note'? Do you |
| (Department for Work and Pensions) | | | | think it will work? Have you been off work for any |
| Doctors now have a choice to list whether the | | | | length of time? Do you work with colleagues who take |
| employee would benefit from any of the following: | | | | considerable time off work at your expense? Let us |
| A phased return to work | | | | know what you think? |