Employment: Government reveals new “fit notes”

January 6, 2009

The Government has begun a 12 week consultation on new “fit notes” which it proposes will replace GP’s “sick notes” in spring 2010.  This is in response to recommendations made in Dame Carol Black’s review of the health of Britain’s working age population in March 2008.  The consultation invites views on amending regulations to implement the new fit notes and is open until 19 August 2009.

Rationale behind new fit notes

In order to qualify for Statutory Sick Pay employees are required to obtain medical certificates to cover all periods of absence in excess of 7 days.  However the forms offer very little information that may help an employer rehabilitate the employee back into the workforce and comply with their statutory obligations to make reasonable adjustments for disabled employees.  It is also the Government’s view that modern workplaces are generally safer and less physically demanding as 100% fitness is not necessarily a requirement to work.

Proposed changes

The proposed changes are as follows:

Resources

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