Time for Spring Cleaning!
06/04/10
The Doctor and the Fit Note
Tuesday 6th April 2010
On 6 April “sick notes” became “fit notes”, or “statements of fitness for work certificates” to give them their full name.
Richard Brickley, employment specialist at AES Winterbothams explains what the new fit notes are and how it affects employers;
Sick notes have always set out what an employee’s condition is and stated whether or not they should refrain from work. There are only 2 options. The employee either should refrain from work or should not. Fit notes on the other hand give much more flexibility to the doctor and apply to employees who have been on sick leave for 7 days or more.
The doctor can make a “may be fit for work” statement if they consider that an employee could return to work if the employer gives them certain support. This would include different working hours, amended duties and adapting their work environment. The doctor can also make further practical suggestions and provide information on how the employee’s condition will affect their work.
With fit notes the focus has changed from what your employee can’t do to what they can do. They give employers an opportunity to reduce sickness absence which they did not previously have.
Employers do not have to act on the doctor’s recommendation. If a sick note is received and the employer is unsure what action to take advice should be sought.
Obviously the fit note regime needs to be tested in practice and will depend to a certain extent on the approach taken by individual doctors. However, there is evidence that returning to work can aid recovery which not only benefits your employee as well as you but it can also have the wider effect of enhancing staff morale generally.
For further advice on this or any other employment issues please contact Richard Brickley on 01453 847239 or rsb@aeswinterbothams.com. This article provides general advice and cannot be relied upon in any particular case.