Pictured above: Ginny Hallam
On 6th April 2010, the new 'fit note', replaces the GPs 'sick
note' for employees unable to attend work, and according to
specialist employment lawyer, Ginny Hallam the 'fit note' should
lead to sickness absence rates within businesses significantly
dropping.
"When accompanied by a proactive approach to absence management
by employers, and an effective employment sick pay scheme, it is
hoped the new 'fit notes' should mark a reduction in the number of
employees absent due to sickness," says Ginny, head of employment
at Nottingham law firm Berryman.
"It remains to be seen how effective the new 'fit notes' will be
in encouraging employees back to work," says Ginny, "but if GPs are
willing and able to take the time to be proactive in the
suggestions that they make on the note, then this in turn may put
pressure on employees to try harder to return to work sooner. The
new scheme could also force employees to think carefully about what
their employer could do to facilitate their return more
quickly."
Under the new 'fit note' scheme, GPs will be allowed more scope
for comment on an employee's capacity to return to work. Rather
than ticking the box that the employee is 'not fit for work', the
new system will give them the opportunity to state that the
employee 'may be fit for work', if their employer makes some
adjustments. GPs will also have the opportunity to state the effect
the employee's condition has on their health and the kind of
adjustments that would help the employee return to work, such as
reduced working hours or amended duties.
"GP's ability to take a proactive approach and suggest
adjustments that could be made to the employee's work to facilitate
their return, could put pressure on employers, who must carefully
consider all suggestions made by a GP, especially if the employee
is suspected to be disabled where a failure to make reasonable
adjustments could result in a successful claim against the
employer," says Ginny.
The idea behind the government's 'fit note' scheme is to make it
easier for GPs to be proactive in the support they give employees
and should encourage the employee to return to work, which the
government has said it believes could have a positive effect on the
employee's health.
According to the Department for Work and Pensions, the 'fit
notes' may benefit the economy by an estimated GBP 240 million over
the next ten years.