The Government is set to replace GP sick notes with “fit notes” in 2010, which will detail the work employees can do as well as what they cannot.

Sick leave currently costs the economy £100 billion a year, with 172 million working days being lost. Originally introduced in 1948 as a move to safeguard vulnerable people, sick notes are now widely criticised by employers as being unsuited to the modern world of work. Abuse of the system is believed to be widespread, and sick notes are seen by many as a blunt tool to deal with a complex problem.

Under the new system, GPs and employers are encouraged to work together to help people with a disability or long-term medical condition to keep their jobs and return to work. Rather than simply stating the nature of the employee’s condition and how long they should be off work, fit notes will indicate that an employee may be capable of some work if the workplace or duties can be temporarily amended to suit their circumstances. Employees with back pain, for example – one of the biggest causes of sickness absence – might be able to return to work earlier if they could be excused from bending or lifting as they recover.

The new system is intended to benefit both employers and employees, resulting in fewer days lost to sickness for businesses and allowing employees to return to work more quickly after being ill. Trials of an electronic system that would allow the notes to be frequently updated are already underway.

The legislation surrounding sickness and sick notes is just one part of UK employment law. As specialist employment law solicitors, Ashby Cohen represent and advise clients on both sides of the employee/employer divide, as well as offering fully independent mediation services for companies and individuals involved in disputes.

Technorati Tags: Employment Law, Fit Notes, Sick Notes, Sickness