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Rory Murphy

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Fit notes – do they fit the bill?

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Companies with an existing focus on health and wellbeing could reap the benefits of the change, says Rory Murphy, external affairs manager for Water Wellpoint.

 

From 6 April 2010, the sick note will be replaced by the ‘fit note’ in a bid to reduce sickness absence across the UK. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) predicts that fit notes will save the British economy £240m over the next decade.

The fit note is a new medical statement that GPs will issue to people who are on sick leave for over seven days. The new initiative focuses on employers providing extra support to staff to help them back to work earlier. Businesses may be concerned that this is just yet more bureaucracy. However those organisations already operating an effective health and wellbeing programme will enjoy a smoother ride.

Key changes brought in by the fit note include the introduction of a new option, which allows GPs to recognise an individual as ‘may be fit for work, taking account of the following advice. Tick boxes on the fit note will indicate simple adjustments that could aid return to work. This could include a phased return to work, altered hours, amended duties or workplace adaptations.

From sickness to fitness
I believe that if employers engage with their staff on health and wellbeing issues, then they are going to find it easier to adapt to and accommodate the new fit note.  Our evidence shows that companies that proactively work with their staff to manage their health have lower average sick days and, where there is sickness absence, employees feel supported and valued and therefore want to return to work as soon as they can.

The addition of the fit note scheme means staff members who do get sick will need to see a GP after seven days, which will help them become more aware of their own health and wellbeing. They will also be able to see the scope of their capabilities at work and supported by the expertise of the GP, they can make an informed decision about the fit note recommendations and play an active role in getting back to work.

The fit note can also mean that there will be two experts in the room; a motivated employee who has a better understanding of their health, their needs and how to get back to work, together with a GP who understands the medical complaint and can make informed recommendations to be implemented by the employer.

The challenges
However, as with all new processes and practices, there have been concerns voiced about the fit note. Will GPs be able to make truly informed recommendations without having enough knowledge of a patient’s working environment? There is also a fine balance between encouraging employees back to work for their own benefit and putting pressure on them to return, regardless of their wellbeing.

Staff and businesses are wondering whether GPs will recommend the right measures for the employee to return to work and whether the employer will implement the recommendations in time for them to be of benefit. These are all challenges that need to be addressed over the coming months as the fit note becomes an integral part of the working environment. And I certainly think this integration will be easier for those companies that already demonstrate a positive attitude towards the health and wellbeing of their staff.

A boost to health and wellbeing programmes?
Health checks can help businesses track the progress of employee health and make positive changes to increase wellness in the workplace. A health and wellbeing programme can offer businesses an interesting way of engaging their staff in a long-term view of their wellbeing and shows an employer’s commitment to the value of their staff.

Whether it’s an overall wellbeing policy or just a simple health check to motivate staff, businesses have a key role to play in the health of their workforce. Wellbeing initiatives can be introduced in a way that works specifically for the needs of the organisation. Health checks can be combined with seminars and health advice to offer an effective and affordable way to help staff take responsibility for their own wellbeing.

So the introduction of the fit note doesn’t have to mean headaches for businesses. It can perfectly complement an organisation’s existing healthcare services, helping them create a healthier, happier workforce. By giving staff the opportunity to take control of their health, employers gain greater productivity, raise staff morale and reduce costs associated with staff absence – an essential goal for all businesses.

Rory Murphy, external affairs manager for Water Wellpoint.

One Response

  1. Fit Notes

    I work for an organisation that has been using "fit notes" for many years.  INterestingly the notes have a derogatory term used by employers and employees alike that has arisen from the effect of creating sickness presence in the workplace.

    That aside, the notes work because the doctors contracted to provide GP services know the nature of the employees work and difficult cases can easily be referred to occupational health.  Indeed there is a pride amongst the GPs to sort out the employee without having to refer.

    In the absence of this knowledge, I would advise employers to take steps to educate their employees to the benefit of work and have their job specification handy should they need to see their GP.  GPs are concerned that they will be held medically negligent for wrong decisions, a possibility that is being briefed by at least one of the doctors’ professional liability insurers.

    COI – Occupational medicine specialist

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