Sick Notes
Sick notes don't work... And neither will 'well notes
20th February 2008
The Health Secretary has launched a campaign today to introduce ‘well notes' to replace the old sick note. FirstCare, the UK's leading attendance management specialist, believes that this will place even more burden on already stretched GP services, while continuing to result in excessive incapacity benefit claims.
“Sick notes are the single largest contributor to the 2.64m people, and the £12.65bn spent, on incapacity benefit each year," explains Aaron Ross, Managing Director of FirstCare. “For one in five employees, a GP signing a sick note for three months is akin to signing a death warrant, as they are statistically likely to leave the workplace for good, and the knock-on effect on their dependants and communities is cataclysmic."
“What is perhaps most worrying is that the Department for Work and Pensions, which has commissioned the study of sick notes, also happens to have the worst sickness record of any Whitehall department, with the exception of the prison service; the phrase ‘physician heal thyself' comes to mind," he says.
“Every absence, no matter how long it lasts, starts with ‘day one'. Employers need to understand the importance of being involved from day one by doing everything they can to rehabilitate the employee to health and work," he adds.
The solution lies in proper advice. Advice notes should be readily available for employers relating to different ailments. This advice can be through information slips handed out at GP surgeries, NHS Direct, and internal Occupational Health training.
“We are seeing our private sector clients move towards advice based sickness/absence management," comments Ross. “Sick notes are one of the worst things you can do for an absent employee, as they alienate the individual from the workplace.
“While there are some afflictions that will ultimately require extensive recovery periods, there are normally a number of functions that an absent employee can perform to keep them in touch with their workplace. Without the connection to their employer, employees find it increasingly difficult to come back to work the longer the absence continues.
“Employers cannot expect already overstretched GP surgeries to understand the full range of duties every employee can undertake and assess the work function and environment of their workplace. Responsibility lies with the employer and employee to make an educated judgement as to how the ailment will affect their duties.
“Adopting the strategy of advice based rehabilitation has significant benefits for both the employee and the employer – the employee continues to have value and purpose during their sickness, with a psychological outcome that results in them returning to health, and to work, quicker."