Having trouble with the new Sick Note to Fit Note?

From 6th April 2010 the sick note was no more and was replaced by the new fit note. Many people with health conditions that would normally be signed off sick, could with some basic support from their employer, work as they recover from their condition. This not only helps the individual but also can benefit the employer by reducing your sickness absence.

To help more people get the support they need to return to work the new fit note system means that the doctor can advise that your employee is either:
'unfit for work'; or 'may be fit for work'.

A doctor will only give a 'may be fit for work' statement if they think that the employees health condition may allow them to work with suitable help and support from their employer. Suitable types of support may be; a phased return to work, altered hours, amended duties or workplace adaptations

If an employee is too ill to work the doctor will advise 'unfit for work', just like the old sick note.
If it is not possible for you as an employer to provide the support for your employee to return to work, you should discuss this with them and use the statement as if the doctor had advised 'not fit for work'

Sick leave while on holiday

Did you know that employees now have the right to ask for statutory leave to be re-allocated to them if they were sick on their holiday?

If an employee is on holiday and then becomes ill they may be able to take this as sick leave rather than holiday. The holiday will then be reinbursed to them.

A court ruling also allows employees to carry over annual leave ruined by illness until the next year.

I recommend you make sure your Absence Policy Procedure is up to date to reflect this. Your policy should say how and when your employee should let you know when they are sick on holiday, and what proof they might need.

Registration with the Vetting and Barring Scheme Halted

It has been announced by the Government that Registration with the Vetting and Barring Scheme has been halted to allow them to remodel the scheme back to more common sense levels. Voluntary registration for the VBS for new employees, those changing jobs, and for those seeking to work with children or vulnerable adults, will not start from 26th July 2010 as originally planned. In my opinion, employers should continue to undertake all relevant CRB checks for new employees wishing to work with children or vulnerable adults.