‘Fit Note’ To Replace ‘Sick Note’ – April 2010

Following Dame Carol Black’s report in March 2008, unveiling the health of Britain’s working population, the Government has announced its intention to replace the current MED3 medical certificate used by doctors to sign an employee off work due to illness with a new ‘fit note’, available in either paper or electronic format, which is due to be rolled out during April 2010.

A 12 week consultation is already underway, concluding on 19 August, to consider draft regulations which will amend the medical note.

The ‘fit note’ is aimed at helping people stay in work and what their employer can do to assist their return to work, rather than drift into long term sickness absence. Under the proposed changes the new note will enable doctors to include information to assist discussions between employee’s and their employer, including whether there are any changes which the employer could implement such as a phased return, altered hours, amended duties or adaptations within the workplace, in an effort to assist a return to work. However, implementation of suggested changes would remain at the employer’s discretion and at the employee’s agreement. 

Key statistics:

• Working days lost costs the British economy over an estimated £100bn per year (Black Report)

• Approximately 172 million working days lost in 2007 due to sickness absence (CBI)

• 40% of days lost due to sickness absence made up of absences spanning over 4 weeks (CBI)

• 34 million working days lost in 2007/2008 due to work-related illness (Official data)

• Latest data highlights 2.6 million claiming incapacity benefits in May 2008

• Data suggests that 50% of the approximate 600,000 incapacity claims submitted per year are made by those who have been working immediately prior to submission of their claim.