The majority of employers do not believe that the introduction of new fit notes will help them in terms of absence management, new research has found.
According to figures from Kronos, only 22 per cent of employers in both public and private sector organisations believe that the notes will help them to reduce absence levels, while 38 per cent predict the system will cause more problems than it solves.
Today (April 6th) will see fit notes replacing the traditional sick notes, which will outline the work an employee can still manage with their condition, as part of the government’s aim to reduce long-term sickness absence.
However, Employee Benefits reports that the survey found 64 per cent of respondents have still not received any guidance on how to manage the new system, with 26 per cent claiming a lack of employee understanding and information will be the main barrier to its success.
Simon Macpherson, senior director business development and operations of Kronos UK, said: "I very much hope the fit note has the same positive effect that many organisations already achieve by closely monitoring absence levels and patterns of behaviour and nipping the problem in the bud by conducting timely return-to-work interviews."
Posted by Colette Paxton
This article articulates a typical reactionary British management view, and in this example comes because they believe that everyone who has an absence is a skiver, and the only people who have genuine illnesses are themselves.
Of course we know that at this stage the fit note has been badly communicated and most people (doctors, employers and employees)will take time to make the most of the note. However this is the first week of operation and in a few months any caring employer will wonder how we managed without it.
The note will achieve:
1 Doctors thinking about possible return to work, rather than “signing off” for that extra week (or two) to be sure of full recovery.
2 A realisation that most people can work even when they are not 100% fit
3 A positive conversation between doctor and patient
4 A positive conversation between patient and employer.
5 A need for managers to find ways of facilitating an early return to work. This I believe is the real reason for negative comments as it means managers will have to manage their returning absentees better
5 The sick note has been the biggest barrier to an early return to work ever invented. I know of many organisations who have wasted hundreds of absent days by not allowing an employee to return to work until they were “signed fit” by the doctor.
6 Those days where the manager abdicated his responsibility to facilitate an early return are now over, in sharpening this management skill who knows, it might even encourage them to improve their people management skills in other areas as well.