A new scheme is being introduced that will help employers
struggling with employees who are off work sick for extended periods,
says Jacqui Mann of HR4 Nurseries

A new scheme to help employees stay in or return to work as quickly as appropriate will be introduced this year. Fit for Work is a free service providing health and work advice through a website and a telephone line. It will also offer a referral service providing an occupational health (OH) assessment and a return-to-work plan for employees who have been off sick from work, or who are likely to be off sick from work for four weeks or more.

Employers can make a referral after four weeks of absence, but normally employees will be referred by their GP. Employees will be contacted within two working days of the referral and they will receive an occupational health (OH) assessment, usually over the telephone. If a face-to-face assessment is required, this will take place within five working days.

The assessment will seek to identify all potential obstacles preventing the employee from returning to work and involve agreeing a return-to-work plan designed to address each obstacle to enable a safe and sustained return to work. Subject to the employee's consent, the OH adviser may feel it appropriate to contact the employer to discuss aspects that might help with the return-to-work plan.

The return-to-work plan will reflect the assessment and with consent from the employee it will be sent to the employee's GP and his/her employer.

The plan will recommend steps the employer could take to help the employee back to work. The plan is evidence of sickness absence in the same way as a 'fit note'.

The employee will only need to provide a fit note if they still remain off work and have been discharged from Fit for Work.

For employers to make be able to make a Fit for Work referral, the employee must:

  • - have been absent from work for four weeks or more due to illness
  • - have a reasonable likelihood of a phased return to work
  • - have not been referred within the past 12 months for a Fit for Work assessment
  • - have not received a return-to-work plan
  • - have provided their consent to be referred.

jacqui-mann-wIf the GP has already made a referral the employer cannot then make a referral.

Employers get a tax exemption of up to £500 per year, per employee on medical treatments recommended under the Fit for Work scheme.