Fit note confusion

Many employers are confused about how they should respond to advice from GPs on the new fit note, in particular whether an employee can return to work before the end date on the note.

The key point is that the fit note is advice from a GP and its purpose is to open a dialogue between employers and employees.  It should help employers to support people back into work by a flexible approach to what their health allows them to do.  If both sides agree it is appropriate for a return to work, the employee does not have to wait until the end of the period stated in the fit note.  In fact this was always true with the previous system of sickness certification.