The fit note is in danger of becoming just another sicknote

Dame Carol Black’s commented come after the government released its final version of the fit note (due to come into effect in April) on which doctors must tick one of two options – either that they are ‘unfit for work’, or ‘may be fit for work taking account of the following advice’.

They should then detail whether the employee would benefit from a phased return to work, altered hours, amended duties or workplace adaptations, but the note does not require them to go into detail about which activities an employee can carry out at work.

This may lead to disputes about what constitutes suitable work after a period of sickness absence and may simply lead to the fit note being treated as a sick note deeming them not fit for work.

The note – due to come into effect in April – attracted immediate criticism from HR chiefs, who said it would “inevitably” lead to disputes between employers and staff about what constitutes suitable work following a period of sickness absence.

Dame Carol Black, the government’s director for health and work, said “I think any sensible employer would say if I don’t know what adjustments I have to make then the fit note will have to stand as a sicknote.”

The fit note is being introduced in a bid to cure the UK’s high sickness absence rates.   For more information about managing sickness absence see the Hardwick HR Blog.