Over 80% of delegates at the summit said the new system of fit notes does not work in their organisation. Just 7% said this was a great help.

Employers are dissatisfied with the system, said David Frost, co-chair of Health at work: an independent review of sickness absence, during a session at the Employee Benefits Summit 2012.

"The fit note does not perform a duty," he said. "We were surprised to see that 85% [of people] signed off work for one week or more were signed off as entirely incapable of work. That can't be right. There is not enough account taken of an employee's ability to work."

Read also Sickness absence review: Industry reactions

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