The majority (90%) of respondents do not believe the fit note is effective, according to research by the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP).
Fit notes, which were introduced in April 2010, were the result of Dame Carol Black’s 2008 review of the health of Britain’s working age population.
Diana Bruce, senior policy liaison officer at the CIPP, said: “The CIPP is disappointed with these results; the fit note was intended to be used as a tool to encourage conversations between employers and employees about how an earlier return to work after sickness could be facilitated.
“In light of Dame Carol Black’s review, the fit note was intended to be used to show that employees do not need to be 100% fit for both parties to benefit from a phased or adjusted return to work.
“Managing sickness absence is a challenging and often sensitive issue for employers, so if the communication channels are open from the outset with clear policies, the easier the process should be for both employers and employees.
“The answer to this issue could well lie with the need for better sickness polices to be put in place at work.”
The research, conducted in March, surveyed 101 employers.
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