'Fit note' consultation launched
A consultation into how the proposed 'fit notes' will be designed has been launched by the government.
The notes have been developed to replace sick notes and to encourage people to return to work rather than drift into long-term sickness absence.
They will offer workers advice and information on how they can stay in work and continue their career development and will also offer suggestions on what employers can do to ease the transition.
Lord Bill McKenzie, the work and pensions minister, said: "Employers tell us that managing sickness absence can be a challenge. This is compounded by a 'sick note' system that makes sickness absence a black and white issue - either you are unfit for work or you are not.
"We recognise how important it is to help people who are sick to stay in work or get back to work quickly - the new fit note will help do just that."
It is estimated that ill-health and sickness absence costs the UK economy £100 billion annually.
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Why is it in systems thinking organisations sickness is very low? Morale high and improvement continuous?
Because if you want people to do a good job - give them a good job to do.
Instead of wellness vouchers how about designing some good jobs?
I agree with systems. It might be better just to make the job environment better than passing out these 'fit notes'
100 billion is a tremendous cost, far greater than the cost of all the red tape that the government could possibly dream up. This means that really it should be under plenty of scruntiny from think tanks. This could be a great new measure.