Sick to fit: The optimistic angle to employee sickness

The practice of an employee providing their employer with a sick note has been in place since 1948. The employer’s policy will usually explain to the employee when they can self certify their sickness and when a sick note from their GP is required. Most employers require a sick note when the employee has been absent from work for 7 or more days. It is estimated that 172 million working days were lost to sickness absence in the UK in 2007, at a cost to the economy of over £100bn. Long-term absences lasting for over four weeks made up around 40% of days lost. In light of this, and following Dame Carol Black's recent report into the health of the working population, the Government announced that it will replace the current 'sick note' with a new 'fit note'. This will be available in paper or electronic format. The Government has started a 12-week consultation on the draft regulations, ending on 19 August 2009. The new system should be in operation in spring next year.