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Wednesday, 10 March 2010 12:25 |
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 The new ‘fit note’ is almost upon us, (6th April 2010) so here are a few of our Top Tips on how to adapt your policy to ensure that you are fit to deal with it when it arrives!
- Ensure that your policy gives you the flexibility you need to manage your employees!
- Review how you will be making payments to employees on light duties or those who are being phased back to work
- Consider how you will manage disagreements such as when the employee feels they can do tasks that the doctor has suggested they should not be undertaking
- Consider the process that you will follow where the statement given by the doctor does not appear to align with the core functions of an employee’s role i.e. the fact that they drive doesn’t appear to have been taken into account
- Ensure that you give yourself the flexibility to request a second opinion where a ‘fit note’ does not provide enough detail for you to make reasonable adjustments
- Ensure that your return to work form or other system is able to collect the required ‘fit note’ advice and act on it
- Ensure that your policy states that the advice on the ‘fit note’ is not binding and that you may choose to override it where you feel there is a risk to the employee or the business
Finally, make sure that your employees and those managers who are handling sickness matters day to day are aware of the changes that are looming and what you require of them to comply with the policy changes.
If you would like support with your sickness absence policy, please do talk to us.
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