The End Of The Sick Note .............. ?

An estimated 140 million days lost as long term sickness absence costs the UK almost £9 billion each year. With a stumbling economy, it is no wonder then that alongside a number of employment law reforms aimed at tackling the economic crisis, this is another area under scrutiny.

Traditionally, employers have expected an employee's doctor to assess their capability to work. However, an independent review into sickness absence published this month has suggested that a family doctor taking work decisions may not be the best way to manage long term sickness absence and that bespoke advice would be more appropriate.

The review has suggested the creation of an Independent Assessment Service (IAS), which would provide an in-depth assessment of a person's physical and/or mental function when they have been signed off work for four weeks or more. The IAS would also then provide advice on how best to manage that absence including advice on supportive measures to enable that