Posted: Thursday 25 February 2010
Fit Notes - Guidance Published
In a recent blog entitled Fit Notes, I mentioned that detailed guidance would be available shortly for medical practitioners, employers and individuals.
Well, the Department of Work and Pensions has now published guidance for employers and doctors. The guidance explains the new regime in detail. Guidance for employees can be found separately, on the Directgov website. Finally, the TUC has published guidance for union representatives.
The Government is presumably hoping that by publishing comprehensive guidance, it can cut down on any difficulties faced by employers, doctors and employees when the new rules come into force on 6 April this year.
As I said previously, my personal view is that the issue of “reasonable adjustments” in relation to employees’ disabilities may be thrust into the spotlight. If a doctor suggests an adjustment and the employer does not make the suggested adjustment, a court may have to decide whether or not the adjustment was reasonable in the first place.
A number of other interesting legal and practical issues are raised by the “Fit Notes” and if you are interested in this issue, please register to attend one of our free Essential Employment Law seminars on this topic. We will cover the new “fit notes” system and also discuss the legal and practical implications of employees being on long-term sick leave. The seminars will be held in Glasgow on Tuesday 16 March at 8:30am to 9.45am and in Edinburgh on Wednesday 17 March from 5:15 pm to 6:30pm.
