Thompsons Solicitors believe that the proposed fit note by the government will not be advantageous in the long run. Tom Jones, Head of Policy at Thompsons, stated that while the firm totally endorses the fact that new reforms should be initiated, it believes this proposal of the government will neither help the employer nor the employee.

According to this proposal, employees falling ill now have to obtain fit notes from their doctors certifying their levels of fitness. Doctors will have to give certificates classifying their patients in one of these three categories, namely,

Absolutely fit and ready to work,

Definitely unfit and cannot work, and

Not so fit but can perform some work.

Thompsons Solicitors categorically states that this new proposal will only create more problems as employees will be forced to return to work even when unwell. In addition, this will not help reduce the financial burden on employers as it will not make any cuts in costs of sick leave or in compensation that is paid to workers who are injured at their workplace.

The sole intention of the government is to ensure people who have suffered an injury or illness settle back into their jobs with ease. However, this purpose could be defeated, as employers could force their employees back to work without providing any assistance to them so that they can resume their jobs. Assistance in the form of flexible working hours and adjustments in tasks is to be given by employers to help sick employees return to work. But this seldom happens, as employers are generally insensitive about such assistance. The law firm fears that fit notes will be used by employers to dismiss people who either refuse to resume work or cannot cope with the workload after being forced to join.

Currently, discussion on this fit note issue has been stalled by the government. The CIPD Certificate in Employment Relations, Law and Practice provides a firm foundation in all the areas of HR and employment law. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the law to allow organisation’s to set their own policies and procedures in context.