NEW ‘FIT FOR WORK’ SERVICE TO BE LAUNCHED

The Government has published guidance for employers on its new Fit for Work service, set to be launched early this year.

Fit for Work is designed to help employers manage sickness absence in the workplace and provides the employer, employee and their GP with access to work-related health advice. The aim of Fit for Work is absence prevention and includes:

Free health and work advice provided through a website and telephone line.

Free referral for an occupational health assessment for employees who have reached, or whose GP expects them to reach, four weeks of sickness absence. Employees will normally be referred to their GP, but employers can also make a referral after four weeks of absence.

Since 1st January 2015 the government has also introduced a tax exemption of up to £500 (per employee) on medical treatments recommended to help their employees return to work.

Allan Winn from Avensure explained the benefits:

“Fit for Work can help reduce sick pay costs, by enabling employees to return to work earlier and can particularly benefit SMEs which often have limited access to occupational health advice and services. It can help to promote employee recovery and offers support for isolated employees.

“Fit for Work is a consent based service, which means that employers cannot force employees to undertake assessments by Occupational Health.”

Employers are recommended to update their absence policy to cover Fit for Work. There is no obligation to actively refer employees to Fit for Work – they are entitled to opt out should they wish. However a policy update is necessary because they must notify employees of the availability of Fit for Work, as well as inform staff about the services and what it entails.

For free advice on Fit for Work, or any other HR/Employment legal issue, please call the Avensure team, quoting Marketing Stockport on: (+44) 800 912 7152