Action on sickness absence

Making it easier to get back to work?

A new UK review (click here  >>), published on 21 November and commissioned by the government in February, aims to combat the 140 million days lost to sickness absence in Great Britain every year, which costs employers £9 billion a year in sick pay and costs. It was written by Dame Carol Black (national director of health and work) and David Frost (former director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce), and analyses the sickness absence system in the UK and the impact that it has on employers, state and individuals, looking at the factors that cause and extend absenteeism. It provides insights into the problem and recommendations to improve the current system (the government will respond in the future).

Recommendations include:

• the option for employers to hold a ‘protected’, without-prejudice conversation with employees about their condition, as many are afraid of being taken to an employment tribunal;
• expenditure to keep ill employees in work – e.g. medical treatment or rehabilitation – could attract tax relief;
• a proposal for an independent assessment service that would assess individual’s health after four weeks off work, and find ways to help them back to work; and
• a job-brokering service for those off work for 20 weeks or more, which could help those unable to return to work at their previous job.

Sources: Financial Times, 21 November 2011 and Health at Work: An Independent Review of Sickness Absence, published 21 November 2011.

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