Fit for Work roadshow webinars for employers 22 December 2015
Fit for Work is the new voluntary service that offers the wider working population access to occupational health advice and support. GPs and employers throughout England and Wales can now refer their employed patients and employees who have been, or are likely to be, off sick from work for four weeks or more for a voluntary occupational health assessment. The occupational health professional will identify obstacles preventing the employee from returning to work. A Return to Work Plan will be agreed providing recommendations tailored to the employee’s needs, which can replace the need for a fit note.
Following a series of roadshows the Fit for Work team have uploaded recordings of two presentations ' Fit for Work for employers ' (by Dr Thava) and 'Fit for Work - how we got here ' (by David Frost, CBE).
You can find out more about the Fit for Work service by visiting the Fit for Work website .
Low take-up of Fit for Work 23 December 2015
Just three per cent of employers in England and Wales have made referrals to the government’s Fit for Work service, a study for Jelf Employee Benefits has shown.
We have previously reported on the introduction and roll-out of the government’s Fit for Work service but a new report, undertaken by Jelf Employee Benefits, shows that just 3% of employers in England and Wales have referred workers to the Fit for Work service. Organisations have been able to refer staff who have been, or are likely to be, off sick for four weeks or more, since September. However, just nine of the 281 employers interviewed said they had made use of the scheme. The service is designed to reduce long-term sickness absence. Yet, more than two-thirds of employers reported that they had not received any official communications about it.
Steve Herbert, Head of Benefits Strategy at Jelf, said: “Our findings suggest that currently most employers are largely unaware of the launch of this initiative.”
A similar service has been rolled out north of the border, called Fit for Work Scotland.
You can find more information about how the Fit for Work service might help you on the Fit for Work website
Fit for Work FAQ webinar for employers 2 February 2016
If you are still struggling to fully appreciate the rationale behind Fit for Work and how it might benefit employers, an updated webinar has been uploaded.
This latest webinar , which is one of several that have been produced to help disseminate information and guidance about Fit for Work, seeks to address many of the more commonly asked questions about fit for work, how it works and what the benefits might be. Following the recent employer roadshows the fit for work team have reported on their blog that one very common question from employers during the roadshows was how they should talk to their employees about mental health issues? The blog makes reference to a helpful guide issued by the mental health charity MIND that provides a short guide on how to spot the signs.
The Fit for Work website holds an advice hub with an increasing number of resources aimed at providing information to employers, employees and GPs.
CIPP Policy News Journal
25/04/2016, Page 89 of 453
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