Benefits of abolishing PTS - survey results
PERCENTAGE THRESHOLD SCHEME TO BE ABOLISHED
21 January 2013
The government response to the independent review of sickness absence Fitness for work has been presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State.
The review Health at Work – an independent review of sickness absence, began in 2011 and presented a detailed analysis of:
the impact of sickness absence on employers, the State and individuals; and the factors which contribute to and prolong sickness absence and which, in too many cases, mean employees move out of work and on to benefits. The review also made a total of 13 recommendations which the government have responded to. Full details can be found within the report however the following sprang out as being notable for those of us within the Payroll Industry. The need for a revision to be made to the guidance of the fit note to ensure that judgments made about an individual’s fitness to work move away from only job-specific assessments, in reply, it is the government’s intention to publish revised guidance for GPs, employers and individuals, during the first quarter of 2013. Another recommendation is the abolition of the Percentage Threshold Scheme (PTS) which has been highlighted as “compensating mainly smaller employers for very high rates of sickness absence”. The government have agreed and in return will instead be using the funds saved on the provision of a new health and work assessment and advisory service. It is proposed that the service would begin in 2014. The recommendation that expenditure by employers, which is targeted at keeping sick employees at work, for example, medical treatments or vocational rehabilitation costs should attract tax relief. The government will decide upon this as part of the 2013 Budget.
See DWP press release
DWP PUBLISH UPDATED FIT NOTE GUIDANCE
7 March 2013
The Department for Work & Pensions has published updated guidance for all stakeholders in a bid to provide greater support for sick workers in returning to work more easily.
Fit note guidance is available for GPs, hospital doctors, employees, employers & line managers and occupational health practitioners.
The improved guidance is based upon research and feedback from patients, GPs and employers and is designed to maximise the full potential of the fit note by looking at what a person can do whilst sick instead of what they can’t do.
Dr Bill Gunnyeon, Chief Medical Adviser for the Department for Work and Pensions, said:
“The fit note can be valuable in helping people return to work quickly and avoid long-term absence and potential job loss – this revised guidance helps doctors, employers and patients use it to its full potential.”
CIPP Policy News Journal
12/04/2013, Page 302 of 362
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