health professional when they have been off sick for four weeks or more. They may receive a Return to Work plan which offers advice as to how you can work together to help them back to work. You can use the Return to Work plan in place of a fit note. Fit for Work intends to complement, not replace, existing occupational health provision. It will be particularly beneficial for SMEs who previously had no access to occupational health advice. The Government has also introduced tax exemptions of up to £500 on medical treatments recommended by Fit for Work or an employer's occupational health service.
GPs can refer individuals to Fit for Work. Employers in England and Wales, will be able to refer from autumn 2015 – employers Scotland, from spring 2015.
Find where the service is currently live and where it will be rolling out in England and Wales and in Scotland .
There are 2 elements:
• an advice service providing health and work advice through a website and a telephone line • a referral service providing an occupational health assessment and a return to work plan for employees who have been off sick from work, or are likely to be off sick from work, for 4 weeks or more
Roll-out of the referral service is taking place over a period of months. Find out more about the referral service .
Guidance will be updated regularly as referrals begin to be accepted for occupational health assessments, to reflect the roll out across Great Britain.
Visit the Fit for Work guidance for employers or visit Fit for Work to find out what’s available and sign-up to receive updates.
SMP Calculator still not calculating for 2015/16 rates
19 March 2015
Members should be aware; along with any other employer who is relying on the SMP calculator on the Gov.UK website it is not correctly calculating SMP for the new tax year.
Even after several “what’s wrong with this page” comments saying that it isn’t using the 2015/16 rates for births after 5 April it is still wrong, with just weeks to go.
As we all know we are very, very likely to have an early birth now and if employers use this, it will be wrong. The policy team is seeking your help. Please go to GOV.UK and complete the “what’s wrong with this page” fields and say 2015/16 rates not being used. Our hope is that if every CIPP and LinkedIn member does this, they will be bombarded with comments, that they will have no choice but to get this amended. The real shame is we shouldn’t have to do this as the SME is likely to rely on this and what will happen when they are found to be non-compliant? Please help and add your comment. Thank you in advance.
GPs make their first referrals to Fit for Work
23 March 2015
Whilst referrals are limited to GPs and employers, everyone can access work-related health advice
CIPP Policy News Journal
08/04/2015, Page 483 of 521
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