Numerous employers are confused about how they should respond to the medical advice from GPs on the new Fit Note.
According to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Doctors are able to advise people who are on sick leave for over 7 days whether, with extra support from their employer, they could return to work earlier”. However, according to the Scottish occupational health and safety advice service, Healthy Working Lives (HLW), employers have been confused as to “…whether or not an employee can return to work before the end date stated on Med 3”.
HLW advice published in August states that
“if your employee agrees with you that it is appropriate to return to work, and you are able to support them to do so, they do not have to wait until the end of the period stated to return. This is unchanged by the fit note and was the case with the previous Med 3”.
