From 01 July 2022, new legislation will allow more healthcare professionals to certify fit notes to ease pressure on doctors and GPs. Here’s what you need to know:
What’s changing – nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists and physiotherapists will be able to issue and certify fit notes (not just doctors and GPs) and determine whether an employee is ‘not fit for work’ or ‘may be fit for work’.
Policies and training – your sickness absence policies will need to be updated (and communicated) to reflect the change – you’ll find our up-to-date version on Intelligent Employment. Ensure your managers are up to speed with the change and take the opportunity to refresh their training on managing sickness absence more broadly.
Digital fit notes – remember that since 06 April 2022 valid fit notes can be issued digitally (they’re no longer required to be ‘signed in ink’).
With the Office for National Statistics reporting the highest sickness absence rates for a decade, we may expect to see even more fit notes from employees following these changes. Get in touch to find out how we can help with training to manage sickness absence effectively.
