Sicknote Britain

A review of workers' health seeks to further the government's aim of ending Britain's 'sicknote culture'.

The national director for health and work, Dame Carol Black, has recommended a mental and physical health assessment for those off work for long periods of time.

This "fit note" would be incorporated into the new employment and support allowance replacing incapacity benefit from this autumn.

Last November the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed plans for a test assessing a person's capabilities for work.

And in February health secretary Alan Johnson explained the government wants to switch to a "well-note culture", with the emphasis on establishing what the worker can rather than cannot do in the workplace.

Businesses are likely to welcome the measures to combat ill-health at work, which is believed to cost the UK economy £100 billion every year.

There are concerns about the applicability of such assessments to the many different types of employment.

But with today's report stating lost productivity and disability costs Britain £63 billion every year, the government is hoping to persuade employees as well as employers that the simple fit-or-not judgement in current use needs improving.

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