Encouraging Higher Employment

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP): Under review, to encourage returns to work.
The Government today announced plans to review SSP, to encourage supportive discussions and phased returns to work. The proposed plans included in this green paper include:

• Encouraging employers to work with their employees with long-term health conditions, to stop them from falling out of work,
• A review of Statutory Sick Pay and doctors fit notes, to support workers getting back to work faster, and for longer,
• Work Capability Assessment reform, via the launch of a consultation,
• A debate about recognising the value of work as a health outcome.

Also under consideration is extending the issue of fit notes from doctors to other healthcare professionals as hopefully, this will ensure people receive more support in specific areas of health issues. This Government believes that since inheriting the system in 2010, good progress has been made encouraging those who can work, whilst ensuring a safety net for those who cannot and they are also aware that further work is needed to ensure the system is better targeted and that it works for everyone.

Disclaimer - All information in this post was correct at time of writing.