Unions warn over plans to get long-term sick back to work

Trade union bosses are warning that new plans to assist the long-term sick will backfire and hurt those it aims to help.

An independent review has called for a new Independent Assessment Service to be carried out which can advise employers and GPs on cases involving workers who are on long-term sick leave.

However, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber says that while the report was well-intentioned, it could be used by some employers to force people back to work before they are ready, while it doesn’t address what the TUC calls the growing problem of “presenteeism”, where people go in to work when they should be off sick.

However, the report has been welcomed by business leaders with the British Chambers of Commerce saying that the present “fit note” doesn’t work and a new system should be devised which would be of assistance to individuals, businesses and the economy as a whole.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/national-news/sick_staff_will_be_forced_to_work_1_3990126