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Johnson calls for 'well-note' culture in workplaces

20/02/2008

Health secretary Alan Johnson has set out plans to turn Britain's 'sick-note' culture in workplaces to a 'well-note' culture.

The government is to look at ways of finding what work people can do when they are ill instead of signing sick people completely off work.

It is expected that GPs could be asked to write well-notes and assess people's capabilities.

Mr Johnson's goals for a new attitude to a work-health balance are outlined in his speech to the British Heart Foundation today.

As well as attempting a well-note culture, the health secretary called for employers to take steps to promote health and wellbeing in the workplace and for particular health risks to be identified.

The focus on the health of employees comes as the government attempts to reduce the 2.64 million people on incapacity benefits in the UK.

"Ten years ago, we started the debate on work-life balance," Mr Johnson said.

"Increased maternity leave; the introduction of paternity leave; time off for adoptive parents; and the right to request flexible working have led to a quiet revolution, as more employers recognise that supporting a healthy work-life balance is essential to recruiting and retaining talented staff.

"The next stage is to incorporate work-life balance with work-health balance."

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has welcomed the announcement, saying it will encourage GPs to offer fitness to work advice to patients and employers.

"Work has a huge part to play in the early treatment and rehabilitation of people experiencing mental ill health," said CIPD employee relations adviser Mike Emmott.

"Employers are willing to do their bit, but they need support and better communication from GPs to facilitate appropriately phased returns to work."

But the British Medical Association (BMA) said GPs should not be used "to police the system".

"Confirming that a patient is unwell is very different from making a judgement on whether someone is well enough to do their job," said Dr Peter Holden of the BMA's GPs' committee.

"For over ten years the BMA has called for the incapacity benefit process to be reviewed and reformed.

"There is often too much focus placed on the doctors' role in giving a medical assessment. This is only part of the process in deciding when benefits should be given."

He added: "Employers should be encouraged to provide staff with access to proper occupational health services that will help them get back to work."