Fit For Work, a free, government-led initiative that helps businesses grow through improving their productivity and profitability via effective management of staff sickness absence. Sickness absence has serious implications for employers and staff so the free support provided by Fit for Work can be invaluable to businesses affected, particularly small businesses that do not have their own occupational health support.

Free occupational health assessments to help employees return to work after absence of four weeks or more. Access to online and telephone-based work-related health advice. All employers across England and Wales can refer employees who have been off work for four weeks or more for a free Fit for Work assessment.

Fit for Work is designed to support people in work with health conditions and help with sickness absence. Being in work is an important contributor to good health. The longer someone is off sick, the harder it is for them to get back to work. Research suggests that being out of work for long periods of time is damaging to social and financial wellbeing, and health.

There are two elements to Fit for Work:

• Free, expert and impartial work-related health advice via our website and telephone line.
• Referral to an occupational health professional for employees who have been, or who are likely to be, off sick for four weeks or more.

The occupational health professional will identify obstacles preventing the employee from returning to work and produce a Return to Work Plan tailored to the employee’s needs. Referrals can be made by GPs, and employers can refer an employee if they have not yet been referred by their GP after four weeks of absence.

Employees will need to consent to be referred to Fit for Work and for the Return to Work Plan to be shared with their GP and employer.

Fit for Work is designed to work alongside, not replace, existing occupational health services.

View here for more details.
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