A couple of years ago, sick notes were reframed as fit notes. Rather than just saying a patient wasn't able to work, doctors had the ability to say that a patient was able to do *some* work, and specify what they were able to do. The idea was that this would reduce absenteeism, and avoid employees becoming isolated at home when it would actually be healthier and better for them (and their employer) if they were engaged in some aspect of their employment, even if they couldn't fulfil all of their duties.
However, every single fit note that we've handled on behalf of our payroll clients since the change has had the "you are not fit to work" box ticked. So, in practical terms, the cost and upheaval of the change appears (based on this completely unscientific sample) to have made absolutely no difference to anything. Perhaps the lesson is that changing human nature and behaviour can take a bit more than just adding some more tick boxes to a form.
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