The introduction of Fit Notes was designed to end long-term sickness absence, but a new study has revealed time off has doubled. According to the study conducted by management firm Firstcare, workers who went to their GP for a Fit Note were absent from work for 48 days on average, compared to 20 days for those who didn’t apply for one. Analysis of 22,086 employee records found that the majority of doctors are still locked into old habits and sign off employees for lengthy periods of time. FirstCare said that GPs should be thinking about how a worker could return to the office earlier if their job is adapted or they are allowed to work fewer hours.
