EXCLUSIVE The health expert who invented the fit note has warned it is in danger of becoming just "another version of writing a sicknote". Dame Carol Black's comments come after the government released its final version of the fit note l  More...
10 February 2010 10:54

HR news and analysis including: The latest developments in the case of Network Rail HR director Peter Bennett, who is facing accusations of discrimination The new fit-note strategy and whether the HR community expects it to work The threat  More...
05 February 2010 14:43

The government’s new fit note strategy will “inevitably” lead to disputes between employers and staff about what constitutes suitable work following a period of sickness absence, HR chiefs have warned. Under the new fit note system , which come  More...
02 February 2010 14:50

As the day of the working year on which the highest number of employees are likely to call in sick, the first Monday in February has been given the dubious title of National Sickie Day. Of course, in winter colds and flu are circulating and it is o  More...
01 February 2010 14:17

The new fit note will not give doctors the option to deem a patient “fit for work”, only whether they may be fit for some work, it has emerged. Under the new system, due to come into force this April, GPs will replace the hand-written sick note with  More...
29 January 2010 17:59

HR news and analysis including: The best ways to manage sickness absence as the UK marks ‘National Sickie Day’ on 1 February The collapse of the latest bid to scrap enforced retirement at 65. Presenter Tara Craig is joined by Kat Baker an  More...
29 January 2010 16:11

Will the new 'fit note' really make a difference in the battle against sickness absence?  More...
19 January 2010 17:52

HR news and analysis including: a look back at the big stories of 2009 – swine flu and bonuses – and predictions of what 2010 will mean for the HR community. Presenter Tara Craig is joined by Louisa Peacock and Rob Moss. Edited and produced by T  More...
18 December 2009 17:43

Pressure is building to give workers paid leave to care for sick and infirm relatives but how long should it last and who should foot the bill? Guy Sheppard and Louisa Peacock report.   More...
15 December 2009 15:24

University of Manchester researchers have found a huge variation in how long patients are signed off work by GPs. Researchers surveyed 113 GPs within one health trust, looking at sickness certification practices after surgery or a heart attack. The  More...
08 December 2009 08:20

As a result of research undertaken by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on mental wellbeing in the workplace, guidance has been produced on promoting mental wellbeing through productive and healthy working condition  More...
23 November 2009 13:00

One in three sick days fall on a Monday and more working days are lost in January than any other month, according to new research. An analysis of sickness absence records for 11,000 employees, by consulting firm Mercer, revealed that the first mont  More...
09 November 2009 00:01

In today’s ever health-conscious environment, cholesterol is seen as a key element when taking an overview of an individual’s health. A survey conducted by occupational health specialists Abermed at this year’s Offshore Europe Exhibition has show  More...
04 November 2009 15:13

Two recent stellar rulings on sickness and holiday accrual and entitlement have managed to clear some waters and muddy others. Joanne Owers explains.   More...
04 November 2009 00:44

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has decided that workers who are sick during a period of pre-arranged annual leave are entitled to defer the leave until a later date, after they have recovered. If the leave cannot be taken during the current ho  More...
04 November 2009 00:04

Small businesses and local partnerships across the UK will have the chance to bid for a share of millions of pounds over the next two years to fund innovative projects to improve the health and welfare of their workers, the Department for W  More...
23 October 2009 08:54

The government has moved to calm fears that GPs will lack training in the new fit note scheme when it is rolled out next April. A survey by the Londonwide Local Medical Committees of more than 450 doctors found that 96% had received no training a  More...
15 October 2009 14:48

The number of people who are deemed fit for work and not eligible for sickness benefit has doubled under the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) system introduced last year by the government, official figures show. The Department of Work a  More...
15 October 2009 11:38

Businesses earn 20% more from their staff if they have a healthy work-life balance, according to new research from talent development firm Morgan Redwood . The research revealed that nine out of 10 firms believe there is a direct connection  More...
15 October 2009 08:44

NHS bosses have been urged by the Department of Health to maximise the number of their frontline staff who receive the swine flu vaccination. Chief executives running hospitals, primary care trusts and strategic health authorities have been wr  More...
12 October 2009 08:11