Ill-conceived | Telling GPs to sign fewer sick notes would be bad for staff and worse for HR

Doctors could be told to sign fewer employees off sick as the Government attempts to slash the amount of working time lost to illness.

But any benefits of having fewer absences could be negated by the time and effort required from HR to implement and manage workplace adjustments for these workers, an employment expert has warned.

The Telegraph reported this week that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) wants to tackle the rising number of people off work with long-term sickness in the wake of the pandemic.

The national newspaper reported that one of the key areas of consideration was to evaluate how GPs sign people off sick, which could form part of next month’s budget.