'Broken system' | Fit note reform trial could reshape absence management - but employers seek clarity on their role

The Government has launched a series of pilots aimed at overhauling the UK’s “broken” fit note system, with employers potentially set to play a greater role in supporting employees to stay in or return to work following illness.

The reforms, which will be trialled through four pilots in England covering up to 100,000 appointments over the next year, are designed to replace what ministers describe as a “tick-box exercise” with more personalised support plans for workers who fall ill.