NATIONAL charity Shaw Trust today urged the government to power up its anti sick note culture drive by giving employers guidance and incentives to participate in employee retention programmes.
As Health Secretary Alan Johnson called for employers to do more to promote their workers' work health balance at the British Heart Foundation's Well at Work Conference in London yesterday (Wednesday), the charity said everyone would benefit from a clear support system to reduce the 175 million working days that are lost to ill health every year.
Managing Director Tim Cooper said employers should be allowed to take the lead, not GPs, who will be at the forefront of the government's summer 'well note' pilot of changes to the current sick certificate.
"As a charity dedicated to help disabled, ill, and disadvantaged people enter into and maintain employment, we heartily agree that people's capabilities rather than disabilities be focused on," he said.
"There is no doubt that work is a prescription to good health. But it should not be left to GPs to determine whether or not a patient is able to perform the job functions required by the employer, or to advise the employer on how to make work place adjustments to allow the employee to carry on working.
"However, GPs, employers and their workers should be made more aware of specifically designed programmes that are already available to keep people in work when they develop health problems."
Shaw Trust, which worked with over 60,000 people last year, already runs employee retention and condition management programmes. Their Staying in Work Service has proved to be such a success at West Midlands Police that other forces are looking at replicating it.
The charity's Mental Health Campaign has also been working with employers. A free web resource will launch in April, to provide line managers with the support and guidance they need to support employees with mental ill health.
"Employers need assistance and support to understand the programmes available to stop employees falling out of work and into a downward spiral of further health issues and poverty," said Tim Cooper.
"Where it is not possible for the employee to be redeployed and continue working for the same employer, there are other programmes available for an employee to use to avoid the trap of long term illness and benefit support."
* Tim Cooper is available for interview
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. For further details, please contact Shaw Trust Public Affairs Manager Carli Harper-Penman on 07725 307 988 or you can email: crucialpr@shaw-trust.org.uk
2. Shaw Trust is a national charity, formed in 1982, which helps people with disability or disadvantage to find work and achieve independence. We do this not only by delivering government programmes, but also through our own self-funded initiatives, and by campaigning to change attitudes at all levels.
3. Across the
