Sick notes face the axe in welfare shake

Sick notes should be replaced and companies offered financial incentives to retain staff to tackle the “crisis” of sickness-related worklessness, a major government review has recommended.

Firms that take tackling work sickness seriously should have access to tax reliefs or sick pay rebates, as well as being given priority for government contracts, the review said.

And fit notes – which have become a “barrier to contact” between employer and staff – should be reformed or replaced with a new NHS App service that offers early intervention and support when someone becomes unwell, the report said. New Feature

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The review said that government incentives – such as national insurance adjustments – should be offered to employers who are hel