14 day medical Self Certification
mhl fears that government plans to combat the swine flu pandemic, by giving employees 'a freedom pass', will have serious consequences for UK business.
Amongst the emergency measures to cope with the threat of a swine flu pandemic currently being considered by The Department of Health is a change to the rules on medical self-certification. Under the proposed changes, employees will be able to sign themselves off work for up to fourteen days.
Currently, staff can take a week off work without a doctor's note. Mhl support is urging the Government to re-think their plans, citing the fourteen day certification idea as 'a freedom pass', which would make it possible for individuals to take two weeks off work without incurring any consequences.
mhl support's Michael Vernon is concerned that communication between government and employer’s groups has been sporadic. He said: 'Because this will be introduced as an emergency measure designed to be in place for around six months, there is unlikely to be any consultation on this plan with employers in advance of implementation.
'Whilst it is easy to understand the government's aim is to ease pressure on GPs and hospital A&E units, it appears that the 'fourteen day' approach has not been thought through. If predictions surrounding the swine-flu pandemic are realised, business in the UK will be in line to suffer losses of around £1.5b a day. Genuine sickness amongst employees will be even more difficult to manage with this 'freedom pass' in place giving disloyal workers 'the green light' for unaccountable absence.'
If you would like to discuss your company's Swine Flu arrangements, feel free to use the Contact Form and a member of mhl support will be in touch.
mhl support are recommending an alternative solution that they believe is more practical and less prone to abuse than simply extending the period of self-certification.
'We are advising our clients to view each case of illness on its own merits', Mr. Vernon said. 'We think that it is equitable for companies to ask employees what help they have sought – for instance from their own GP or from NHS Direct – and to consider an employee's previous absence record when faced with an extended period of self-certified absence.'
Mr. Vernon concluded 'We fear that the proposed measures will, if introduced, test to the limits the resilience of many UK businesses and it is profoundly worrying to consider that there are some companies that will fail to withstand the added pressure.'
