Commit to getting employees back to work, businesses told
BUSINESSES will need to commit to managing employee sickness to get people back to work quicker, an occupational health expert has said.
Dr Leslie Smith, pictured far left with deputy Social Security minister Sandra James and deputy chief officer Ed Ashton, has been drafted in on a year's contract by the department to revamp the way the island deals with sickness claims. He said the department would not succeed alone in lowering the duration of benefit reliance through its new Supporting Occupational Health and Wellbeing scheme.
Dr Smith said the initiatives' focus would be on early intervention and support to prevent people falling into the long-term sick category.
'Everything I've focused on over the years has been about rehabilitation, it isn't the diagnosis that's necessarily important – it is still an important part – but the main thing is understanding how that condition causes impairment,' he said.
'For example, someone with a bad back can't lift and carry, the next step is looking at how you can help that person to manage that impairment and break down the obstacles that prevent people from recovering or returning to work.
'The focus is looking at capability not incapability.'
Dr Smith said the department would look to create a new sick note, in conjunction with GPs and do more to assist individuals in getting back to work through a better assessment of their needs, one-to-one employment support and training.
However, he added businesses would also have to be prepared to make adjustments.
