New ‘May Be Fit To Work’ note is an alternative to being signed off

RECENT Government figures suggest that almost half of workplace absences are down to stress.

Of course, a little stress can be a good thing for us and improve performance, but when it becomes unmanageable, then it’s a problem.

There are long-term health problems associated with being stressed so it’s something which needs to be dealt with. However, most people try to soldier on.

It can be a bit of a challenge to tease out if someone is affected by workplace stress, sometimes because they’re not sure themselves.

A patient might come in to see me but they’re not exactly sure what’s wrong. Perhaps they’ve got strange aches and pains, or they’ve not been sleeping well.

Maybe they’re feeling down and are dreading going into work on a Monday morning.

Of course, many of us don’t particularly enjoy that feeling, but when it begins to affect our health it’s worth tackling. Some employers will encourage their employees to talk to their manager if they’re feeling under pressure.

That may not work if the manager is part of the problem. In that case I’d recommend the employee speak to a trusted senior colleague, or perhaps someone in HR.

Employers are duty-bound to offer support if you need it.

I can now write a “May Be Fit To Work” note for an patient. This can take into account someone’s personal circumstances and may enable them to get back to work sooner.

For example, if someone is stressed because they’re having to care for a sick relative then the note may suggest they’ll manage work if they can have altered hours or duties.

I like it because it encourages workers and their employer to speak to each other and come up with a solution where both sides are happy.