Employers 'Must Crack Down On Sickness'

Employers 'must crack down on sickness'

Stricter measures that force employers to monitor sickness claims effectively are needed if the government is to reduce the number of people on incapacity benefits, a report has recommended.

The report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said the UK offers the best illustration of the European-wide trend started in the 1980s of falling unemployment and increasing claims for disability benefits.

It warned that current reforms to reduce the incapacity benefit caseload by 1m people by 2010 will be "insufficient".

In particular, the report said that since the privatisation of sickness benefits, which are under the responsibility of the employer for 28 weeks, public authorities know little about what is happening in the early stages of sickness.

"Employers should monitor repeated and long-term sickness absences and inform Jobcentre Plus about such cases," it recommended. "Failure to do so should have a direct impact on the costs the employer has to carry."

The OECD also suggested putting more emphasis on health status monitoring and health management for people on unemployment and lone-parent benefits, and introducing compulsory measures for those undergoing work-focused interviews.

"Participation requirements should go beyond the current mandatory interviews," it said. "Actions identified during these interviews should increasingly be made compulsory. Similar requirements should also be considered for current recipients."

Health Insurance & Protection.com