No “sick notes” from today! The UK government is replacing the “sick note” with a, believe it or not, a “fit note”.

The modifications come as a part of the policy to cut down the long list of workers on long-term health benefits.

It has been estimated that about 1 million people take a sick leave in the UK every week. Six months later, 3,000 of them are still on their “sick leave”. Still topping it, 2,500 of them, are still not at work, even after a gap of 5 years.

The UK government said that on an overall level, work is usually good for a person’s health and returning to work can in fact assist in a person’s recuperation.

On the other hand, staying off your job can lead to job loss and absentees, along with risks of isolation from society, degradation in mental health, lack of confidence etc.

Explaining the new “fit note” policy, the Government says that the main distinction comes in the fact that it lets your physician guide you how you can get back to work.