UK Government Tackles 'Sick Note Culture' Amid Rising Long-Term Sickness

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to unveil a plan to address Britain's growing 'worklessness crisis', where the number of economically inactive Britons has ballooned to 9.25 million post-pandemic.

The government aims to tackle what Sunak calls a 'sick note culture' by overhauling the system for issuing 'fit notes' that declare people unable to work due to illness.

The spike in long-term sickness is largely attributed to mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and bad nerves. Over 2.8 million people are now on the long-term sick list, double the number of unemployed Britons. Evidence shows that once given a sick note, 94% are declared unfit for any work at all, and prospects of getting them back into employment are slim.

Sunak plans to shift responsibility for issuing fit notes away from GPs to specialist work and health professionals. He argues the default should be "what work you can do - not what you can't" and wants to encourage those with mental health conditions back into appropriate work. The government believes good work can improve mental and physical health.

Why this matters: Britain is the only G7 country with higher levels of economic inactivity than before the pandemic. The lack of available workers is holding back the economy, contributing to reduced productivity, greater wage growth, and inflationary pressures.

Critics question whether non-medical professionals should make decisions about someone's ability to work. Charities argue economic inactivity is linked to 'crumbling' public services and urge the government to invest in the NHS and promote health and wellbeing to address the underlying issues.

The government is launching a call for evidence to seek responses from healthcare professionals, employers, and people with lived experience. Sunak acknowledges the trend of people openly discussing mental health but warns against "over-medicalising" everyday challenges by diagnosing them as mental health conditions. He pledges not to dismiss illnesses but take a more ambitious approach to helping people back to work.

Key Takeaways

• PM Sunak to address Britain's 'worklessness crisis' with 9.25M economically inactive
• Aims to overhaul 'fit note' system, shifting responsibility from GPs to work professionals
• Britain has higher economic inactivity than pre-pandemic, hurting productivity and wages
• Critics question non-medical professionals deciding work ability, urge NHS investment
• Sunak warns against 'over-medicalizing' everyday challenges as mental health issues