Kirstie Allison (associate, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP) wrote a small article in the latest issue of People Management regarding the IAS.

When managing long-term sickness absence, employers often have to rely on what they are told by an employee's GP, which can be very little. The government has published recommendations for setting an Independent Assessment Service (IAS) to assess the health of employees signed off work for four weeks or more. Employees would be referred to by their GP or employer, and the service would advise on their return to work. This would provide a more neutral ground for assessment, may encourage early intervention and could act as a deterrent for those "trying it on". It is unclear whether employers will be able to rely on the IAS's assessment of "reasonable adjustments" for the employee's return to work. Other recommendations include:

• Revising fit-note guidance so judgments about fitness are non job specific;
• Introducing a job brokering service to help long term sick employees find new work in cases where they do not wish to return to work for their existing employer;
• Making it easier to end employment for such employees, by paying them a statutory sum;
• Lifting the ban on pre-employment health questionnaires.