CIPD backs plans to change self-certification sicknote rules

CIPD backs plans to change self-certification sicknote rules in the event of swine flu escalation

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) believes employers have nothing to fear from ëemergency plansí currently being considered by the Department for Work and Pensions to change the self-certification ësicknoteí rules from seven to 14 days.

The plans are under ongoing review by the Governmentís Civil Contingency Committee, with draft regulations ready to lay before Parliament. The regulations would have a sunset clause and would only remain law for six months unless it was agreed that they needed to be extended.

Ben Willlmott, CIPD Senior Public Policy Adviser, commented:

ìThe proposal to change the self-certification rules in the event of a serious flu pandemic is a pragmatic and temporary measure to reduce the burden on healthcare professionals and help prevent the spread of infection. Employers that manage absence and performance effectively and consistently have nothing to fear. The vast majority of absence is genuine and only a very small proportion of employees will seek to use this change in the self-certification rules to ëpull a sickieí.