Value of the RtWP

5.5.1 Views on the use of the RtWP

All employers surveyed that had recommendations in the RtWP were asked how helpful these recommendations were with a view to facilitating their employee’s return to work. They were directed to think about the recommendations themselves, regardless of their outcome. Nearly four in five employers (79 per cent) agreed that the recommendations had been helpful (Table 5.31).

Table 5.31 On paper, how helpful were the recommendations with a view to facilitating your employee’s return to work? (Weighted data)

Categories N Col

%

Very helpful 120 36

Fairly helpful 141 43

Neither helpful nor unhelpful 36 11

Fairly unhelpful 15 4

Or very unhelpful 20 6

Total 331 100

Base: All respondents with recommendations in the RtWP (N=332). Unweighted.

Source: Fit for Work evaluation employer survey.

There were some statistically significant variations by size, whether the organisation had access to occupational health services, and whether the employee had returned to work.

• Employers with 50-249 employees and employers with 250 or more employees were more likely (85 per cent and 80 per cent respectively) than employers with less than 50 employees (68 per cent) to agree that the recommendations had been helpful (see TA Table 5.93 in the Technical Annex).

• Employers with access to an occupational health service were more likely (88 per cent) than those without access to an occupational health service (70 per cent) to agree that the recommendations had been helpful (see TA Table 5.94 in the Technical Annex).

The qualitative interviews with employers also found general agreement that the RtWP provided helpful specifications about assisting their employee back to work.

Several larger employers explained that they were already familiar with the kinds of recommendations proposed. However, having internal protocols and knowledge confirmed by an external health professional was welcomed for verifying the approach taken.

‘I was thrilled with it, it was probably what we would have done anyway but it was nice that the person got to discuss it with someone.’

Large employer (250+ employees)

‘It was a really good way, after that length of absence […] having a staged reintroduction for work done for you. It was well managed […] All you had to do is take it and talk it through. It prevented us from having to draw up a load of paperwork ourselves.’

Large employer (250+ employees)

A number of employers also welcomed the RtWP because it had conferred some responsibility on the employee to address some obstacles they faced themselves.

Where employers found the RtWP less helpful, reasons for this were that the RtWP(s):

• Lacked sufficient precise detail about recommendations (e.g. ‘between two and 12 weeks’);

• Did not include recommendations with enough employer input; and

• Had not given any suggestions about how to help their employee back to work.

5.5.2 Certifying absence from work and using as fit note

Employees who had received a copy of their RtWP were asked if they had been required by their employer to submit the summary in order to certify their absence from work. Just under half of employees (45 per cent) had been required to submit their RtWP summary to certify their absence (Table 5.32).

Table 5.32 Have you been required by your employer to submit the summary of your RtWP to certify your absence, like a fit note? (Weighted data)

Categories N Col

%

Had to submit summary of RtWP 365 45

Did not have to submit summary of RtWP 413 51

Don’t know 35 4

Total 813 100

Base: All who received their RtWP (N=814). Unweighted.

Source: Fit for Work evaluation Wave One employee survey.

Respondents that were not required by their employer to submit a summary of their RtWP were asked whether their employer had asked them for a fit note. Two in five (40 per cent) of employees who were not required by their employer to submit a summary of their RtWP reported that their employer had asked them for a fit note (Table 5.33).

Table 5.33 Did your employer ask you for a fit note? (Weighted data)

Categories All

N Col

% Employer asked for a fit note 180 40 Employer did not ask for a fit note 259 58

Don’t know 9 2

Total 448 100

Base: All not required by their employer to submit a summary of their RtWP (N=451).

Unweighted.

Source: Fit for Work evaluation Wave One employee survey.

5.5.3 Employers’ use of tax exemption

All employers were asked about their awareness and use of a tax exemption of up to £500 (per year, per employee) on medical treatments recommended to help their employees return to work. This is applicable to treatments recommended by health professionals within Fit for Work and health professionals within employer-arranged occupational health services. Four in ten (40 per cent) employers were aware of this tax exemption but had not used it and a further one per cent of employers had used this tax exemption in the past. The majority of employers (53 per cent) had not heard of this exemption and the remaining six per cent of employers were not sure (Table 5.34).

• Employers with 250 or more employees were more likely (45 per cent) than employers with less than 50 employees (33 per cent) to have heard of the tax exemption but not to have used it (see TA Table 5.95 in the Technical Annex).

• Employers in the energy, manufacturing, construction, transport and logistics sector and the business and other services sector were more likely (52 per cent and 57 per cent) than employers in other sectors (30 per cent, 32 per cent and 34 per cent respectively for employers in retail, hospitality, leisure and creative; health, care and charity; and public administration and public services) to have been aware of this tax exemption but not to have used it in the past (see TA Table 5.96 in the Technical Annex).

• Employers that had received an RtWP for some or all employees were more likely (44 per cent) to be aware of this tax exemption but not to have used it compared to employers that had not received an RtWP (25 per cent) (see TA Table 5.97 in the Technical Annex).

• Employers that had had contact with a Fit for Work case manager were more likely (52 per cent) than those who had not (29 per cent) to report they were aware of this tax exemption but had not used it in the past (see TA Table 5.98 in the Technical Annex).

Table 5.34 Which of the following statements applies to this organisation?

(Weighted data)

Categories N Col

%

We have used this tax exemption in the past 7 1

We are aware of this tax exemption but have not used it in the past 201 40

We are not aware of this tax exemption at all 265 53

Don’t know/unsure 31 6

Total 504 100

Base: All respondents (N=504). Unweighted.

Source: Fit for Work evaluation employer survey.

All employers were asked whether they would consider this tax exemption to fund medical treatments to help employees. The majority (84 per cent) said that they

definitely or possibly would consider using the tax exemption (Table 5.35). There were some statistically significant differences.

• Employers with 50-249 employees were more likely (96 per cent) than employers with less than 50 employees (86 per cent) and those with 250 employees or more (77 per cent) to say they would consider using this tax exemption (see TA Table 5.99 in the Technical Annex).

• Employers without access to occupational health services were more likely (89 per cent) than those with access to occupational health services (80 per cent) to report they would consider using this tax exemption in the future (see TA Table 5.102 in the Technical Annex).

Table 5.35 Would you consider using this tax exemption in the future to fund medical treatments to help employees get back to work? (Weighted data)

Categories N Col

%

Yes, definitely 165 33

Yes, possibly 259 51

No 30 6

Not applicable 12 2

Unsure/don’t know 37 7

Total 504 100

Base: All respondents (N=504). Unweighted.

Source: Fit for Work evaluation employer survey.