It is has been more than three years since the ‘sick note’ was replaced by the ‘fit note’, in a bid to hasten the return to work of ill employees to the workplace.

However, the new system is not in the best of health, according to research from EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, which found that only a quarter of employers felt the fit note had resulted in staff returning to work earlier.

3 in 10 of the businesses surveyed by EEF and Westfield Health said they did not receive any fit notes from GPs last year indicating that an employee “may be fit for work”.

This was despite a growing number of companies being prepared to make work adjustments to help individuals.

“Employers who were willing to give the fit note a chance are now becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the quality of advice that it is providing,” warns Terry Woolmer, head of health and safety policy at EEF.