The taxman may be the best way to beat persistent absenteeism, according to national law firm Rowe Cohen which believes “people would rather be at work than have the taxman snooping around their affairs”, the threat of which might “slash soaring ‘sickie’ rates across the UK.”
According to Rowe Cohen, industry estimates that up to 15% of absenteeism through sickness is not genuine.
Brian Rogers, Operations Director at Rowe Cohen points out that “Employers can make a request to the Revenue to carry out a medical review of an employee that has regular periods of sickness absence; this involves looking at medical records and seeing the employee. After this, the Revenue contacts the employer and tells them whether the employee is fit for work or not.”
The firm says that “one of the attractions of this service is that it is free of charge. Human rights lawyers have yet to ascertain whether setting the IR onto persistently ill employees constitutes a cruel and unusual form of punishment.
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One Response
A Taxing Question?
I’m intrigued,
I know that medicals are part of the process for certain Social Security benefits but why does the Inland Revuenue carry out medical reviews?
Have you used this service and if so can you share your experience? In particular it would be helpful to know what the criteria is for using this service and whether employees can refuse to attend the medicals.
Thanks.