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A review commissioned by the government is expected to recommend that employees who are ill will be unable to be signed off by their doctor.

The government’​s Independent Review into Sickness Absence is likely to say that a new body should be set up to decide whether people are fit to work and that employers will have the right to ask the new organisation to make an independent decision rather than checking with the patients doctor.

The report is part of the government’​s review of the benefits system which aims to reduce the cost of Employment and Support Allowance (formerly incapacity benefit) and keep people in work. Other ideas expected to be included in the report are to introduce a scheme whereby employers are offered tax breaks to help those on low pay return to their jobs.

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