Occupational Health Assessment Limited’s survey reveals overwhelming HR support for Fit Note improvement trials across England.
The government funded trials to radically improve the effectiveness of Fit Notes are scheduled to commence in July across four English regions. The survey also suggests that Human Resources (HR) professionals are keen to see any identified improvements to the system introduced nationwide and at pace.
Survey overview
A survey undertaken by Occupational Health Assessment Limited last month found that more than 3 in every 4 employers (76%) would like to see any Fit Note enhancements implemented within twelve months of the trials ending. A further 10% of HR experts are keen to see any improvements made before the end of the current decade, whilst only 9% of employers felt that improvements would make little difference to long-term absence management.
Claire McCusker, Practice Director at Occupational Health Assessment Limited, commented;
“All available data from the DWP and the Keep Britain Working report indicates that there remains a clear need for further improvements to the existing Fit Note system.
Those sentiments are also echoed by our research amongst Human Resources (HR) experts, and our survey also suggests that there is now a clear desire from employers to rapidly embrace any improvements identified by the trials once they are known.”
Government funding
The Fit Note trials are backed by £3m of government funding and are scheduled to commence in July across the following employment regions;
- Lancashire & South Cumbria
- Birmingham & Solihull
- Coventry & Warwickshire
- Cornwall & Isles of Scilly
The trials will be subject to different testing parameters in each of the four regions, and it is hoped that the most successful outcomes will be adopted and incorporated into the existing Fit Note system for all. The trials are expected to encompass around 100,000 appointments and will conclude within twelve months.
Occupational Health Assessment Limited’s research also indicates that employers in other geographical regions would be keen to support any additional trials should these be needed. Six in every ten (60%) employers would welcome trials in their region, although more than half of this grouping (37%) would first like to see some additional support made available to help maximise outcomes. A further 1 in 5 (22%) of employers are content to wait for the outcomes of the existing trials to become known.
Magnus Kauders, Managing Director at Occupational Health Assessment Limited, observed;
“It is clear that Human Resources experts welcome this move, and we hope that the trials can deliver some useful evidence to improve the current system.
That said, we feel the real challenge will come if and when any improvements are made nationally, as such a significant change will require sufficient financial funding from government and the wholehearted engagement from healthcare professionals, employers and employees to make a tangible difference.
We will be watching developments with interest.”
For full details of the Occupational Health Assessment Limited research findings please scroll down.
Full survey details & results
The anonymous survey was undertaken on Wednesday 3rd June 2026 as part of the quarterly Occupational Health Assessment Limited Employment Webinars series. 140 senior HR, Finance, and C-Suite professionals responded representing UK employers in the Private, Public, and Third Sector. In total these organisations employ around 1.5 million workers worldwide.
Survey results and questions:
Q1) Would you like to see Fit Note reform trials in your region?
- Yes, Fit Note trials in my region would be very welcome (23.76%)
- Yes, Fit Note trials in my region would be welcome but we would need support to understand the changes proposed (36.63%)
- No, we welcome the trials but would like to await the outcomes of the existing trials (21.78%)
- No, we are not convinced that this will make much difference to absence management overall (8.91%)
- I’m not sure (8.91%)
Q2) How quickly would you like to see any new Fit Note policy introduced to help absence management?
- Within 1 year of the end of the trials (75.76%)
- By the end of the decade (10.10%)
- In the 2030s (1.01%)
- I’m not sure (13.13%)
About Occupational Health Assessment Ltd
Occupational Health Assessment Ltd is an SEQOHS Accredited and Certified B-Corp nationwide occupational health provider.
We provide rapid access to expert occupational health support for businesses right across the United Kingdom. Appointments are available nationwide within two days.
With a unique occupational health assessment service, night worker health assessments, fitness certifications and access to clinics in Belfast, Birmingham, Bradford, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Coventry, Derby, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hull, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Northampton, Nottingham, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Reading, Sheffield, Southampton, Stoke, Surrey and more, the business provides high quality, expert medical advice.
Please contact us for further information or assistance.