People off sick for more than four weeks are to be offered advice to get them back to work more quickly under a scheme being set up by the government.

The Health and Work Service, which will cover England, Wales and Scotland, will offer non-compulsory medical assessments and treatment plans.

It will be run by the private sector and paid for by scrapping compensation to employers for statutory sick pay.

Ministers say employers will save money overall by having fewer staff off sick.

They said it may save companies up to £70m a year in reduced sickness pay and related costs.

The new scheme will not entail any change to existing laws.

At present, staff who are off work for more than four weeks are considered to be long-term sick and entitled to Statutory Sick Pay of almost £90 per week from their employers.

That will not change under the new arrangements - but the government wants the Health and Work Service to cut the number of people on long-term sick leave.

Under the scheme, employers or GPs will be able to refer employees for a work-focused occupational health assessment.

several years ago i broke my leg after a crash on my motor bike (scooter)
i had a week off then went into my work place and arranged to work on the tills for several weeks
before returning to normal work duties

no long time sick, that would have bored the hell out of me ...

As someone said on the radio today, 'It's ATOS for people on sick leave". I can see no great benefit to this for people who have jobs when they go sick and intend to go back. Four weeks? I was off longer than that after my car crash and I had no intention other than going back, why the heck should I bother with this or it have bothered with me?