Few employers have been made officially aware of the availability of Fit for Work (FfW) according to new research.
The government-funded initiative was launched in September designed to be particularly helpful for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) employing a large proportion of the workforce but with no or limited occupational health support.
However, only 17% of the 281 employers surveyed by Jelf Employee Benefits had received any formal notification of the service.
Furthermore, more than 2 in 3 (68%) employers said they had not received any official communications about it.
Worryingly, only 3% of employers who were aware of FfW had made referrals to the service.
A Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) poll shared exclusively with COVER's sister title WSB showed just one in four (26%) organisations expects to use the FfW when it was available in their area.
Jelf Employee Benefits head of benefits strategy Steve Herbert said: "The Fit for Work service is an important first step for thousands of employers to help reduce sickness absence, yet the service will only make a tangible difference if all employers are made aware of the service and how to access it."
"We are aware that Fit for Work has been rolling out a national roadshow to employers and are shortly undertaking an advertising campaign. This can only help improve awareness and referrals, but we would still like to see more promotion from central government to push forward this agenda."
