Sick note culture change using OSINT digital skills for support and informed decision making!
On April 19, 2024, UK Prime Minister Rushi Sunak announced significant changes to welfare and sickness regulations. The government aims to reduce the number of individuals claiming sickness benefits, who instead could be able to continue working. One key policy change is the introduction of specialist work professionals to assess individuals' sickness before issuing sick notes, potentially relieving General Practitioners (GPs) of this responsibility.
However, mental health experts have expressed concerns about the implication that mental health issues are being overlooked. The decision comes amid concerning statistics: in 2022, 185.6 million working days were lost due to sickness and injury, with minor illnesses accounting for 29.3% of cases. The sickness rate in the workforce rose by 2.6%, the highest increase since 2004, with the public sector disproportionately affected. Additionally, 2.8 million people are currently out of work due to long-term sickness, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
To support this cultural shift, there is a suggestion to utilise open-source intelligence (OSINT) specialists with experienced cognitive skills to assess individuals' activities before, during, and after sickness periods. By using sophisticated digital OSINT tools to analyse social media and other open sources, these specialists can identify external activities such as running a business or participating in extracurricular pursuits, which may contradict claims of incapacity.
This approach aims to ensure that sick notes are issued judiciously while also helping economically inactive individuals reintegrate into the workforce. Oskaresearch Consultancy Ltd, a reputable OSINT organisation, has experience in conducting such inquiries and has received positive feedback from businesses undergoing cultural changes.
In summary, the government's proposed changes seek to address the issue of sick note culture, although concerns remain about the impact on mental health. Utilising OSINT specialists could provide a more informed approach to assessing sickness claims and supporting individuals' return to work.
