WORKERS signed off sick for more than two weeks could be offered counselling under government plans to reduce Britain’s sick note culture.

And a Swindon counselling service said it could be a positive move as, due to redundancies and other effects of the economic crisis, work was having even more of an impact on people’s mental well-being, The Government has called for a major review of sickness levels in the country to tackle the £100bn that working age ill health costs the economy every year.

Under proposals, staff with doctors’ notes for longer periods would be offered counselling.

The independent review, jointly chaired by David Frost, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce and Dame Carol Black, National Director for Health and Work, will explore new ways on how the current system can be changed to help more people stay in work and reduce costs.

Mike Fisher, executive director of Willows Counselling Service, based in Prospect Place, Old Town, said: “The key issue is not that they have been signed off for two weeks but the reasons behind it to determine whether counselling will be effective.

“I’m very positive for the benefits of counselling in helping people.

“The real issue is not people being signed off for physical reasons but those who have mental issues.

“There are a lot of changes in people’s circumstances and we are witnessing a lot more people being made redundant which is having a domino effect on people’s mental health.

“We are seeing a lot of people coming to us with work related stress and this is having a dramatic effect on changes in other aspects of his life.”

As it stands employers bear the costs of short term sickness but the state absorbs the cost of longer-term ill-health.

Figures show more than 300,000 people leave work to claim sickness-related benefits each year.

Ministers fear often health deteriorates if someone is not at work and potentially they could find themselves living in poverty.

Government says it is determined to end the vicious cycle and are clear that in these difficult economic times, the country cannot afford to continue to bear these costs.

Lord Freud, minister for welfare reform, said: “Too many people, through no fault of their own, have fallen on to a life on benefits because of the failures in the sickness absence system. This isn’t fair to the taxpayer but most of all it isn’t fair to the individual.

“We all have a stake in reducing sickness absence, but it’s not clear who is best placed to take responsibility for this change.”