The law says that Employees can take time off work if they’re ill. They need to give their employer proof if they’re ill for more than 7 days.
If they’re ill just before or during their holiday, they can take it as sick leave instead.
Self-certification
if you have been sick for 7 days or less in a row including non working days you do not need to give your employer a fit note or other proof of sickness from a healthcare professional.
When you return to work, your employer can ask you to confirm you have been off sick. This is called ‘self-certification’. The employer and employee will agree on how the employee should do this. You might need to fill in a form or send an email.
Getting a fit note
If you require a fit (sick) note from the practice, please click on the link below and fill in an online form under the Admin Query option, then select Fit (sick) note option.
You only need to give your employer proof if you have been ill for more than 7 days in a row and have taken sick leave. This includes non-working days, such as weekends and bank holidays.
Employees can get a fit note from the following healthcare professionals:
- GP or hospital doctor
- registered nurse
- occupational therapist
- pharmacist
- physiotherapist
The healthcare professional needs to assess the employee’s fitness for work before giving a fit note.
Fit notes are free if the employee has been ill for more than 7 days when they ask for one. The healthcare professional might charge a fee if the employee has been ill for 7 days or less.
Other proof of sickness
If their employer agrees, the employee can use a similar document called an Allied Health Professional (AHP) Health and Work Report instead. Someone working in any of the following occupations can provide this:
- Art Therapist
- Drama Therapist
- Chiropodist
- Dietitian
- Music therapist
- Occupational therapist
- Operating Department Practitioner
- Orthoptist
- Osteopath
- Orthotist
- Paramedic
- Physiotherapist
- Podiatrist
- Prosthetist
- Radiographer
- Speech and language therapist