Sick (fit) notes

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 you’ve been off sick for more than 7 days

To request a sick note:

The doctor may call you or arrange for an appointment.

If you have already been seen by your Doctor about this illness your certificate will be sent to you within a week.

If you’ve been off sick for 7 days or less

If you’re off work sick for 7 days or less, your employer should not ask for medical evidence that you’ve been ill. Instead, they can ask you to confirm that you’ve been ill. You can do this by filling in a form yourself when you return to work. We call this self-certification.

Find out more about sick notes on the NHS website.

Fit notes and proof of sickness

Fit notes are free if the employee has been ill for more than 7 days when they ask for one. The doctor might charge a fee if they ask for the fit note earlier.

Visit www.gov.uk – Taking sick leave for more information.