If you're off work sick for seven days or less, your employer should not ask for medical evidence that you've been ill.
If you're off work sick for more than seven days, your employer will usually ask you to provide proof that you've been ill. They will normally ask for a fit note from your GP. Fit notes may also be called medical statements, doctor's note or sick-line.
The seven days includes days that you don't normally work. When you work out how long you've been off sick, you should include weekends and bank holidays.
https://www.gov.uk/taking-sick-leave
Sickness of seven days or less
Your employer 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. This is called self-certification.
Self-certification forms
Self-certification forms usually include details such as:
- information about your sickness or illness
- the date your sickness started
- the date your sickness ended
These dates may be days that you don't normally work. For example, your sickness could start or end on a Saturday, Sunday or bank holiday.
Many employers have their own self-certification forms. If your employer doesn't have its own form, it may use an SC2 form from HM Revenue & Customs instead: Employee's Statement of Sickness (PDF, 53kb).
Sickness of more than seven days
If you're sick and off work for more than seven days, your employer will probably ask for proof of your illness. Most employers ask for a fit note from your GP.
However, this will also depend on your employer's company policy on sick leave (or sickness absence). This policy should tell you how many days you can be off sick before you need to provide proof of illness or a fit note.
Fit notes and how to get one
A fit note must be signed by a doctor, such as your GP. Your doctor will assess you, and if he or she decides that your health affects your fitness for work, they can issue a fit note and advise that:
- you are "not fit for work"
- you "may be fit for work taking into account the following advice"
For more information, including what "may be fit for work" means, see What are fit notes?
If you need a fit note, contact your GP surgery, who may advise you to make an appointment or book a telephone consultation.
If you're under the care of a hospital, your fit note may be issued by the hospital rather than your GP. If a hospital issues your fit note, it will always be a double-sided A5 handwritten fit note.
There is never a charge from an NHS doctor for providing a fit note if you're off sick from work for more than seven days.
Charges for Fit Notes
Some employers may request a fit note from employees who repeatedly take time off sick, for example, even if each time they're off work it's for seven days or fewer.
For sickness of seven days or fewer, your GP practice may charge you to provide a fit note. Your GP surgery can give you more information about what their charges are.
Read more about Fit Notes.
If you have health issues that are work-related or affecting your work and your employers do not provide access to Occupational Health Services, the following NHS services may be able to provide you with advice and support.
Working Health Services Scotland (WHSS)
Working Health Services Scotland (WHSS) is an NHS service that aims to assist employees to remain in or return to work quickly after a period of absence.
To qualify for support from this service you must
- work for a small or medium business with less than 50 employees
- still be present at work or off for less than 4 weeks
You can self-refer by calling 0800 019 2211.
Click here to find out more about WHSS
https://www.nhsinform.scot/scotlands-service-directory/health-and-wellbeing-services/10113%201
Fit For Work Scotland (FFWS)
With proper planning and management, returning to work after a period of absence should be a positive and uplifting experience. Before you are fit and well enough to return, you should consider how your condition affects your ability to work and understand what adjustments might be needed to help you to return safely.
To qualify for support from this services, you must
- work for a small or medium business with less than 50 employees
- have been absent from work for 4 weeks, or likely to reach 4 weeks
- are likely to be able to return to work within a 12 week period
You can self-refer by calling 0800 019 2211.
Click here to find our more about FFWS