Fit for work note
Taking sick leave
Employees can take time off work if they are ill. They need to give their employer proof if they are ill for more than 7 days. If they’re ill just before or during their holiday, they can take it as sick leave instead.
Fit notes and proof of sickness
Employees must give their employer a ‘fit note’ (sometimes called a ‘sick note’) if they’ve 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.
The fit note will say the employee is either ‘not fit for work’ or ‘may be fit for work’.
If it says the employee ‘may be fit for work’, employers should discuss any changes that might help the employee return to work (for example, different hours or tasks). The employee must be treated as ‘not fit for work’ if there is no agreement on these changes.
Employers can take a copy of the fit note. The employee should keep the original.
Contact us if you need a Fit / Sick note
Self-certification
If employees are off work for 7 days or less, they do not need to give their employer a fit note or other proof of sickness from a healthcare professional.
When they return to work, their employer can ask them to confirm they’ve been off sick. This is called ‘self-certification’. The employer and employee will agree on how the employee should do this. They might need to fill in a form or send details of their sick leave by email.
Getting a fit note
Employees can get a fit note from the following healthcare professionals:
- your GP or a hospital doctor*
- a registered nurse
- an occupational therapist
- a pharmacist
- a 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
A physiotherapist or occupational therapist will give either a fit note or AHP Health and Work Report depending on the employee’s needs. The AHP Health and Work Report cannot be used to apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
*If you are under the care of a hospital, your certificate may be issued by the hospital, rather than by the GP practice.
Contact us if you need a Fit / Sick note
When your fit note runs out
If your certificate runs out but you are still not fit for work, you will need to provide your empolyer with a further certificate.
Emergency or urgent appointments will not be provided for the purpose of obtaining a fit note.
Contact us if you need a repeat or extended Fit / Sick note
Charges for fit notes
There is usually no charge for providing a fit note if you are off sick for more than seven days.
Some employers may request a fit note (e.g. from employees who repeatedly take time off sick) even if they are off work for seven days or less. This is a private non-NHS medical certificate.
In such cases, a charge of £20 is payable in order for the practice to provide a certificate.
Contact us if you need a private Fit / Sick note