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

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
• Dramatherapist
• Chiropodist
• Dietitian
• Music therapist
• Occupational therapist
• Operating Department Practitioner
• Orthoptist
• Osteopath
• Orthotist
• Paramedic
• Physiotherapist
• Podiatrist
• Prosthetist
• Radiographer
• Speech and language therapist