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. 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 medical professional.
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. Any statutory holiday entitlement that is not used because of illness can be carried over into the next leave year. If an employee is ill just before or during their holiday, they can take it as sick leave instead.
They might do this if they do not qualify for sick pay, for example. Any rules relating to sick leave will still apply. The exceptions to this rule are:. Employees can get advice from Acas on managing health conditions at work and returning to work from sick leave. Employees who are off work sick for more than 4 weeks may be considered long-term sick. A long-term sick employee is still entitled to annual leave. As a last resort, employers can dismiss an employee who is long-term sick, but before they can do this employers must:.
What a fit note says A fit note will say the employee either: is not fit for work might be fit for work Where the doctor says the employee might be fit for work, they can give details of what level of work they consider the person is able to do.
They might say the employee is fit for work in general, but not for a specific task. For example to: assess whether the employee is fit to carry out their work prevent health and safety risks prevent disability discrimination The employer can only do this if the employee agrees.
Download a template letter to an employee's doctor. Print Download. Print close X. Download close X. Email address. Please tell us why the information did not help. Select the statement you most agree with: I do not understand the information. I cannot find the information I'm looking for.
I cannot work out what to do next. Tell us more about your answer Please do not include any personal information, for example email address or phone number. Linkedin Twitter Facebook. Call the Acas helpline Download a template letter to an employee's doctor. Did you get the information you need from this page? There is never a charge from a doctor for providing a fit note if you're off sick from work for more than 7 days. For sickness of 7 days or less, your GP practice may charge you to provide a private medical certificate.
For example, some employers may request medical evidence from employees who repeatedly take time off sick, even if each time they're off work it's for 7 days or less. A fit note cannot be used for this purpose and a doctor may charge to issue a private certificate. Page last reviewed: 17 October Next review due: 17 October Home Common health questions Caring, carers and long-term conditions Back to Caring, carers and long-term conditions.
When do I need a fit note? More than 7 days off sick If you're off work sick for more than 7 days, your employer will usually ask for a fit note or Statement of Fitness for Work from a GP or hospital doctor.
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