How long can a doctor give a sick line for?
Some people call it a sick line. Others call it a sick note. It’s also known as a fit note. The technical term is ‘Statement of Fitness for Work’. Whatever you call it, it might be issued by a doctor or another healthcare professional.
Basically, it’s the evidence your employer will need if you’re off sick from work for more than seven days. By the way, that seven days includes weekends and bank holidays.
Let’s get straight into answering the question in the headline. A sick note can cover a maximum of three months during the first six months of a condition. After that, it can be any clinically appropriate period. The rest of this article tells you more.
If you’re off sick for less than seven days
If you’re off sick for less than seven days, you don’t need to submit a sick note. Instead, when you get back to work, you do what’s called ‘self-certification’. Your employer will tell you the process to follow to do this. For example, you might have to send them an email or fill in a form.
If you’re off sick for more than seven days, you’ll need to get a sick note from a health professional. You keep the original, and send a copy to your employer.
Who issues a sick note
First, a healthcare professional must assess your fitness for work. They might do this via a telephone consultation so you don’t have to travel.
Here are the healthcare professionals who can issue you with a sick note:
- GP or hospital doctor
- Registered nurse
- Occupational therapist
- Pharmacist
- Physiotherapist
There may be a charge if you’ve been off work for less than seven days. After that time, it will be free.
If your employer agrees, you can submit an Allied Health Professional (AHP) Health and Work Report. This does the same job as a sick note, and you can get it from the following people:
- Art therapist
- Drama therapist
- Chiropodist
- Dietitian
- Music therapist
- Operating Department Practitioner
- Orthoptist
- Osteopath
- Orthotist
- Paramedic
- Podiatrist
- Prosthetist
- Radiographer
- Speech and language therapist
If you see a Physiotherapist or Occupational therapist, they will either give you a sick note or an AHP Health and Work Report.
What a sick note will say
The sick note will say one of two things:
- You’re not fit for work
- You may be fit for work
If the note says you’re not fit for work, you can stay off work until you’re better.
If the note says you may be fit for work, your employer should offer you adaptations to enable you to return, such as a special chair to help your bad back, easier tasks until you feel properly well, or reduced working hours until your energy returns to normal. If you and your employer can’t agree on what changes will be helpful, you can stay off sick.
How does my sick leave affect my holiday leave?
While you’re off stick, you still build up statutory holiday entitlement – it doesn’t matter how long you’re off.
If you’re unable to use your statutory holiday entitlement because you’re unwell, you can carry unused leave over into the next holiday year.
If you’re ill just before your holiday or during your holiday, you can take it as sick leave instead.
If you don’t qualify for sick pay, you might want ask to take paid holiday for the time you’re off work sick.
Your employer can’t force you to take annual leave when you’re eligible for sick leave.
What if I’m off sick for more than four weeks?
If you’re off sick for more than four weeks, it may count as long-term sick leave.
In this case, your employer must:
- Consider ways you might be able to return to work, such as by flexible or part-time working, or doing different or less stressful work. They should also give you any necessary training
- Consult with you to discuss whether your health will improve and when you could return to work
- They should allow you a ‘reasonable’ period of time to recover. As a last resort, employers can dismiss an employee who is off on long-term sick leave. If you are dismissed unfairly, and have worked there for more than two years, you have the right to make a claim for unfair dismissal (we can help with that)
What this means to you
Check your staff handbook to see your employer’s policy about sickness absence, and follow the process correctly.
Give us a call. We’re employment lawyers who act for employees in dispute with their employers. You can be based anywhere in the UK (we have offices in Belfast, London, Tyne & Wear and Leeds). Note that the initial conversation is absolutely free.
Related reading
- How long can you be on sick leave before dismissal?
- What are my rights to sick pay?
- Our expert guide to being dismissed for being off sick
- Can Occupational Health get you sacked?
- I was sacked after having time off with Covid-19
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