If you’ve been off sick for more than 7 days
To request a sick note, fill out a sick note request form.
If you’ve been off sick for 7 days or less
If you’re off work sick for 7 days or less, your employer should not ask for medical evidence that you’ve been ill. Instead, they 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. We call this self-certification.
Find out more about sick notes on the NHS website.
Self-certification forms
When you go back to work you may need to fill in a self-certification form.
This includes things like:
- details about your sickness or illness
- the date your sickness started
- the date your sickness ended
These dates may include days you do not normally work, for example a weekend or bank holiday.
Some employers have their own self-certification form. If yours does not, use HMRC: Employees Statement of Sickness on GOV.UK.
Charges when off for seven days of less
You may have to pay if you get a fit note when you are off sick for seven days or less. To find out more, please ask at reception or go to the NHS website guidance on fit notes.