A fit note is a written statement from your doctor. It says if you’re fit to work or not.
It’s also sometimes called a ‘sick note’.
If you’ve been off sick for more than 7 days
If you’re off work sick for more than seven days, your employer will usually ask you to get a fit note from your doctor.
The note can say that:
you ‘may be fit for work’
The seven days include days that you don’t normally work. So when you work out how long you’ve been off sick, include weekends and bank holidays. You do not have to pay for a fit note if you’re off sick for more than seven days.
To request a sick note:
- fill out a sick note request form
- phone or visit the surgery from 10am to 6pm
We may ask you to make an appointment, either in person or on the phone.
- If you’re getting hospital treatment, ask for one from the doctor at your hospital.
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.
However, check your employer’s policy on this. It should say how many days you can be off sick before you need to give proof from your doctor.
It should be enough to give proof yourself when you go back to work. This is called ‘self-certification’.
Find out more about sick notes on the NHS website.