Fit/Sick Notes

In the UK the fit note has replaced the old 'sick note' and aims to provide more useful information on how your employee's condition affects what they do and how they might be able to return to work.

What's different about the new fit note?

In the past, doctors have either said that 'you should refrain from work' or 'you need not refrain from work'. With the fit note the doctor will be able to advise their patient if they are 'not fit for work' or a new option - 'may be fit for work taking account of the following advice'.

A doctor will be able to suggest ways of helping an employee get back to work. This might mean discussing:

• returning to work gradually, for example, by starting part-time
• working different hours temporarily
• doing different duties or tasks
• having other support to do the job, for example, if someone has back pain, avoiding heavy lifting

While you, the employer, won't have to act on the doctor's advice in a 'may be fit for work' statement, it may help you make simple and practical adjustments to help your employee return to work and reduce unnecessary sickness absence.

Can an employee go back to work before the end date on their fit note?

Yes. As long as the employer agrees, an employee can go back to work or return to normal duties before the end date on the fit note. For example, an employee may want to go back to work sooner if:

• they’ve recovered from their illness or injury more quickly than expected
• as an employer you can offer support to help them return to work

However you will need to give your agreement as an employer if an employee wants to go back to work before the end date on the fit note. If you think it’s not safe for a member of staff to return, they will have to stay off work.

GP advice

An employee should not go back to work before the end date on their fit note if the GP has advised that:

• returning to work would be unsafe
• returning to work would be bad for his/her health

Does an employee need a note saying they are fit for work?

No. They do not need to see their GP again to be ‘signed back to work’. If the GP wants to assess their fitness for work again, they will state this on the fit note.

More advice is available from www.gov.uk/fitnote