Been Off Work?
You do not require a doctor’s sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.
Evidence that you are sick
If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).
It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a ‘Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.
You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.
Support with health Issues that effect you finding work or stay in work
North Central London offer a free service workwell which is a free service that’s here to support you with any health issues that might make it hard to find or stay in a job. We’ll work with you to figure out what you need, offering support from our team and other local services. Workwell will make sure you get the right support to find or stay in the right job. This service is completely free and wont effect your benefits or current NHS referrals.
You can self refer to work well here https://shawtrust.org.uk/workwell-north-central-london/
Statement of Fitness for Work – ’Fit Note’
The ‘fit note’ was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer’s support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.
For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced)