UK Sick Note (Fit Note) 2026: When & What It Means
Section A: What is a Sick Note in the UK? In UK employment law, there is no specific legal document called a ‘sick note’. The term is commonly used to describe what is officially known as a ‘fit note’. A fit note is the recognised form of medical evidence used to support sickness […]
Menstruation Leave UK 2026: Legal Risks & Policy
Menstruation leave is increasingly discussed in UK workplaces as employers consider how best to support staff experiencing severe menstrual symptoms. While some international jurisdictions have introduced specific statutory rights to menstrual leave, the legal position in the United Kingdom remains different. There is no standalone entitlement to menstruation leave under UK employment law. Instead, employers […]
Self Certification Form UK: 7-Day Rule & SSP 2026
Self certification is the process that allows an employee to confirm they are unfit for work due to illness without providing medical evidence for a short period of absence. In UK employment law, this typically covers sickness lasting up to seven calendar days, after which a fit note may be required. This guide is about […]
Self Cert Sick Notes for Employers
Self-certification is the mechanism that allows employees to confirm their own sickness for the first seven calendar days of absence. It removes the need for a GP note during the early stages of illness and is a standard feature of UK sickness absence management. For employers and HR professionals, understanding how self-certification works is critical […]
What Happens When Sick Pay Runs Out
Employees can find themselves without income if their Statutory Sick Pay or contractual sick pay entitlement has been exhausted while they remain unfit for work. For employers and HR professionals, this point in the absence cycle is often sensitive and high risk. Decisions taken immediately after sick pay ends can affect capability procedures, discrimination risk, […]
Pregnancy Related Illness: UK Workplace Guide
In recognition of the vulnerabilities that come with pregnancy, pregnant employees are afforded special legal status. Pregnant employees can be more susceptible to illness, with common pregnancy-related illnesses including nausea, vomiting, fatigue, back pain and bleeding. This can result in higher instances of absence from work. Employers and managers should approach pregnancy-related sickness absence with […]
Self-Certification Form UK 2026: How to Complete & When to Use It
In this guide for managers, we explain the rules on when employees can self-certify for sickness absence, the role of self-certification forms and share best practice advice on managing sickness absence at work. Self certification Under the self certification rules, employees can be absent from work due to illness for up to seven […]
Is Working Whilst Signed Off Sick Allowed?
Sick leave is meant to give employees time to recover, but what happens when someone on sick leave carries out work, or is working another job? Working whilst signed off sick isn’t strictly prohibited by UK law, although an employer is under a statutory duty to ensure the health and wellbeing of its employees. Caution […]
A Comprehensive Guide to Sick Leave for Employers
Sick leave is the time an employee takes off work due to illness or injury. In the UK, employees are entitled to take sick leave, but this time may not always be paid. Employers are legally required to pay Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) to eligible employees for up to 28 weeks. Employers may also offer […]
Fit Note Guidance for Employers
A fit note, officially known as the Statement of Fitness for Work, is a medical document issued by a qualified healthcare professional in the UK. It is used to confirm whether an employee is unfit for work or may be fit for work with adjustments. Fit notes are typically required after seven consecutive days of […]