Going back to work early when issued a sick note.

kr15snw

Hey all, just a quick question.....

Ive been off sick this week and got a sick note today as Im not going back tomorrow (get 2 days to self certificate then need a note). Ive been signed off till Saturday, but he did say if I feel up to it then feel free to go back on thursday / friday just take it easy (have chest infection, but now just have nasty cough which leads to me being sick if i get a coughing fit. Other than that Im ok).

Just mentioned this to a mate who says I cant go back early if I have a sick note as Ill get in trouble? Cant say Ive ever had this before, so I dont know!

Any ideas?

chocdrop72

The doctor has signed a sicknote stating that you should refrain from work until a certain date as you are not fit to beat work. If you want to return to work before that date, you need another note from the doctor saying that you are now fit to return.

If you return to work without the new note, if anything happens to you at work, you would not be covered by the employers insurance, as you have a sicknote stating that you should not have been there on that day.

LittleVoice

chocdrop72 wrote: »

If you return to work without the new note, if anything happens to you at work, you would not be covered by the employers insurance, as you have a sicknote stating that you should not have been there on that day.

Hi

I am often seen this given as advice on MSE but have not found such an exclusion in insurance documentation.

Can you direct me to where it is covered in insurance policies or legislation?
After all, an employee is still an employee even when they are sick. (And there's also public liability insurance which could come into play even if that were not the case.)

nzmegs

Why would you want to go to work if you have a legitimate reason not to be there? Quite aside from the fact you may be passing your illness to colleagues or may make yourself ill again - i just can't see any reason why someone would not take as much time as reccomended off. You aren't losing pay are you?

Oldernotwiser

If you've still got a nasty cough you should stay off work and not risk passing your infection to others who may be more vulnerable than you.

kr15snw

Right have spoken to work, no they wont let me come back unless I have a return to work note.

Doctor wont give me one so I have 2 days off now to do nothing! Lol

Oldernotwiser: The cough has cleared now

rosysparkle

nzmegs wrote: »

Why would you want to go to work if you have a legitimate reason not to be there? Quite aside from the fact you may be passing your illness to colleagues or may make yourself ill again - i just can't see any reason why someone would not take as much time as reccomended off. You aren't losing pay are you?

If your employer doesn't pay company sick pay, then yes you will be losing money - three waiting days with no money at all, then SSP at £15.08 a day (based on five qualifying days in a week).

That said, I agree that you should not return to work until you are fit to return. I went back to work one week into a four week sicknote due to pressure from my employers and a financial need to be at work (no sick pay, just SSP), and never gave them the further four week sicknote I had after that. I needed the money, but I should have realised that my health was just as important as paying the bills. It took me a lot longer to recover and I still have related problems 15 months after the accident.

I don't work for that employer any more!

cookie_monster

I went to work with 2 days remaining on my sick-note as I was felling better and got sent home and told not to come back until the end date of the sick note, something to do with company liability.