Self certs and sickness

pug_in_a_bed

I'm a bit confused as to what I need to provide for sickness for work, apologies if I seem a bit thick today:o

Our sickness policy changed in the summer, so that no one would get paid for the first three days of sickness. I've been very lucky in that everywhere else I've worked paid for sickness from the first day. The sickness where I now work was horrific and the change in policy has brought it down, so the change has made sense.

Its the bit below I'm confused about, is the self cert the one work jsut gives you themselves or the one you can get from the doctor/download from hmrc etc? I presume the fit note thing is what you get fmo the doc, and that they often charge for? As you can tell I have not had much experience of sickness luckily.

The employee is required to complete a self-certification form for the first seven calendar days of all sickness absences. For a period of absence longer than seven calendar days the employee must send a statement of fit for work to either their manager of the Human Resources Department. The statement of fit for work – fit note must cover subsequent periods of absence. The employee should also keep in touch with their manager regarding their health and likely return to work date.

If this procedure is not followed the employee may be dealt with under the organisation’s disciplinary procedure. Furthermore, the employee's organisational sick pay and statutory sick pay (SSP) may be withheld

dseventy

The self cert is one the employee usually fills in and is usually found in the sickness policy. It states date illness started / absence from work startes/ dates ended/nature of sickness etc.

That can be used for up to 7 days (usually calendar) after that you need the Dr's note (now called fit note).

HTH

D70

heretolearn_2

Self cert - use the form your employers give you, or you can download the standard one from the HMRC.

Fit note - this is just the new name for the doctor's sick note. Doctors don't normally charge for these.

JimmyTheWig

I agree with D70.
Self-certificate just means you fill in the sickness form at work.
If you're off for more than a week you'll need a doctor's note. I don't believe a doctor charges for this.

pug_in_a_bed

thank you all for your replies, much appreciated.

I called work on friday to get clarification as to what I need to get the company sick pay, they just ummed and ahhed and just wouldn't give me a straight answer so I'm none the wise as to whether a sick note from the doctor is needed or a self cert. When our sickness policy changed we were told that no one would be paid for the first three days of sickness, after that staff required a doctors note. But the policy (as in my op) doesn't say this. I'm very confused, and fed up at the moment!

I suspect I will be off the rest of the week at the moment anyway. Its the first time I've been off in this job, and as only off once after an op in my last job, hence my uncertainty about the processes.

MissSarah1972

Is it still you can only get a fit note (used to be a sick note) on the day your sickness starts and that the doctor can not backdate it?

pug_in_a_bed

Not sure, I found this link which says you can only get one after self certifying for seven days

LittleVoice

pug_in_a_bed wrote: »

Our sickness policy changed in the summer, so that no one would get paid for the first three days of sickness. I've been very lucky in that everywhere else I've worked paid for sickness from the first day. The sickness where I now work was horrific and the change in policy has brought it down, so the change has made sense.

That fits with statutory sick pay. Remember that periods of sickness can be linked and the three days' wait is only applicable once in any series of linked absences.

pug_in_a_bed

Thanks LittleVoice, I take it this means if I am off with an illness once, and then again later on the three days counts for both? Or am i misunderstanding. As its my first bout of illness I guess this wouldn't be relevant for me

Acc72

LittleVoice wrote: »

Remember that periods of sickness can be linked and the three days' wait is only applicable once in any series of linked absences.

The above is correct for SSP - rules are that and absence of 4 days or more within a period of 8 weeks (I think) can be linked, but we do not know what the employees specific contract says.

OP - you need to get a copy of your companies sickness absence procedures.

As ever, the internet can be very useful to research subjects but please be sure of your facts before going gun-ho to your employer.