Sick leave running into public & scheduled holiday time

rpg_2

For the first time since starting new employment this summer, I found myself unable to go to work due to the flu, from last Friday 19th. I was due to work right up until Xmas eve, and then of course off for 25th/26th. I have 4 x scheduled holiday days next week too (Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri) and then I'm due back on the 5th Jan. I don't work weekends.

So do I require a fit note? It's 4 days absence but 6 days total including non-working days from the 19th to the 24th. I was under the impression a fit note was only required for 7 days or more, however my employer requested one.

I phoned my GP and they said I need a self-certification form. It also says on their website that they charge a fee for a fit note less than 7 days.

So I'm wondering - because I haven't officially returned to work since my sickness, and that it ran into my holidays, does this affect the length of time I have been 'off sick' for - and therefore requires me to have a fit note?

ohreally

rpg wrote: »

So I'm wondering - because I haven't officially returned to work since my sickness, and that it ran into my holidays, does this affect the length of time I have been 'off sick' for - and therefore requires me to have a fit note?

Your're not on holiday, you're on sick leave now.

rpg_2

ohreally wrote: »

Your're not on holiday, you're on sick leave now.

OK - so as I won't return to work until the 5th January, does that mean I am on sick leave until then? i.e. 17 days including non-working days.

Barny1979

Up to you, if you are signed off sick for more than 7 days, this will take into account your annual leave. Not sure, but my employer allows you to reclaim annual leave which has been taken up by sick leave.

rpg_2

Thank you for the input.

Personally, I'd prefer to just leave my sick leave as a period of 6 days up to the 24th - and take my annual leave as previously scheduled.

I don't want to have it down as a long absence due to sickness, and then have to reclaim annual leave.

Maybe just to satisfy my employer I'll contact the GP for a fit note, and pay the fee for a note < 7 days.

penguingirl

In my work you are off sick until you tell them you are fit again, and any days until that point are counted as sick even if they are rest days/ annual leave (you'd get annual leave back). The only way to end your sick leave is to ring them and tell them you are fit to work again, even if you're not due in work.

So in your example, if you spoke to your employer on the 24th and said you were fit again you should just need to do a self-cert for 19th-24th. The rest of the days you are 'fit to work' you just happen to be off due to public holidays/ planned annual leave.

Does your employer have a sickness policy? It should be clear in that what sick/ fit notes you need and when.

McKneff

You should self certify for the first 7 days anyway, I think you can download the forms.
Absolutley no need to pay any fees.....

penguingirl

rpg wrote: »

I don't want to have it down as a long absence due to sickness, and then have to reclaim annual leave.

Presumably your GP wouldn't write you a sick note that covered the whole period anyway.

rpg_2

Thanks very much to all for the advice.

My manager's first day back is Monday 29th so I will call then, state I'm fit for work, and see for what period he wants a sick note for. I will say I have a self-certification form completed anyway.

Yes, I have some documentation relating to sick leave, but it's back in the UK and I'm in Ireland until the 4th January. So that's why I was looking for some general information here!

Barny1979

Your employer may question how you were sick for work, but were able to get to Ireland.

ohreally

rpg wrote: »

OK - so as I won't return to work until the 5th January, does that mean I am on sick leave until then? i.e. 17 days including non-working days.

Depends how your employer normally calculates days of absence.


Employer I've had in the past wouldn't permit an individual to go from sick then on to a/l. To prevent this from occurring they insisted a return to work of at least 1 shift before the commencement of a/l.