Sick note / unauthorised absence question?

Daisychains

Hi guys

My dr has just signed me off for another week until 18th may. I'm 99.9% sure I'll still be too unwell for work by this date. The earliest appointment I can get is the evening of 19h may.

If I ring in sick on the 19th may and receive a sick note that evening and get it in by the 20th may would the 19th may be classed as unauthorised absence or anything seeing as I won't be seeing the dr until 7pm on the 19th may? Sorry if this is a stupid question but it's stressing me out that I can't get an earlier appointment!

Takeaway_Addict

Your doctor will back date it if they know about your previous illness which by the sounds of it they do.

footyguy

Of course, the risk you are taking is that, come 19.00h on 19 May, the doctor may not agree with your assertion that you remain unfit for work.

I would ask the doctor to either provide a sicknote that includes 19th May, or request he (or another qualified member of the surgery) sees you on or before the expiry of the current sick note. If he remains reluctant to issue a sick-note that is valid until & including 19th May, then it doesn't sound as though he is convinced as you are at this stage of your unsuitability on that date to work.

tea_lover

footyguy wrote: »

Of course, the risk you are taking is that, come 19.00h on 19 May, the doctor may not agree with your assertion that you remain unfit for work.

I would ask the doctor to either provide a sicknote that includes 19th May, or request he (or another qualified member of the surgery) sees you on or before the expiry of the current sick note. If he remains reluctant to issue a sick-note that is valid until & including 19th May, then it doesn't sound as though he is convinced as you are at this stage of your unsuitability on that date to work.

Or it could mean that the OP has as much difficulty in getting an appointment with the GP as I do. Nothing to do with how valid the need is!

tomtontom

He is likely to backdate assuming he still agrees you are not fit for work. It would be polite to let your employer know before the 19th that you will not be back in.