Self Certification Sick Note

MellyB_2

We have a member of staff who has been off work sick twice (just for a day each time) and I have asked them to complete a self certification form for each of these days.

I have chased 4 times now and nothing – what is the process for having these completed?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks.

TELLIT01

You need to ask your HR department.  I would expect them to say that no Self Cert form means no pay for that day.  That should concentrate the employee's mind.

marcia_

MellyB_2 said:

TELLIT01 said:

You need to ask your HR department.  I would expect them to say that no Self Cert form means no pay for that day.  That should concentrate the employee's mind.

Thank you - I am the HR department! (and that is what I was thinking too)

 Really baffled that you, the HR department are having to ask such questions on MSE 

turnitround

Most places dont pay if you are just off for one day. Do 'waiting days' not exist anymore?

DigSunPap

As said in the thread, should be dealt with by HR. Would assume that they wont be paid for those days that they have taken

simongregson

It's up to you to decide the policy if you 'are' the HR department. Self certification can mean anything from filling in an official form and a meeting when the employee gets back to work, to just saying 'i've got the flu, I won't be in' on the phone and that's it. It's up to you to set a consistent policy and communicate this to staff, what has happened before when people have been off sick? You might want to do some training/reading around the rules and suggested policies and consult with staff.

[Deleted User]

Is there a contract of employment in place? What does it state in the contract?

Savvy_Sue

If you're talking about the government SC form, it may be that the employee thinks it's unnecessary because for the purposes of Statutory Sick pay, that form is required to cover the period from day 4 to day 7, when a Fit Note is not needed, but SSP is due. We used to ask people to complete it for any absence but policy changed when we formalised Return To Work procedures and line managers would complete our own form in the RTW interview.

If SSP is not due, then the SC form has no OFFICIAL purpose.

So we're back to 

What does your contract of employment / staff handbook say should happen?

What's happened for other people? 

Do you pay COMPANY Sick Pay for the first 3 days of any absence? Is this contractual or discretionary?

What does their line manager say? Are they aware of the reason for absence?

prettyandfluffy

What are your company procedures and policies on sick leave and certificates? If there aren't any, I'd suggest it's down to you to draft some and get them approved and adopted.

chrisbur

tommydoyle said:

MellyB_2 said:

We have a member of staff who has been off work sick twice (just for a day each time) and I have asked them to complete a self certification form for each of these days.

I have chased 4 times now and nothing – what is the process for having these completed?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks.

You gotta check with HR. You must fill out a Self-Cert form to get paid for that day. That should make the employee realize.

Problem is that the person querying this is the HR department and they appear not to know their employer's rules regarding sick pay.  

Undervalued

Given that this person has not been off sick long enough to receive any SSP (not paid for the first three days of absence) then it is entirely up to the company what requirements they set for company sick pay (if any).

If they normally pay in full from the first day of absence, then they are fully entitled to set a procedure that must be complied with. So, for example, if you don't fill in the specified form and submit it by a certain date you don't get any money. Simples!