If you are off work due to illness for a period of 7 consecutive days or more, there are certain procedures that must be followed according to the law and your employment contract with your employer. Read your employment contract carefully to ensure that you understand your obligations in terms of sick leave.
Inform Your Employer
You need to inform your employer within seven days of taking sick leave or another person designated in your employment contract. You may need to inform your employer in person, in writing or by telephone depending on your contract. If you fail to do so, it could lead to disciplinary action being taken against you or your employment being terminated. It may also lead to you not being illegible for sick pay.
Provide A Sick Note
A sick note also referred to as a fit note, is an official Statement of Fitness to Work that must be provided to your employer if you have taken sick leave for a period of 7 days or more in a row. This note must be provided to you by your GP or another medical practitioner that diagnosed your illness and/or provided treatment for the illness. The sick note must state the nature of the illness as well as whether you are fit to return to work or not.
If you are designated as unfit to return to work, the medical practitioner must suggest any accommodations that could be made by your employer to allow your return to work. For example, your employer could provide flexible working hours or lighten your workload until you have sufficiently recovered from your illness to return to full work duties.
It is essential to follow these rules when you have taken sick leave for a period exceeding 7 days in order to avoid losing your sick pay or your employment being terminated.
