Sickness Certificates

For the first three days of an illness your employer does not legally require any sick notes. For days 4, 5, 6 and 7 you can give your employers a ‘Self Certificate’ sick note. Your employer should issue you with form SC1 for you to complete and this does not require a doctor's opinion.

If your employer insists on a doctor’s note for this period, a private note will be issued and a fee will be charged. (See our list of private fees here.)

For any illness over 7 days long you will need a doctor's note.

For illnesses and injuries that have involved a stay in hospital, the hospital wards can issue you with a sick note if you ask them at the time. If a hospital doctor has recommended that you take time off work they should be able to issue you with a sick note.