New Fit Note Regulations

Employees are able to take time off work when they are unwell but proof of illness must be submitted to employers, if the employee is off work for 7 days and this has always previously been from a Doctor.

As of 1st July 2022 you no longer have to get a sick note for work from your doctor. You can now get them from other health professionals including:

  • Registered nurse

  • Occupational therapist

  • Pharmacist

  • Physiotherapist

Proof of Sickness

Employees must give their employer a ‘fit note’ (sometimes called a ‘sick note’) if they’ve been ill for more than 7 days in a row and have taken sick leave. This includes non-working days, such as weekends and bank holidays.

The note shall emphasise whether the employee ‘may be fit for work’, or ‘not fit for work’.

If it says the employee ‘may be fit for work’, employers should discuss any changes that might help the employee return to work (for example, different hours or tasks). 

The employee must be treated as ‘not fit for work’ if there’s no agreement on these changes.

Employers can take a copy of the fit note. The employee should keep the original.

Getting a Fit Note

Employees can now provide a fit note given to them by the following healthcare professionals:

  • GP or hospital doctor

  • registered nurse

  • occupational therapist

  • pharmacist

  • physiotherapist

5 Things for Do if you are given a fit note:

  1. Check whether your employee’s healthcare professional has assessed that they are not fit for work or may be fit for work.

  2. Check how long your employee’s fit note applies for, and whether they are expected to be fit for work when their fit note expires.

  3. If your employee may be fit for work, discuss their fit note with them and see if you can agree to any changes to help them come back to work while it lasts.

  4. If your employee is not fit for work, or if they may be fit for work but you can’t agree to any changes, use the fit note as evidence for your sick pay procedures.

  5. Consider taking a copy of the fit note for your records (your employee should keep the original).

Keep in mind, supporting someone with a health condition to come back to work can save you money and minimise disruption. People can often come back to work before they are 100% fit – in fact work can even help their recovery. Often, a few simple changes can help someone with a health condition come back to work earlier.

Workplace Wellbeing

Stress, depression or anxiety and musculoskeletal disorders accounted for the majority of days lost due to work-related ill health in 2019/20, 17.9 million and 8.9 million respectively.

On average, each person suffering took around 17.6 days off work. This varies as follows:

  • 9.1 days for Injuries

  • 20.0 days for Ill health cases

  • 21.6 days for Stress, depression or anxiety

  • 18.4 days for Musculoskeletal disorders

For more information and ideas on how to incorporate workplace wellbeing for your private staff, see our blog ‘Employee Wellbeing for Household Staff.’

If you’re looking for housekeeper jobs or nanny jobs, then look no further than Beauchamp Partners.

To talk to one of our team about hiring a member of private or domestic staff for your home contact us on +44 (0) 20 7259 6999 or email info@beauchamppartners.co.uk

Debbie Gray