The Government has announced that workers will not need to get a Fit Note (sometimes called a Sick Note) unless they have been off work for more than 28 days. The normal rule is that you need a Fit Note from your doctor after 7 days.
This is a temporary change to reduce pressure on GP surgeries as they help with the COVID-19 booster programme, and will apply to periods of sickness absence that start on, or after, 10 December and end on, or before, 26 January 2022.
The temporary extension will end on 26 January 2022. So any absence that starts on, or after, 27 January 2022 will require a Fit Note after 7 days (including weekends and non-working days).
Sickness absence started before 10 December 2021 – you will need a Fit Note from your doctor if you absence was for more that 7 days (including weekend and non-working days).
Sickness absence started on, or after 10 December 2021 – you do not need to get a Fit Note until you have been absent for more than 28 days (including weekends and non-working days).
Sickness absence starts on, or after, 27 January 2022 – normal rules will apply and you will need a Fit Note after 7 days.
