Medical Certificate (Fit Note)

If you continue to be absent for a period of more than 7 days, you must supply a medical certificate and you must ensure the medical certificate is received by the Company within two days of receipt. Thereafter medical certificates must be provided to the Company to cover any continued absence. You must also telephone the Company each time you have attended the Doctors and obtained a medical certificate, together with contacting or meeting the Company at such times or intervals as requested. Further, if you receive a medical certificate for a period of 4 weeks or more, you must telephone the Company halfway through the period and update the Company as to your current condition. 

If your Doctor provides a certificate stating that you “may be fit for work” you should inform the Company immediately. Your line manager will discuss with you any additional measures that may be needed to facilitate your return to work, taking account of your Doctor’s advice. This may take place at a return-to-work interview. If appropriate measures cannot be taken, you will remain on sick leave and the Company will set a date to review the situation.

Where the Company is concerned about the reason for absence, or frequent short-term absence, we may require a medical certificate for each absence regardless of duration. In such circumstances, we will cover any costs incurred in obtaining such medical certificates, for absences of a week or less, on production of a Doctor’s invoice. 

We may, at any time in operating this policy, require you to consent to a medical examination by our Occupational Health expert and / or a medical professional nominated by us.

You will be asked to agree that any report produced in connection with any such examination may be disclosed to us and that we may discuss the contents of the report with our advisers and the relevant Doctor.

Failure to follow this procedure may result in sick pay being withheld.  Gaps in certified absence may be considered unauthorised absence and pay may be withheld.