In the UK a doctor’s medical certificate (Med 3 – fit for work) is ONLY issued after a period of 7 consecutive days of absence due to illness. If you are going to be off more than 7 days please make an appointment to see your GP who may need to examine you before issuing your certificate. Please note these are valid from the day on which they are signed and cannot be backdated.
If you are absent from work for less than 7 days your employer should issue you with a “Self-Certificate” (SC2) to fill out stating how long you were off, and why.
If your employer insists on a medical certificate for sick leave which has been less than 7 days you may be charged for a private sick note.
If you are absent from work for less than 7 days your employer should issue you with a “Self-Certificate” (SC2) to fill out stating how long you were off, and why.
On occasions we are asked to issue a backdated sick note for longer periods of absence from work. We can only do this if the patient concerned has had previous contact with another doctor/specialist, with documented notes regarding the condition concerned, and where it would have been reasonable to advise the patient to be off work from the date given.