What can and can’t you do while you’re off sick from work?

[StillChangingForTheBetter]

I had a laparoscopy for suspected endometriosis on Friday. I’m still exhausted and generally uncomfortable, but also feel a little more up to doing something gentle - like popping out to return some parcels, or maybe going to get my nails done. We’re also set to have some family visitors mid week next week.

Im off for the next two weeks. No way could I be back at work- I’m exhausted from doing the most basic of things. But is it okay to do small things like that, or is it bed rest only? I obviously don’t want my work to be angry at me, but there’s no way I could be at work right now. I’ve been signed off for a week.

Oh dear what you think of me. When I was unwell I went out for a pub lunch, but it was ok because it was my boss and colleagues who took me. One of them very kindly drove me home afterwards. What a cheek of me lol. I even got in a trip abroad during the same time off.

It’s actually beneficial to get moving more and will speed up your healing.

You can do anything you feel fit for!

So what if you see your boss? He can judge but the laws clear, if you’ve been signed off sick they’ll be no insurance cover for you at work. They can not tell you what you can and can’t do - bar paid employment.

HR here. While you are off sick from work, you can’t go to work unless a doctor signs you back on as fit to work. If you feel up to shopping, the gym, or (clutch my pearls) a holiday then the doctor has not said you are not fit for any of these and arguably could assist in your convalescence.

Your employers are not your owners. There’s no rule that says while off sick you must stay inside, and hide under the duvet with the lights off, lest ye be judged.

Oh .. and as they are refusing to be flexible on your return to work then make absolutely sure you are 100% before going back.

Movement aids recovery. Lying in bed unless you absolutely have to isn’t conducive to recovery. It also isn’t a linear process. You may feel up to being out and about one day and have to do very little for the following two. Part of the process is testing the water, seeing how far you can comfortably push it and building back your stamina. You don’t go from not leaving the house to getting back to work full time. The body doesn’t work like that.

@its2025 I agree that popping out to do errands is not the same as working a full day, but I would argue that OP is having quite a reaction to the anaesthetic, and the sensible thing to do would be to rest, to speed up her recovery. Using what little energy she has to get her nails done would bring judgment from me if I was a colleague of hers who was covering her work.

as someone who has had 10 laparoscomy who can do all the things you have mentioned. you will be sore the 1st few days and not up to much other then lying in bed or sofa watching TV and sleeping. what kills me is the pain in your shoulders from the gas they put in yoru body. as long as you take it easy you will be fine you will know yourself each day what your able for. as people say don't splash over social media

Well yes, if you were off sick on account of your mindblowing exhaustion and inability to stay awake, I’d be pretty shocked to see you in the pub and going on holiday. But I have always had a very strong work ethic, and have only had 2 days off sick in 28 years, so I guess we have very different attitudes to work.

If you were only taking a week off I wouldn’t judge you for getting your nails done on the last few of those days. If you were seen getting your nails done and then extending your leave I would totally judge you.

I wouldn’t judge if you were at a local cafe or a cafe attached to supermarket.

I would judge you if you were at a bar, club or night out.

Out for a walk or swim - fine, exercise class or gym - no.

Taking kids to school, audience event or hobby - fine. Theme park - no.

So basically keeping your life going gently - yes, avoidable or unneeded trips - no.

Sorry, manager of large team - just my opinion x

That's not true - providing you feel well enough and your employer agrees you can return to work before your fit note ends. Are you really HR?!

I’m guessing you didn’t give birth then and are lucky enough not to have had any serious illness or injury. Or maybe your exceptional work ethic had you insist on having chemo administered in the office and only agreed to surgery if they could perform it during your lunch break

Pointless asking on mumsnet as there seems to be some weird martyrdom on here where people expect you to work yourself to death and be grateful for the opportunity. Sick leave is a mortal sin and even maternity leave is pushing it.

I would say it’s ok to do small necessities. But the optics of socialising or getting your nails done will be something your employer will question. Best to do any socialising etc at home. Think it’s fine to go out for a walk, go to the shops, but probably best not spotted meeting a friend for a coffee

I always flake out after GA. Took me over a week to get over my first one - had to extend my sick note. One minute I can feel bright and ready for everything, the next I am totally floored and can do nothing.

Last time, it was over 3 weeks, with a gynae op. I had to lie down between doing everything.

When I had my wisdom teeth removed, my ILs were staying and left after I gave the house a good clean for an hour (they were actually ill themselves as it turned out). I spent the next few days lying on the sofa watching the children in the garden and barely getting it together to sort out meals for them.

Small steps will get you there - potter, small trips out and rests in between. Keep well hydrated. Don't bed rest as that makes things worse!

I was told I should get out and about following long term sick (accident). I went to the yard t9 see my horse, couldn’t handle him or anything, but got driven up to feed endless polos. I was off work for 3 months. I too found everything exhausting.

I would be wary of having houseguests to stay unless they are completely self sufficient. That will be tiring and may delay your return to work. The other activities are fine.

So you’ve never been really ill then, lucky you.

I couldn’t quite get the surgeons to fit my 4 hour emergency surgery in during my mornings work. The sepsis afterwards was just a mere inconvenience I guess.

oh and the infusions I have that take a day can’t be done on a Saturday.

God, should try harder I think.

The longest I've had off for the same procedure was 1 week.

I had a GA on Friday and I am back at work today, surviving on painkillers. I'm feeling it now but not long till home/bed time

You can do anything at all you feel up to, OP and it is absolutely, unquestionably time off for a very good reason and no-one should question you about it, and it's nothing to do with them what you do with that time off.

Though I have to say I was surprised by how tired I felt in the first week and popping into the office for something I'd left behind left me wiped out. I was signed off for two weeks and the GP made no bones about saying that I should definitely not consider going back any quicker.

If you are able to do little bits then you should for your mental health and to build up your stamina. When I was off sick I'd panic about getting groceries but I had to eat and then I'd be wiped out the rest of the day.

There's a huge difference between popping out or having some company and then resting and going back to work full time.

It's when colleagues are off sick with a bad back but are then out drinking and dancing ...

Your signed off sick from work. Not from life.

I had major abdominal surgery back in the noughties and was advised to start my recovery very gently. I was told to hold nothing heavier than a mug of tea or coffee and a paperback book for the first few days, but to spend as much time on my feet as I could tolerate - broadly speaking, mobility should be out ahead of carrying things. When you're in hospital, they fill you up with Clexane or something similar to protect you from DVT and send you home with a supply or get the district nurse to call, but you can't rely on it completely - you have to move around.

I soon built my mobility back up with regular walks, so getting into town for a coffee and a gentle browse round the shops wasn't a problem, but picking things up was a bear even beyond week 6. I lifted a jar of marmalade at a craft fair and the incision felt it! I avoided pushing anything - doors, shopping trollies - till I was well into week 6-7. I tired very easily, needed a lot of early nights and there was no way I could have returned to normal activity before week 10. Having my nails done isn't my thing, but browsing the murder mysteries in a bookshop followed by a cup of coffee is and it's like no job I've ever heard about. All you can do is go at your own pace - pushing yourself too far too fast will be counterproductive.

It’s a fit note not a sick note - you are medically not fit for work - but you are not dead! So go get your nails done!

I react similarly to GA it wipes me out - more than the actual surgery.

I was recently off work for 5 months with an arm injury - I did a lot of things while off including going out with friends, just couldn’t drive, write or type - so my job!

honestly I was bored rigid as I couldn’t do any normal ‘time off’ things like DIY but my boss wouldn’t even let come back on reduced hours because she’s a supportive boss who wanted me 💯 recovered! I begged at one point 😂

Going for a walk or to run errands is totally fine - im sure if you ran into someone from work, they would still understand you might need to go to the shops/post a parcel etc and you still need to get fresh air and exercise.

I would be careful having visitors though and personally I wouldn’t have anyone to stay (unless they were specifically coming to help you). I wouldn’t feel comfortable being off sick and having family/friends down. Different if its someone just popping in for a quick cuppa whilst you recover, but if you’re not well enough to work, I don’t think anyone should be hosting guests. If they do come to stay, I would certainly keep it off social media as I cant imagine being seen socialising would go down well with colleagues.

Yes, am aware it can be done with the employers agreement. I’m yet to work in an organisation that would agree to this, given that fit notes are usually for a short period of time and renewed periodically, and balance that against medical advice and the wellbeing of the employee.

HR are not medical professionals. If someone wanted to return early we would err on the side of caution rather than overrule the advice of a medical professional who has stated the employee is not fit for work. Yes we can go to occupational health but generally if someone wants to cut 3 days off their sick note - it’s a no unless they’ve got the agreement of their GP.

Not that I’ve ever had a request to cut a fit note short, not in the last 10 years. I can see why people might want to, for example if they are just on SSP. That doesn’t mean they are fit to work though, just that they are worried about their finances.

The question was what can’t you do when signed off sick. The obvious answer is ‘work’ without going down the rabbit hole of ‘you can work if you want to’. It’s not what OP wanted to know.

Your GP can WFH as a reasonable adjustment after surgery. They would usually put a time limit on it eg 2-3 weeks.My DH got this after his knee surgery. He had 3 weeks off then 1 week 50 percent hours WFH then a further 4 weeks working from home because he couldn't drive for over 8 weeks after surgery. GP asked him what he felt he could manage then put it on Fit note. His employer accepted it.