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Original poster

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

245 replies

StillChangingForTheBetter · 04/08/2025 14:40

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.

OP posts:
Ponderingwindow · 04/08/2025 17:03

You should do things that help you build up your strength and avoid activities that could delay your recovery.

start with a short walk back and forth in front of your home or in a close circle. See how you feel.

Work your way up from there to the post office or a nail appointment. Anything you can’t leave immediately has the potential to have you push yourself too far. So save these until you feel confident.

Playgo · 04/08/2025 17:04

dogcatkitten · 04/08/2025 15:04

I don't remember taking more than a day or so off for a laparoscopy, tiny incision, no pain, just needed the anaesthetic to wear off.

Really? Where were your excision sites? Mine were womb, ureter, ovary, colon, rectum, pouch of Douglas and everything in between.

JohnTheRevelator · 04/08/2025 17:07

Teacherjw · 04/08/2025 14:59

That's a lot of rubbish, OP of course you can go and get your nails done or nip out to collect a parcel. It would not matter if someone from your work saw you, your doctor has signed you off work not day to day life.

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I think there is a massive difference between spending 8 or 9 hours at work plus a commute at either end,and spending an hour getting your nails done. There is so much judgement of people off sick from work. I think they expect you to spend the entire time in bed!

Limehawkmoth · 04/08/2025 17:07

StillChangingForTheBetter · 04/08/2025 15:00

If I could go back for a couple hours a day I probably could - but it’s taking all my energy to do basic things like make breakfast etc (and I’m not doing anything elaborate, I’m talking eggs on toast!). I’m out of the house for 10 hours a day and I think that would genuinely finish me off, but I think I could cope with being dropped off outside my nail salon and sitting up for 30 minutes before being taken home

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How long have you been officially advised to have off work by the surgical team?

as an ex manager our company was pretty “enlightened”…if your “ wellness” note says you are not fit for work, then you aren’t and our insurance would be an issue if you insisted in coming in. On sick leave what you do is none of our business UNLESS you are not doing everything you can to get back to full health asap. So, for mental health issues our occ health would be chatting about getting outside,walking, meeting others socially and taking advantage of paid for therapy. For operations, that you were attending physio if needed etc. so in your case, going for nails etc not an issue..but lifting parcels? I’d have been concerned if that had come up…walking yes absolutely, meeting friends yes absolutely ok too.

but, if surgery said you only needed 2 weeks off normally, and you were doing all this and then saying youre exhausted and asking for more time off…then that would raise questions I’d want occ health to discuss with you.

the other thing to bear in mind, wellness notes ( they’re not sick notes now) are designed to give your medical team and work the ability to stipulate a phased return to work. Ok, some jobs can’t accommodate that, but companies are obligated to say why they couldn’t accommodate it, as part of the change in law when wellness notes were introduced. Normally phased returns run over a few weeks . This is a great approach by literally starting with say 3 very short days and building up hours . Sounds like it would be good option, but only if you’ve currently just been signed off week by week. If you’ve got a cert for say 6 weeks you can’t alter that, unless surgical team say it’s ok. If you think it’s an option, get appointment urgently with Gp to discuss.

SirChenjins · 04/08/2025 17:09

OldGothsFadeToGrey · 04/08/2025 16:57

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.

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Interesting. I've been a manager for 30 years and have cut short my own and have had people in my team doing the same as I/they return to fitness. NHS here, which takes sick leave very seriously for numerous reasons and which has the guidance of Occ Health and HR.

Fit notes can be extended online here, so the staff member will usually be responsible and adjust upwards or downwards as needed, in discussion with me and, if needed, with Occ Health. They are guides, not tablets of stone. Very different from saying you need a GP to sign you back as you said previously - that simply isn't true.

OldGothsFadeToGrey · 04/08/2025 17:12

SirChenjins · 04/08/2025 17:09

Interesting. I've been a manager for 30 years and have cut short my own and have had people in my team doing the same as I/they return to fitness. NHS here, which takes sick leave very seriously for numerous reasons and which has the guidance of Occ Health and HR.

Fit notes can be extended online here, so the staff member will usually be responsible and adjust upwards or downwards as needed, in discussion with me and, if needed, with Occ Health. They are guides, not tablets of stone. Very different from saying you need a GP to sign you back as you said previously - that simply isn't true.

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Funny because I was going to add ‘although I haven’t worked for the NHS’ as a not very hidden judgement of the way they treat their staff. I was so close to doing so, too.

The NHS has a terrible reputation for staff wellbeing, and here you are to back that up.

UnderCoverB0ss · 04/08/2025 17:13

Treat yourself and get your nails done. If someone has a problem with that they’re pathetic.

SirChenjins · 04/08/2025 17:16

OldGothsFadeToGrey · 04/08/2025 17:12

Funny because I was going to add ‘although I haven’t worked for the NHS’ as a not very hidden judgement of the way they treat their staff. I was so close to doing so, too.

The NHS has a terrible reputation for staff wellbeing, and here you are to back that up.

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Funny, I was going to add 'there are people who profess to be experts in HR on here, but post misinformation'. I was so close to...and here you are to back that up.

milkandhoney2 · 04/08/2025 17:19

dogcatkitten · 04/08/2025 15:04

I don't remember taking more than a day or so off for a laparoscopy, tiny incision, no pain, just needed the anaesthetic to wear off.

Mine was 6 incisions and over 8hrs in theatre with 2 surgeons
they're all different

This is what they ended up doing

Adhesiolysis, mobilisation of sigmoid and rectum, bilateral ureterolysis, drainage of bilateral endometriomas, stripping of cysts walls, temporary suspension of ovaries, excision of endometriosis, restoration of anatomy, dye hydrotubation, removal of appendix, mirena IUD insertion, estimated blood lost 400ml

there is no way I was going back to work after a day or even 2 weeks, the hospital was very firm on that

milkandhoney2 · 04/08/2025 17:22

And yes you will be tired. I managed a shower one day and that was about it. I WFH and still wasn’t fit for work

Limehawkmoth · 04/08/2025 17:23

OldGothsFadeToGrey · 04/08/2025 16:57

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.

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I’d agree with this. Yep, law is one thing, but My companies would never have allowed someone to return on who had a fitness note that was still outstanding to say no working . Yep, we’d use fitness notes, where signed by Gp to allow (even encourage ) phased returns, but it would be a simple no from managers if it came up by person wanting to return “early”.

if someone had pushed it or not given notice and turned up, we’d have frankly escorted them off site (gently )

Cackle · 04/08/2025 17:24

You can have organs removed with laproscopy so I’m not sure this is helpful. If endo tissue is being removed that’s going to need more recovery time, and you don’t know what job the OP does.

Cackle · 04/08/2025 17:26

StillChangingForTheBetter · 04/08/2025 15:08

My note is for a week but I’m going to be contacting my doctors to extend it because there’s just no way I can go back! I’m utterly exhausted

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Completely understandable, I hope you feel better soon.

SirChenjins · 04/08/2025 17:26

Limehawkmoth · 04/08/2025 17:23

I’d agree with this. Yep, law is one thing, but My companies would never have allowed someone to return on who had a fitness note that was still outstanding to say no working . Yep, we’d use fitness notes, where signed by Gp to allow (even encourage ) phased returns, but it would be a simple no from managers if it came up by person wanting to return “early”.

if someone had pushed it or not given notice and turned up, we’d have frankly escorted them off site (gently )

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Surely you would have been supporting them through their absence and discussing their return, whether that was full or phased, with or without adjustments? They shouldn't be turning up unannounced, nor should the manager be rejecting an early return in every case without a conversation.

ACAS has good guidance on this if anyone needs it.

milkandhoney2 · 04/08/2025 17:27

Cackle · 04/08/2025 17:24

You can have organs removed with laproscopy so I’m not sure this is helpful. If endo tissue is being removed that’s going to need more recovery time, and you don’t know what job the OP does.

Honestly people are mental about laparoscopy
I kept getting asked if I was back to exercise yet, a week after. Er no! I’ve had a huge surgery, just because it was keyhole doesn’t mean it was minor

Original poster
StillChangingForTheBetter · 04/08/2025 17:27

BerryTwister · 04/08/2025 16:27

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.

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I never said inability to stay awake.

it’s pretty clear you’ve decided I’m some sort of time waster who just wants as much time as possible off work! But in my entire life I’ve had six days off sick before this op, I usually push through no matter what, whether I’m in a fit state to or not.

OP posts:
MaryTheTurtle · 04/08/2025 17:28

You can do what you want. Someone I work with is signed off and is in Greece losing beach pics to their team!

SoMuchBadAdvice · 04/08/2025 17:28

  1. Why don't you ask your employer?

  2. Why don't you suggest to your employer that you are itching to get back to the grindstone, but still feel poorly, but would like to start some part time work & increase it as you feel more up to it?

BunnyLake · 04/08/2025 17:28

BerryTwister · 04/08/2025 16:27

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.

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I was recovering from major surgery. That doesn’t mean I should stay in bed or in the house for the three months I was signed off for and yes I would get very tired. You are fortunate to never have had health problems. Is a superior sense of smugness treatable though?

itsgettingweird · 04/08/2025 17:29

When I was off after my hysterectomy (3 weeks) after week 1 I was getting up at 4am to drive da to swim training and then going for a walk (as we do as they train at 5am). I was then coming home to nap before taking him back.

I even went for lunch with another colleague who was off after a joint replacement (so off for longer than me).

Not being able to work and being bed bound are not the same thing.

SirChenjins · 04/08/2025 17:31

milkandhoney2 · 04/08/2025 17:27

Honestly people are mental about laparoscopy
I kept getting asked if I was back to exercise yet, a week after. Er no! I’ve had a huge surgery, just because it was keyhole doesn’t mean it was minor

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Laparoscopy covers many different things though - so for some it will be a minor investigation as a day case, whereas others will have had more complex surgery. If the former, then 2 weeks is usually a long time to be off - for the latter, it will easily be 2 weeks or longer.

ConsultMe · 04/08/2025 17:32

Just do what you want.

I went off sick due to work related stress after I faced sexual harassment. I basically put myself on house arrest as I was so scared of colleagues seeing me and reporting me cause I lived next to work. Guess what I ended up with? feeling depressed and anxious. Looking back I definitely would have run errands or got my nails done, my GP signed me off cause work was the problem - not me.

Original poster
StillChangingForTheBetter · 04/08/2025 17:33

SoMuchBadAdvice · 04/08/2025 17:28

  1. Why don't you ask your employer?

  2. Why don't you suggest to your employer that you are itching to get back to the grindstone, but still feel poorly, but would like to start some part time work & increase it as you feel more up to it?

Because I just don’t have the brain power to work at the moment. I just napped for an hour and a half, and I never nap!

OP posts:
ChocolateCinderToffee · 04/08/2025 17:33

It depends what you're off sick with. I have been off sick with back trouble and spent hours walking round London's parks because I couldn't sit down (standing and lying extend your spine; sitting compresses it so it hurts) and anyone who'd seen me might have thought it odd, but it was the best way to get better quickly.

Slightyamusedandsilly · 04/08/2025 17:34

Was it a laparoscopy with surgery or just have a look/see what's wrong laparoscopy?

Because one is a surgical procedure, and of course you need to be off and rest for a few days.

But a laparoscopy just to assess doesn't really warrant 2 weeks off work.