Is it normal for sick leave forms to require a reason?

[onlyglow]

Do you normally have to select a reason from a list?

I've recently started a new job, and the sick leave form in the HR system has a drop-down with about 25 broad categories on it ... things like gastro-intestinal problems, back problems, respiratory problems, mental health problems, cancer, etc. I haven't seen this in previous jobs, so I'm wondering how common it is?

Pretty common, because some ailments like pregnancy related illness don’t count towards sickness absence the same as repeated bouts of gastro or flu.
As a line manager you need to offer support too, so you need to know the reason.

Self certification forms in my work have always had this. Public sector.

Yep, our RTW forms have them. Very generic. Helpful for seeing if there is a pattern too.

Perfectly normal.

Yes, very normal.

Yes that’s normal

Yes. Ours does.

Yes.

Yes. Cancer and a few other conditions are seen as disabilities, and attract extra legal protections but obviously you need to tell your employer.

Perfectly normal.

I'd be surprised to not have to give a reason for being off sick tbh.

Sounds exactly like ours!

Yep exactly the same in 2 places I’ve worked. The categories are set I believe not chosen by the employer.

Normal . Useful for the business to see if there are excess MSK or mental health issues for example as they can make changes

Seems reasonable to give a broad brush description of illness. It’s also to allow the employer to assess whether adjustments or risk assessment is necessary eg. you’re injured and can’t use the stairs or you have a chronic condition and need more regular breaks.

Of course. NHS and ours asks us to list symptoms

Before my company went digital, the internal R form required the condition to be added in. The spelling of "diarrhoea" was often inventive 😅

Yes normal.everywhere I've worked.

Weird one was when I had a severe burn requiring skin graft it came under plastic surgery as the technically the specialty is 'burns & plastics'

I was worried HR would think I'd pulled a sickie for a boob job or butt lift 😂

It is normal but you could lie if needed to protect your privacy - I did not want anyone to know I had a miscarriage so I put v&d to cover the week I had off.

Yes.

We need to call in sickness and detail the reason. If a doctor writes a fit note they will detail the reason. It's standard. Why shouldn't work know the reason you are unable to work? You don't need to give graphic or personal details but mental health/gastro/migraine will suffice.

Normal- employers need to look at how work might be affecting health. With something like depression for example or if you work with dust and chest issues.

Yes, totally normal. I often found they didn’t match what was actually wrong. On my sick leave form, I had a vomiting bug for like 6 months and my occupational health forms claimed I had long COVID. I actually had a condition affecting my pancreas, but pancreatic disease wasn’t an option on the drop down menu and the OH person I spoke with would not take my word for it that my fatigue was caused by anything other than long COVID. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Yes, very normal. Usually just broad categories

Absolutely normal