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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To go to work one day into sick note?

47 replies

WeirdHandDryers · 21/11/2018 20:32

I’ve been signed off for two weeks from today. Can I go into work as normal tomorrow and then take sick from Friday? I appreciate the end date will still be the same.
I’m not pulling a fast one, I have depression. Tomorrow is my last day before I am due to go back on Saturday and I’d just rather tell them on Friday (normal day off) so that they can allocate my work out then rather than the morning of me calling in. Or do I just play it by the book and hand it in tomorrow?

OP posts:
Pippa12 · 21/11/2018 20:48

Hand it in. I don't think your insured if your off sick... i maybe wrong tho.

CloserIAm2Fine · 21/11/2018 20:54

If you’re ill enough to be signed off then you shouldn’t be going to work, that’s the whole point of being signed off.

TheChickenOfTruth · 21/11/2018 20:55

Don't go into work if you're signed off.

MeredithGrey1 · 21/11/2018 20:59

I have a mental illness and was signed off with it once in the past so I do understand where you’re coming from.

But, you may know you’re not faking the illness but it’s not going to look good if you’re able to go in one day of your sick note, and then not the rest. And if you’re off with depression you don’t want added stress of worrying that work are doubting you. Also work probably wouldn’t allow it if they knew, and won’t be happy if they find it after (which they will from the date on the sick note).

BlueJava · 21/11/2018 21:11

Legally if you are signed off sick you shouldn't be at work. The only way is to return to the doctor and get a note signing you back on (i.e. ending the sick leave early) which obviously doesn't work in your case.

PinkHeart5914 · 21/11/2018 21:14

Your either signed off cos your too ill to work or your able to work. Not sure you can pick the dates tbh...........

Also it hardly looks good oh x is signed off to I’ll to work but she’s rocked up and wants to work until Friday Confused the whole place is going to think your pulling a fast one

mynameiscalypso · 21/11/2018 21:14

I did something similar. Was signed off on the Wednesday (with stress, anxiety and depression) but went in the next day to finish off a few bits and handover my work to someone else. I felt much better for having cleared the decks and meant that I wasn't thinking about it while I was off.

AccidentallyRunToWindsor · 21/11/2018 21:24

You don't have to be signed back in anymore, that stopped in 2010.

A Fit note will state if you are fit for work with adjustments or unfit for work totally. You can however ignore this if you like.

My actual question here though is why do you want to go in? Are you worried they don't believe you? Or is MH not seen as an actually issue with your work?

Yidette86 · 21/11/2018 22:16

I would be sending you home if you came in.

Insurance would not be covered if you're signed off. As an employer if I found out you came in when a dr has signed you off I would be having a firm word and possibly start a formal process, there are implications doing what you're suggesting.

Yidette86 · 21/11/2018 22:17

It also looks rather dodgy to be honest so would wonder if you were genuine

Miranda15110 · 21/11/2018 22:24

Re the insurance thing. That isn't true. There are sometimes health and safety issues to consider if say you had a broken leg and worked in an environment that would make that unsafe. It really depends on your role. Honestly though if you are unfit for work you should stay away and look after yourself x

Yidette86 · 21/11/2018 22:33

Actually the insurance bit is true for the employer.

I've actually worked on cases when an employee worked whilst being signed off, there are insurance complications.

Findingdotty · 21/11/2018 22:36

Could you go in to work with your sick note and meet with your manager first thing, hand in the sick note and explain and offer to tie up any loose ends and go home at lunchtime.
Personally as a manager I would always rather my team were honest and open with me.

Toddlerteaplease · 21/11/2018 22:59

Yes, the insurance thing is true as I wanted to come back earlier than my sick note allowed abs wasn't allowed. I have also not been allowed to come back with out a fit note from the GP. I would think it was really dodgy if you pick and choose your dates.

Miranda15110 · 21/11/2018 23:03

You can talk with your employer to check that their employee liability insurance covers you. As I said in my earlier reply it depends on your role. For instance if you are performing open heart surgery it may not. If you are sitting at a desk processing data it may. You can chose to end a fit note at any time. BP suggests you discuss with your employer x

MrsStrowman · 21/11/2018 23:06

I think you could go in to give them your certificate and speak to your manager and say what you've said here, that actually it would make you feel worse not to sort things out a few things first, it is then up to the manager if they allow you to stay or not, as a manager I'd send you home but at least that way you've gone in and offered, not much more you can do than that

GreenTulips · 21/11/2018 23:10

I agree you aren't insured to work and legally shouldn't be working

NotMyFinestMoment · 21/11/2018 23:11

You are not going to be doing yourself or your doctor's credibility any good if you go in to work even though you are supposed to be too sick to work and whilst being in possession of a valid sick note. You are either too ill to work, or you're not. If you've recovered, then you can return to work early, that's not a problem.

oldnewbie · 22/11/2018 02:18

I wouldn't. You're not insured for a start. I know that was enough of a concern when I worked in HR and a woman came in 37 weeks pregnant after being signed off by her doctor. We had to call a taxi and escort her to it as she was refusing to go home.

Honeyroar · 22/11/2018 02:34

When we swipe in at work we are legally declaring ourselves fit to do the job. Whether there's a sick note or not. But to be sick, then fit, then sick would push us into the next stage of sickness and onto the "watch list".

NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 22/11/2018 02:49

Just to echo what people hace said about the insurance.

But you've been signed off for a reason and prehaps the fact you're thinking about everyone else rather than yourself is indictive of that. You want to work ....so they have time to adjust and reassign work. Thats very nice of you. But your not well. What if you'd been in a car accident, what you'd go sorry mister doctor please pospone my potentially life saving treatement because i'd rather go to work today so that they have time to reallocate mg work???? Prehaps you think because its a mental illness and physically you can go on to work, you have time to do that. But youve bern signed off becayse your not well enough to work

Dorsetdays · 22/11/2018 06:36

Just to clarify it is absolutely not illegal (nor is insurance an issue) if you go to work during the dates on your Fit Cert.

If you read the NHS website it actually states that you can go back to work at any time and you don’t need to be signed back to work by your GP so all those posts are factually incorrect and not very helpful.

However, whether you should go in is up to you. I can see it might be slightly different if you had an infectious illness or were unable to get out of bed as you’d have no real choice.

However I’m assuming your GP has signed you off to give you some down time away from work so only you will know ether going in for one day to tie up any loose ends and speak to your work in person will help you to feel more able to take the rest of the time off and get well.

Hope you feel better soon.

Jammydodger1981 · 22/11/2018 06:43

Seconding the insurance thing is absolute rubbish, as is the fact if you’re signed off you can’t work. God people parrot some nonsense without being aware of the facts!

IAmMumWho · 22/11/2018 06:54

Your sick note will have a certain date on it the start date. If that is today Thursday then no don't go into work

ADastardlyThing · 22/11/2018 06:58

Lots of misinformation here.

Fit notes are only advisory and generally as long as the employer covers themselves by carrying out risk assessments and agreeing action with the employee it's perfectly legal to ignore the advice on a fit note. However employers may have their own policy regarding allowing employees in work when they have a fit note.

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