To ask Dr for sick note.to avoid work

[Weedoormatnomore]

Hi I currently have my hand strapped after an accident. Got fracture clinic so might have cast on it Wednesday.as got a broken bone. I wfh Sunday and Monday. Job meant to be hibrid though I go to office only work pt. Was slow though as could only use one hand. Kept getting chased for info and know next 2 weeks are going to be a nightmare. Got holiday to take but no time to take as other people booked same time so mine was denied even though they can't do my job and I have no time to do theirs different departments. Actually not got enough hours to do my job boss said I needed more hrs but manager gave hrs to someone else saying they could help they haven't but are managers favourite. Only been in job a few months. I know manager will go mad as no-one to do my job !

Not sure you need a fit note. Work need to make reasonable adjustments for you?

Are you fit for work? Can you do your work, or part of it, as you are? If not, the Dr needs to say you're unfit for work. If so, your Dr can specify what you can/can't do, and then your work can decide whether they want to comply or whether you stay off sick until you're fully fit.

Do you get sick pay? If so, you can self certificate for five days and beyond that, GP can sign you off.

If you don’t get sick pay, just explain you can only do work at reduced rate due to injury.

If your hand is broken and you travel to work by car presumably you can’t drive, that in itself would be a get out.

Yes I get sick pay. I know I can self certify for 5 days but I had too much work to do I am currently doing at least a 3rd of my hours a week.unpaid. I am being called on private phone to be asked questions outside of my work hours.
You need a car to get to the office oh and currently I am living in nighties as unable to put certain clothes or bras on

Can do part of my work though not all as too tired to do tricky wok also can't drive to meetings which I have every day next week.

I actual sent Manager email day before saying can't drive would do work from home then got questioned why I wasn't in the office 🤣

So why don’t you just call in sick and self certificate? I can’t see what else you can do?

Yep. Just call in sick.

If you're needing to take meds for the pain, and honestly even if you're coping without, I would be phoning in sick this week. You need time to start to heal and everything will be taking longer than usual=you'll probably be more fatigued.

I tried to said can't work as had no sleep.in 30hrs and got broken hand just got emails back chasing for information.

Needed painkillers to be able to work today and to sleep.

I am finding this hard to follow.

So you have called in sick? In which case you don’t respond to work emails.

Your username suggests you may sometimes have trouble asserting yourself?

If you think you are too sick/broken/tired to work at all, send one email or phone call saying you are sick and need x days off, and you'll keep them updated. Then turn off your emails and ignore any calls from work.

In the long term, work hard for the hours you are paid for. Then clock off. Explain you haven't finished xyz because you have too much work for the time available and that you are having to prioritise. Refuse to do free work. Never answer calls out of hours and never look at work emails. If they need to contact you for something genuine like 'please don't come in tomorrow as there's been a fire in the office' they can leave a voicemail or text.

When you have a good employer who values you it is possible to bend these boundaries slightly, so long as it works both ways. But when you have a bad employer you have to be rigid with your work time and free time or they will just keep taking advantage.

A doctors note won't help, because all it will do is say you need sick leave, you're already on sick leave but you are still working.

This is a you issue, you need to set a boundary 'hi manager, as you know I am on sick leave because I am not capable of working due to my broken bone. As such I will not be working, which means I am not going to be answering work calls. I hope to be back at work on xx date but will update you if this changes.' If your sick policy says you need to call in everyday, then you do that then ignore all calls and emails.

If you choose to answer the calls and emails then you have no one to blame but yourself for the fact that you are working while on sick leave.

You need to call in sick, be kind to yourself. Also, depending on your job, the meds might affect your ability to function (as might the pain) and make decisions. When I had similar, my work told me to go sick and give myself time to get better. Do work know you're injured?

I told manager what happened and how bad it was didn't use exact words though that I was going to self certify thought she would understand. Dh work told him he was fine to do flexi around kids school runs etc
I told manager I couldn't drive no way to get to office and she still asked where I was. Thinkshee only hears want she wants too.

Sorry, I didn't see your post about having tried to call in sick but they essentially ignored you. Phone HR in the morning and email them and your manager with a self cert form for the rest of this week. Then put an out of office on. If you were in hospital you'd not be able to work.

Think real question I am asking is if I should ask for fit not saying I need too rest for a few days as knackered then with reasonable adjustments can work. Just hate taking time off but feel.like I can hurt myself again rushing around to get this job done!

Ok, so you call her early tomorrow, ideally before your shift starts, saying you are unable to work and will be off for at least the rest of the week.

If you aren’t better by then, you will get a doctors note next week.

Then ignore her.

Speak to your doctor as soon as possible and in the meantime self-cert. I am not a medical professional but I would definitely mark you as unfit to work. You need to heal and recover. Let the doctor sign you off for four weeks and then see where you are. Your work/ manager is being unreasonable so limit contact with them and just keep them informed of the facts leading up to your fit note. Once your boss/HR have a copy of the note turn off any email notifications etc until your fit note runs out and then speak to your doctor about whether you need another one. It is not your responsibility to cover your work load. If your work is understaffed that is a senior management/ HR issue that they need to work out themselves.

Thank you I didn't even know you could do a self cert form will google it tomorrow.

Thank you.

Thank you actually waiting for Dr to call me this week after waiting 7 weeks for appointment to discuss stress or menupose. As I actually cried during an online meeting never done that in all of my career. Not one person said anything !

Got to do what is right for you.

Posted on this very site for help first week of January told to stop malingering in relative new job etc; I am so much worse blah blah, I ended up on operating table with lights above 27th Jan 23. And no they don’t make you work from hospital a month long patient as a child having to attend school on children’s wards.

You got to look after yourself as no one else will.

Only today one of a number of ex. gp receptionist’s (as we’re in the now private sector) was trying to say a London nhs surgery charges for any fit notes; it quite got my back up. (excuse the pun) surely she means inside the first 7 days when you self certify…