AIBU to expect a fit note confirming adjustments after sick leave

[juggleit]

AIBU to expect an employee to get a ‘fit note’ from the GP after extended sick leave to ask that the ‘fit note’ ticks the boxes that say for ‘fit for work’ with some adjustments to work task or reduced hours etc.

She had been off for 2 weeks with abdominal pain a year after stomach surgery which to my knowledge all went well and no complications. ( she has returned to work 8 weeks after surgery and no problems - although seemed to be not back to their usual
self)

i had asked her during a welfare call that when she returned to work to ask the GP to confirm they were fit for work with reduced work load so I am confident we are not placing this employee at risk when they return to a moderately physical role. They then messaged me the following week with a ‘not fit to work note’. This is not what I was expecting.
my question is do GP’s ever complete these fit notes with the any of the work adjustments ticked off so they can return to work.
obviously I am not privy to the discussion between the employee and Dr but my best guess is that the employee laid out they were still suffering with their ailments even though after two weeks off and our telephone call they stated they felt so much better and wanted to return to work. This feels like a continual loop of long term sickness!
Any insights from other Employers or GP’s would be greatly appreciated TIA

Yes i have had a fit note with restrictions while i had a high risk pregnancy .

Yes they do. I had long Covid and when I returned I had about 6 months where GP ticked 'fit for some work' and OH discussed what would be suitable to manage my condition. I needed reduced hours and a quiet place to rest during break times.

Her GP has ticked that she is NOT fit for work, so she won't return until he believes that she is capable of doing so.

Yes GP’s can and do tick the relevant boxes (amended duties, reduced hours, etc) to allow a return to work. An employee doesn’t need to be signed off as “fit to work” however, as they can come back at any point prior to the fit note expiry.Whether that meets the standards of your company’s risk assessments is another consideration though. If you want specific recommendations based on the role, you’d have to organise an Occupational Health (OH) report.

Fit notes are advisory only and employees are not required to be signed back as being fit to work, nor is it necessary for the GP to list adjustments - not least because these will be specific to the person, role and environment which the GP will have no idea about. At best you occasionally get "altered hours" or something equally vague.

If its low risk environment Id just do a welfare meeting, discuss what adjustments employee feels would help, do a risk assessment then agree a review of the amended duties/hours date.

Can you refer her to Occupational health?

It appears that the GP still considers her unfit for work, so reasonable adjustments aren't going to be defined at the moment if that's the case.

She’s had 2 weeks off. What is ‘a continual loop of longterm sickness’?