Doctors note required by employer

[VenusClapTrap]

My db has been off work with ‘flu’ for a week. He has a cough and very sore throat. Yesterday he felt much better, and so intended to go back to work today, but woke up worse again this morning. He rang work and asked his manager what he should do, because he ‘didn’t want to be seen to be taking the piss’. His manager told him it was up to him, but if he was off work for more than a week he would need a doctor’s note. Obviously, he can’t get a doctor’s note because nobody is allowed to go to the GP with these symptoms. So he went into work.

I spoke to him this evening and he could barely speak, his throat is so bad. Surely it’s ridiculous to require a doctor’s note in these circumstances! But what can he do? He hasn’t been in the job very long and doesn’t want to lose it.

Could the gp issue a note over the phone? Fax it to the employer/email it to him/get someone else to pick it up?

There’s got to be a logical answer for it, he can’t be the only one with a boss that’s lacking in common sense

Has he phoned his GP's surgery and asked for advice? My DH needed a fit note and they did it over the phone.

You can only self certify for a week. He should ring his gp

Good idea to see if they can do it over the phone. I’ll ask him if he’s tried that. He was quite abrupt with me about it because he’s so pissed off about the whole situation, so I didn’t ask too many questions! He was mainly ringing to discuss how we get df to take isolating seriously.

Surely if he has what sound like potential coronavirus symptoms he should absolutely not be at work. Has his boss been living under a rock? I thought 111 were supposed to be sorting out a way to issue sick notes to take the pressure off GPs?

You can now self cert for 14 days with coronavirus symptoms though? The GP isn’t going to be wanting to write a sick note for this when they are so busy

Dont think you can. They are looking to automate the system so you can generate your own but it isn't up and running yet

111 are issuing sick notes for the first two weeks of flu like illness as it needs to be treated as suspected covid-19. He needs to go into 111 online so sort one.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-guidance-for-employees

if he wasnt improving after 7 days he should be contacting the GP anyway

As you are aware the outbreak of COVID-19 know as Coronavirus) is a current public health issue and as such certain precautions need to be taken with both your own health and also your employees. This guide contains the most common questions we have been asked and some important information when employing personal assistants. Please note that Government guidance and legal provisions are changing almost daily. This FAQ is for guidance only and legal advice should be taken. If you have a Mark Bates Ltd Home Employment policy this is available completely free, 24 hours a day for all your employment needs.
If you require any more information please give us a call on 01476 514478

Where can I get medical advice if I am concerned about the Coronavirus?
The Government are urging you to follow the NHS guidance which is being kept up to date on their website
www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronaviru s-covid-19/
At present the public are being asked not to go to the GP or even to call NHS 111 unless you cannot cope with your symptoms at home, your condition gets worse or your symptoms do not get better after 7 days.

Who needs to self-isolate under current measures?
If one person in any household has a persistent cough or fever, everyone living there must stay at home for 14 days.
My employee has self-isolated as they or someone in their household have shown signs of a consistent cough or fever; What do they do?
Self-isolating employees are legally defined as being unfit to attend work. They should therefore notify you of their intention to self-isolate in accordance with your sickness and absence procedures.
What are their rights?
They have the right to remain away from work for a period of 14 days from the symptoms becoming known. You can find detailed Government guidance on staying at home due to a possible Coronavirus infection here:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance
As the employee is considered to be unfit for work, they are entitled to statutory sick pay (if eligible) from day one of the absence.
Statutory sick pay is payable to employees who:

• are employees or workers (includes zero hours and casual workers) and have earned on average £118 per week over the last 8 weeks, and
• have given you the correct notice

If the employee is not eligible you must provide them with the SSP1 form to explain why, which will allow them to present a claim for possible benefits. Statutory sick pay is paid at a rate of £94.25 per week, rising to £95.85 from 6th April 2020. The Government have announced that they will repay payments of SSP, up to 14 days, for each employee. If your employee is genuinely poorly with the virus themselves, they may well need more than 14 days. The NHS would expect to hear from them if symptoms have not alleviated after 14 days and so it is likely that further medical treatment and testing would be required at that stage. If the sickness absence persists beyond 14 days your normal sickness reporting procedures will apply, as will ongoing payment of SSP. At this stage you may feel it appropriate to obtain medical evidence to support the claim for ongoing SSP. What about medical evidence? In normal cases of sickness absence, you can ask the employee for a medical certificate, after the first seven days of absence. Under circumstances of self-isolation however, it is not advisable that you press for such evidence as the current guideline to self-isolating employees is that they are not to go to the GP. It would also be impossible for you to demand evidence of another householder’s private medical affairs where someone else is the reason your employee is self-isolating.

That was from a law firm

Surely if he has what sound like potential coronavirus symptoms he should absolutely not be at work. Has his boss been living under a rock?

Well, quite. That’s what I said to him. It’s a train company, so not some small business that’s in danger of going under.

Thanks for the link, pixie. I’ve forwarded it to him.

It sounds like he didn’t even try to get a note op. I’m quite astounded he was calling to discuss how to get your father to isolate, whilst he didn’t even try to get a doctors note and is potentially out there spreading it.

If he’d called his doctor or 111 he’d have got something.

He went to work? Well that was bloody stupid.

I agree with you Sweatheart. But we are not close, and he is quite stubborn and difficult to advise. He is also very stressed, ill, worried about losing his job and even more worried about his wife losing hers as her company will probably fold as a result of all this. So I don’t think he’s thinking clearly.

The boss shouldn't have put him in that position, but equally your husband has to take some personal responsibility here. Just assuming he couldn't get a fit note was ridiculous. The information is on line for all to read. Are the rest of the family now self isolating?

The more I read posts like this the more I realise how screwed we all are

(Sorry I misread, thought it was your DH but it's your DB!)

He’s my brother not my husband. His wife is working from home and isolating.

Sorry, I also thought it was your DH