Employer insisting on sick note?

[Rebootin54321]

Just wondering if anyone can help. I've had a diagnosis of celiacs disease along with iron deficiency anemia, currently on antibiotics for a chest infection and have general issues with persistent infections and struggle shifting them. Have been advised to go gluten free immediately and it'll take up to 8 weeks for things to improve. Issue is with this being an auto immune problem and my body currently fighting off gluten I believe this is why I'm not shifting infections as good as I should be and the low iron definitely doesn't help.

My employer is insisting on having a sick note to cover me as I do not feel that being a carer in close contact with other is safe for me right now but I cannot be off without a sick note. I'm really unsure what to do can anyone advise me please? Thanks

well of course they need written proof

have you had the nhs letter to say you need to isolate for 12 weeks?

No sorry I haven't this is a very new diagnosis. On the flip side my mother who is an asthmatic hasn't had a letter either but is off work and her company is fine with this.

You need to ring your GP and have a consult with them. Either they agree with you and give a sick note permitting you to be off or they think you're safe enough and you need to go.

I don't think any of those puts you on the list of at risk people.

Have you been advised by your doctor to take time off?

Sorry to add 30% of celiacs have hyposplenism and it's not routinely tested. Under government guidelines this does put you at risk and you wouldn't know if you have it unless tested for it

It’s not on the vulnerable list do unlikeky to get a note

Have been advised to go gluten free immediately and it'll take up to 8 weeks for things to improve

Presumably this is your GP who said this, or a consultant - and the latter would have sent a note to your GP to advise. So if you need time off, you can follow standard process of self-certification for the first week whilst you speak to your GP, and then a Fit Note if the GP agrees.

If you have not been tested for hyposplenism your GP cannot sign you off for it; that would be illegal.

Do talk to your GP though as they may be willing to sign you off for the eight weeks whilst you adjust to the gluten-free diet, and the other things. A chest infection a lone could be the reason for being signed off.

@Sunshine1239 you don't need to have a condition on the vulnerable list to be signed off by a GP.

Antibiotics for a chest infection would surely put you on the vulnerable list
Contact your GP but ask for a consultantion. My GP won't respond if you are asking about isolation even though contacting GP is on gov Web advice

There are actually quite strict requirements for the 12 week shielding - you wouldn’t qualify with coeliacs alone. The info is on the gov website and there is a specific list. It is NOT for people to be ‘signed off just in case as you feel vulnerable’. (I understand this btw, I’m a pregnant doctor and still working)

If you feel you are too unwell to work for other reasons then you can discuss this with your gp, who at their discretion, may give you a note. Of course you need some sort of written documentation fir your employer.

Just to clarify - isolation notes and for those who actually qualify for the 12 week shielding should be covered by 111 / your government letter and NOT the gp.

Thanks all just don't want to be pestering the doctor unnecessarily. It's all a bit uncertain and I feel like absolute rubbish at the moment hopefully once the gluten is out of my system things will improve.