Will we need proof of underlying health condition?

[RingPiece]

Inspired by another thread. Will the employers of those of us who are allowed to WFH because of having underlying health conditions- not the most vulnerable, who have been advised to self-isolate, but the other, less vulnerable vulnerable, need to see proof on return to work after the 12 weeks?

AFAIK, GPs are not issuing sickness certs in this situation. How will we prove we have the conditions we say we have?

If you're WFH then you're working, not off sick. I don't see why you'd need to produce anything.

True. However, if those without health conditions are still expected to go to work, I expect my employer, at least, will want some sort of proof from those WFH. Would a routine hospital letter or repeat prescription do?

I emailed my consultant and asked him to do a brief letter. He was happy to do this and forwarded it by email.

Why would you expect a gp to issue a sickness cert? If you are normally considered well enough to travel to work, your underlying condition is completely irrelevant.

Yes you need a sickness certificate - it has to say adjusted working or something (can't quite remember the entire phrase).

There is a COVID related fit note being advised by GP bodies (see below)

The current Government Guidance for employers and businesses on coronavirus (COVID-19) states;
“By law, medical evidence is not required for the first 7 days of sickness. After 7 days, employers may use their discretion around the need for medical evidence if an employee is staying at home.
We strongly suggest that employers use their discretion around the need for medical evidence for a period of absence where an employee is advised to stay at home either as they are unwell themselves, or live with someone who is, in accordance with the public health advices issued by the government.”
Until further guidance is available, Londonwide LMCs would suggest that practices upload the attached letter to their website and requests that if needed by patients they use this letter as the practice will not provide a medical certificate for patients requiring self-isolation for coronavirus.

Dear Employer

Request for medical certification from absence of work related to the Covid-19 pandemic

Your employee has been absent from work from / /2020.

The reason for this is that they are following current Government and/or Public Health advice related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Specifically, this is because;

 They are symptomatic (7 days)
 They are symptomatic and continue to be after seven days
 Date fit to return to work (where applicable) / / 2020
 A household contact is symptomatic so they are required to self-isolate (14 days)
 They are following government advice for high risk patients as they suffer with:
__

Due to the current pandemic and pressure on General Practice, we are prioritising the urgent medical needs of our patients and will not be providing a medical certificate for this absence.

By law employers may use their discretion around the need for medical evidence if an employee is absent from work for more than seven days due to sickness. We would ask you to apply this discretion to help support NHS general practice provide care for our population rather than being asked to fulfil unnecessary administrative tasks.

Should you decide on taking disciplinary action against an employee purely on the grounds of being unable to provide the sickness medical certification relating to Covid-19 pandemic we would make it very clear in any disciplinary/grievance/tribunal reports that under the circumstances we would deem your action inappropriate.

Many thanks for your assistance during this challenging time

My consultant said his hospital were not going to be issuing official letters, just providing telephone advice to those concerned.

@Thisismytimetoshine So by your reasoning someone with severe asthma who is now being told to self isolate for 12 weeks should continue going to work? Or do you think they should not be working in the first place?

@Thisismytimetoshine your post is nonsense.

Just because you are in the extremely vulnerable group it doesn't mean you normally can't go into work.

BraveLittleDragon oh, that's very helpful. Thank you. I strongly suspect my employer will be wanting extensive proof of our underlying health conditions.

@RingPiece The only way he can do that is by involving Occupational Health - otherwise he just gets the letter above or the medical certificate. Your Gp practice manager or similar needs to type their name on the letter (check your Gp surgery are onboard with you using it as some may not be).

Why would you expect a gp to issue a sickness cert? If you are normally considered well enough to travel to work, your underlying condition is completely irrelevant

That’s absolute crap.

Thisismytimetoshine NORMALLY considered well enough, yes, but this, as we know, is not a normal situation, hence the government advice to those with underlying health conditions to work from home where possible.

NHS inform in Scotland has a sort of extended self cert you can complete.

Why would you expect a gp to issue a sickness cert? If you are normally considered well enough to travel to work, your underlying condition is completely irrelevant.

Bloody hell. The lack of understanding here is immense. Please don't say you have been sharing your pearls of wisdom with people in real life?