Fit note advice please

[PaddingtonsMarmaladeSandwich]

Has anyone got a fit note for working half days only?

Eg for two weeks or one month?

And is depression and anxiety a long term disability? Technically?

thanks x

Does anyone know at what point depression and anxiety can be classified as a disability?

thank you!

A fit note would be stating your not fit for work so you'd normally be off. If you feel you need to reduce your hours due to mental health that's more through occupational health. There isn't a certain point depression or anxiety is or isn't a disability. It's more about how much it affects the persons ability to live their normal functioning life I'd say

“You’re disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities.”
https://www.gov.uk/definition-of-disability-under-equality-act-2010

A fit note can state that adjustments are required eg to work patterns / timings. These are to be agreed with your employer. I don’t think the Gp will dictate the exact hours to be worked.

I'm sorry youre struggling. I havent known someone to get a fit note for half days for a period of time but I have had fit notes for phased return or limited duties. Why do you think half days for a short period of time will help? May be a better fit to consider a flexible working request.

In terms of when it becomes a disability its hard to say and they are hugely cracking down on which does mean some incredible hardship for those suffering. The person I know who does get pip for it had such a battle and they have had multiple documented suicide and self harm attempts, they were sectioned and they have long periods where they cannot leave the house. However, they are now being supported with excellent new treatment and drugs so help is out there.

Can you tell us anymore about your situation?

Yes, People do get fit notes for reduced hours half days, often for a few weeks or a month quite common for mental health.
Depression and anxiety can count as a disability if they’re long-term and have a big impact on daily life, but not automatically.
Hope you’re okay.

I am on a phased return as reflected in fit note but my company has been brilliant in facilitating and I’m now Woking direct with them as to getting back to FT. I had been off for other reasons but mental health would have the same arrangement.

Long term usually means lasting at the very least 6 months since diagnosis. Depression and anxiety are two of the most treatable of MH conditions, if everyone diagnosed with them just wrote themselves off immediately after getting a fit note the world would collapse. You have a right to a flexible work request if you want to go part time permanently. Or you could look for a new job or request a job share. You don’t need to categorize yourself the minute you get a fit note. As a fellow MH sufferer, I strongly encourage you to look towards recovery and getting your life back.

Do you have an occupational health service you can be referred to? They would be able to give more specific advice.

It can be but usually only established after a period of time. If you go for a phased return you may only be paid pro rata.

In my experience it’s if it’s severe and if a long or persisting duration.
I had several episodes of depression when I was younger requiring hospitalisation at one point but wasn’t technically classed as having a disability. Once I got diagnosed with bipolar disorder when I was 30 I then was technically classed as coming under the disability act.
id say things such as have you been in hospital? Have you been under psychiatry? These things would all point out being at the more severe end of things x

That’s not correct. A fit note states the circumstances under which someone is fit to work. It may be that there are no circumstances in which they’re fit to work, in which case the note says that. But equally a fit note can absolutely give conditions such as no heavy lifting, sitting rather than standing, working from home, reduced hours etc. It’s up to the employer whether they accept those conditions. If they don’t then the person is off work completely, because the note functions as “this person is fit to work only if X condition are met”.

Thank you for all your responses.

Just re-reading them now.

This is an ongoing situation for me. Any other advice is much appreciated.

Thank you. Would it still be through OH if just for a short time?

Thank you, but what is the definition of substantial and long term?

Thank you. I do want to b work full time, and I need to financially. It is more a temporary thing I’m thinking of.

Thank y

Thank you. Do you have any specific examples please?

I am doing therapy to help. I have a very stressful job which is hard to cope with at times. I am looking at ways not to end up getting signed off completely.