Being asked how long I will be off sick for

[PennyHasNoSurname]

Ive just been diagnosed with pneumonia. Ive no idea how long it takes to recover from this sort of thing, so have self certed for a week and if needs be I will ask the doctor for a sick note if I am not better within that time.

But Im being asked how long I imagine this will be. I literally have no idea!

I doubt it will be just a week. Ask your Dr for a fit note and a sensible timescale to review. Then you can at least say not before x.

Its perfectly reasonable for work to ask, particularly if you have had a diagnosis but haven't been signed off (which would make HR think you're not actually going to be signed off and your doctor expects you to be back before that would be neccesary). Its also perfectly fine to say you don't know and will get a doctor's certificate if necessary after your period of self certification.

I say this as an employment lawyer sitting here with pneumonia following a horrible viral illness for the past two weeks so I empathise.

I had mycoplasma years ago and had this. I work with children so couldn't head back without the all clear. I just had to keep saying that the doc says not yet and visiting doctors every 3-4 days. It was 3 weeks before I got the ok.

Ask your doctor for an estimated time? And hugs, its shit. Hope you recover soon.

I do understand them asking, we work on a roster so for scheduling purposes etc. I just have no idea what to say. I was diagnosed at the hospital so not actually seen my own gp yet have an appt Friday.

You say "At least a week but I will keep you informed if it is likely to be longer".

It doesn't sound as if you're too bad with it (sorry - I'm sure you probably feel rubbish and I am sympathetic but having experienced the other life-threatening end of the pneumonia spectrum, it sounds as though you're not at that point), so I'd imagine you'd be entirely better in a week or two.

It's a standard question. It doesn't have to be accurate - just to give them some idea of whether it's a few days or a few months.

I expect they are asking because you've obviously seen a doctor to get diagnosed but the doctor didn't sign you off, which is strange.

Just tell them you don't know and will be going back to the doctor if you are not better within the week and getting a fit note.

Flowery, the OP doesn't need a sick line until they have been off a week legally, they can self certify. OP I would say at least 2 weeks and see how you get on. I would probably have issued a sick line on this occasion anyway if I had seen the patient but maybe the Dr didn't think about this as concentrating on the illness.

It took nearly four weeks when I had it five years ago. Although being self employed I did bugger on for two of those, which I probably shouldn't have done. Luckily I work alone and outside, and when the weather's nice it's okay. Not so much when it's wet and miserable though!

"Flowery, the OP doesn't need a sick line until they have been off a week legally, they can self certify."

Er, yes I do realise that, and didn't say otherwise. I simply said it was strange for a doctor to diagnose the OP with something serious like that which was obviously going to involve a chunk of time off work without giving her a fit note to that effect at the same time.