Sick notes

[Davbro]

I totally underestimated how ill I was going to be this last Sun/Mon when I came down with a weird case of what I have to call the flu. Basically I've been off from the Monday to Friday, without seeing a doctor. My doctors is crap. I am due and hoping to go back on Monday. I understand they will count the first Sunday as the first day off which makes the Friday the sixth day. If I say the Sat is day 7, then Sunday I was better, is that ok for self cert purposes? Or do I have to arrange a fit note?

I'm confused - either your sickness absence started on Sunday or Monday, which is it? You say they'll count Sunday as the first day, presumably that means you were due to work but couldn't and phoned in sick? But then you say you were off Monday to Friday?

No Sunday was part of a normal weekend off. But I understand that this counts as the first day of sickness in self cert reporting.

As far as I'm aware the first day of sickness is the first day where you are unable to come into work.

”But I understand that this counts as the first day of sickness in self cert reporting.”

Your first day of sickness absence is the first day you are absent from work. 7 calendar days self-cert means you can be absent for one full working week self-certifying. If you go back to work on Monday you are fine. If not you’ll need a fit note.

Your period of sickness begins on the first day you are sick, regardless of whether that is your day off or not. If you ring up sick on a Sunday, and Sunday is your day off, that still counts as day one.
Any sensible person wouldn't ring in sick on a day they're not supposed to work. You ring in sick on the first day you're supposed to work, so the clock starts ticking when it suits you, not when it suits your employer