Signed off sick but want to work

[JMcD13]

So I've been signed off work with stress but don't feel it's the right thing for me to do for a few reasons.
I didn't hand my sick note in, but let my manager know as I've not been well and I wanted to be transparent on how a few things have been impacting me.
I've just been advised that if I'm signed off sick I shouldn't be working. But I've not reported sick or handed in my sick note.
Can my employer force me to go sick even though I'm saying I'm fit for work regardless of the Dr's advice?

You must be very sick with stress for your doctor to write you a note without you asking for it. I've been suicidal and had to beg for a note. Did you go to the GP with stress and ask for treatment and this is what they suggested? If you are sick enough to go to the doctor with stress perhaps you need some time off.

Hey, I hope you got the support from your GP in the end, sorry to hear you had to battle.
I went as I've had illness after illness and have had flu type illness now for almost 3 weeks and not recovering. Went to GP as worried why I keep getting ill and struggling to fight things off. The GP asked about work and there have been a few months of really stressful bits so GP thinks I'm burnout and stressed which is hampering my immune system. Probably true but after a lot of thought over the weekend I felt it better for me to try and stay in work but be open with my manager

Maybe you should listen to your GP. They clearly think you are run down and need some time off. Taking the time might help to get you better.

You need time to recover. Alternatively a fit note can request adjustments to duties or hours to phase a return.

I think it could leave your employer open to legal problems if something should happen to you at work whilst you’re meant to be signed off. An old colleague of mine returned to work a day early from sick by mistake and was sent home again because it would have affected our employers insurance if I remember rightly? This was a few years back though

You could ring the ACAS helpline for the definitive, emploment law answer....
Or you could listen to your doctor and take some time to recover

employment law

I'm a bit confused. Are you working from home?

To be honest I think GPs are a bit quick to pass out the sick notes especially for stress - my husband went to the doctor with flu / cold that wouldn't go away and he was put on anti depressants and signed off for months 🤷‍♀️ all because he answered yes to a few generic questions like "have you been having trouble sleeping" or "are you enjoying things less than you did before" 🤷‍♀️well have course the answer is yes he's had bloody flu!!

Anyway - once they have written you a sick
Note and you're work is aware of it then you need a return to work note (I was signed off for 6 weeks after an ectopic but I got a return to work note after a week)

With my GP I have to agree to them signing me off though. My GP has tried to sign me off a couple of times with stress and I’ve refused (I’d be even more stressed at home thinking about my workload piling up).
If you really don’t want the time off call your surgery and request a telephone consultation and tell the GP you want to go back to work now.