Employer requesting fit note before 7 days

[Bemyclementine]

I have been off with sickness too many times, had a review with a manager who saud they need to see no sickness for 6 months. I would love to not be ill for 6 months but don't seem to be able to catch a break with this.

I have had norovirus or similar. Work want a fit note. Drs are saying no, they have to accept self cert. I have no leave left to take.

Where do I stand with this?

I'm not sure what to do, if work won't accept self cert, and drs won't issue a note.

Doctors will sometimes issue a note for a fee if its before the 7 days, if they won't though then you could request to speak to HR or if your company has occupational health to discuss. If you are on an attendance plan and they have gone through the correct formal process then unfortunately you aren't in a great position.

Thanks, I really do understand that it's not great having been off several times. I've had such a run of crap luck with covid, strep A and now this. I was off with stress which is ongoing and this just really isn't helping. I've worked there for years. 20 in fact, and this is the first time there has been any issue.

Do you have an employee helpline you can call for confidential advice?

Or are you able to request a referral to occupational health?

An employee of such long standing is obviously loyal and valuable. Show your manager that you are taking positive action to find a resolution to this unusual run of poor health. Remind manager of your good attendance and sickness record over the years and ask that they work with you to get over this blip.

I don't think we do to be honest. They have an issue with retaining staff and I understand my absences haven't helped when we are persistently short staffed.
The illness are all unrelated, (although I do have underlying issues that may make it harder for me to recover) it's just pure back luck.

You say you've been there 20 years, so I think you need to remind your manager that you had an excellent sickness record until very recently, and if your sickness averaged evenly over that 20 years it'd be below average compared to the rest of the workforce.

ACAS might be helpful for (free) excellent advice here

Your doctor might issue a sick note but charge you for if, £20 at my doctors.

Have you been to occ health re the underlying issues? That might help.