Fit Notice For Free

Can an employer disregard a fit note? In its latest guidance, the Government has stated that employers may ignore a fit note. The fit note is to be considered advice and it is for employers to determine if they are to accept that advice.

Is It Illegal For an Employer to Refuse a Doctor's Note? Yes, if the employee is providing the doctor's note for their FMLA leave, that is illegal. In states where there are no doctor's notes laws, then employers may accept or deny them as per their company policy.

In the first six months of a condition, the fit note can cover a maximum of three months. After that, it can be any clinically appropriate period.

Can a doctor refuse to give a sick note?A doctor can refuse to give you a sick note if they feel you are fit to work. It helps to document when your symptoms started, what symptoms you have had, and how severe they have been to give the doctor a clear and accurate picture of your health condition.

It is possible for a sick note to be back dated so you do not need to be seen urgently or on the day that your sick note expires. It can be issued at a later date and back dated at the doctor's discretion. A doctor may also extend a sick note without you being seen again.

The new fit note, which will be introduced in 2010, would encourage GPs and employers to work together to help people with a disability or long-term medical condition keep their jobs or return to work.

In the first six months of a patient's condition, a fit note can cover a maximum of three months. If a condition has lasted longer than six months, a fit note can be for any clinically appropriate period up to 'an indefinite period'.