Off sick? Sick pay, fit notes and absence meetings

Sick pay

Since 6 April 2026, Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is paid from your first day off sick, whatever you earn. It's the lower of £123.25 a week or 80% of your normal weekly earnings, for up to 28 weeks. Your contract may give you more, called company or contractual sick pay.

If your SSP is going to run out while you're still off, your employer should give you form SSP1, which helps you claim Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit.

Telling your employer, and fit notes

• Follow your employer's rules on who to tell and when, usually on your first morning off.
• For the first 7 calendar days, you can self-certify: just tell your employer you're ill.
• After 7 days, you need a fit note. A GP, nurse, pharmacist, physiotherapist or occupational therapist can give you one.
• If your fit note says you may be fit for work with changes, such as shorter hours or lighter duties, talk to your employer about whether they can make them.

Keeping in touch, and occupational health

Your employer can reasonably keep in touch while you're off, to see how you are and plan for your return. Agree how and how often suits you.

They may ask to refer you to occupational health, an independent adviser who tells them how to support you. They need your consent. If they want a report from your own GP or specialist, you have extra rights under the Access to Medical Reports Act 1988: you can see the report first, ask for corrections, or refuse to let it be sent.

Absence meetings

Many employers hold a short return-to-work meeting after every absence, and a review meeting if your absence reaches a trigger in their policy. These should be supportive: a chance to talk about what would help, not a punishment for being ill.

You can usually bring a colleague or union representative to formal meetings, and ask for adjustments, such as a video call or a meeting at home.

If you have a disability or long-term condition

If your condition has a substantial, long-term effect on your day-to-day life, the Equality Act 2010 may treat it as a disability. Your employer must then make reasonable adjustments, such as changes to hours, duties or equipment, and may need to adjust how it counts your absence.

Being dismissed because of long-term ill health can be fair, but only after a fair process: up-to-date medical advice, talking to you, and looking at adjustments and other roles first. From 1 January 2027, unfair dismissal protection starts after 6 months' service.

Holiday while you're off

Your holiday keeps building up while you're off sick. If you can't take it because of illness, you can carry up to 4 weeks into the next leave year, to use within 18 months.