Can an employer request...

[spaced]

...proof of a visit to the doctor? Say I was sick for a day or 2, can my employer request proof of a doctors visit?

[antiguru]

Yes, they�re perfectly entitled to do this although few employers exercise this right unless they have concerns.

[spaced]

i have had a bad stomach ache for 2 days, I feel alot better than yesterday, so shall be back to work tomorrow. I called my boss to explain that I was feeling better. She was fine, but likes to here that I visited the doctor. So, to keep her happy, I told her that I visited my doctor. Now I am worrying that she may ask to see proof. I have been there 3 yrs and never been asked, so I may be panicking about nothing.

I have tried making an appointment but the doctors are fully booked.

[Ethel]

Remember you are legally entitled to 'self certificate' for the first 7 days - this is specifically to stop the GPs time being wasted by employees needing sick notes for colds, tummy upsets and so on that do not need a doctor's treatment.

If your employer does demand a sick note for the first 7 days your GP is entitled to charge you for it - as much as he likes.

In these circumstances the employer MUST refund the money.

It is doubtful your employer will ask for a sick note.

[gina32]

it also depends on what line of business you work in, say for instance you are in food retail your boss may need proof from your doctor that it was just a bit of a stomach upset and not something like food poisoning which could affect business and has to be reported

[spaced]

apparently you only need self-certificate from 4days +. If you are sick for 1,2 or 3 working days, there is no need to self-certificate

http://www.worksmart.org.uk/health/viewquestio n.php?eny=516

[THECORBYLOON]

In the HMRC (aka Inland Revenue) Employer's Handbook it states

"How your Employee must tell you
For SSP purposes, you cannot insist that your employee notifies you
�in person
�earlier than the first QD in a spell of sickness
�by a fixed time on the first QD
�more often than once a week during the sickness
�on a special form
�on a medical certificate"

(a QD is a Qualifying Day -a day you'd normally work)

[THECORBYLOON]

The bit about four to seven days is misleading. For SSP purposes, an employer need only pay SSP if you have been off for more than three days and SSP is paid only from the fourth day.

[gina32]

anyway dont you run a massive company, surely then you dont have anyone to answer to anyway?

[antiguru]

I assumed when I read your question that you were asking because you need time off to go to a doctors appointment and your employer wanted proof.

I didn�t realise you�d lied to your employer and were asking if they could find out. The later answers on self-certification are therefore more relevant to your case.

[spaced]

No no no....i was sick on Tuesday and Wednesday. I made an appoitnment for the doctor. Missed the appointment as I fell asleep. I told one of the VC's that I had seen the doctor, as she is obsessed on ill people seeing doctors. So not to **** her off I said I had seen the doctor.

Anyway, back to work and everything is ok.

Gina32 - even CEO's of companies have to still answer to others! people like Venture Capitilists etc etc

[Twenty20]

I'm afraid THECORBYLOON is a bit misleading on this one. The Inland Revenue (HMRC) can't tell you when you have to contact your work in the event of sickness, only your employer can do that in your contract of employment or company procedures. The Inland Revenue may imply this is good practice but its way outside their remit and down to each company to define their own procedure.

Personally I wouldnt worry too much about it.

[THECORBYLOON]

Twenty20 I am not misleading, HMRC runs the SSP scheme and the portion I quoted relates to that scheme. However, it is still the case that an employer cannot insist on a med cert for the first seven days of incapacity which was the point at issue.