If you're off work sick for 7 days or less, your employer should not ask for medical evidence that you've been ill. Instead, they can ask you to confirm that you've been ill. You can do this by filling in a form yourself when you return to work. We call this self-certification.
Sick notes
If you've been off sick for 7 days or less
If you've been off sick for more than 7 days
If you need an extension of your sick note
To request an extension:
- fill out our online form
Sick notes can be backdated so there is no need to request an urgent appointment.
Page last reviewed: 14 November 2026
Page created: 14 November 2026
Page created: 14 November 2026