Guidance

Fit note: guidance for occupational health professionals

Explains the changes to the Statement of Fitness introduced in April 2010 and how they affect the processes for managing sickness absence.

From:
Department for Work and Pensions
Published
31 March 2010
Last updated
27 January 2022 — See all updates

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This page has been withdrawn because it’s out of date. Read the fit note guidance for more information.

Documents

Statement of Fitness for Work: a guide for occupational health professionals

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This guide is for occupational health professionals involved strategically in attendance management and clinical care.

It includes information on the Statement of Fitness for Work and how changes to the statement that were introduced in April 2010 affect the processes occupational health professionals use to manage sickness absence.

Published 31 March 2010
Last updated 27 January 2022 + show all updates

  1. The temporary change to the rules on when you need to provide a fit note has ended. From 27 January 2022 you will need to provide a fit note after 7 days of sickness to claim benefits or claim Statutory Sick Pay from your employer.

  2. Added a message about not having to provide fit notes (sick notes) until 27 January 2022 to give GPs more time to work on the coronavirus vaccination boosters.

  3. Added this note to the page – A new version of the fit note is now available but old ones can still be used. The advisory notes now include information about Fit for Work and the collection of anonymous fit note data. We will revise the guidance to reflect the changes.

  4. First published.