Temporary Changes to Sick Pay December 2021

 

The Government have introduced temporary changes in order to free up GP time for the booster programme and emergency care. 

 

If an employee is off sick on or after 10 December 2021, up to and including 26 January 2022, employers cannot ask them for a GP Fit Note until they have been off for 28 days or more. 

 

This means that employees will not be required to provide their employer with medical evidence of sickness absence for the first 28 days of absence. GPs will still be required to supply fit notes for periods of absence exceeding 28 days. 

 

This applies to absences beginning on or after 10 December 2021, up to and including absences which begin on or before 26 January 2022. The self-certification period will revert to seven days for absences beginning on or after 27 January 2022. 

 

Employers should still manage sickness absence in the normal way by logging the reason for absence and ensuring that a return-to-work interview is held upon the employees return, along with the completion of a self-certification form. Where necessary, referral to occupational health or other support services should still continue.