Under existing rules for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) employees can self-certify for the first seven days of their illness and employers cannot ask for medical evidence during this period. There has been no change to this requirement.

If employees are ill for more than seven days, employers can ask for reasonable evidence that they are not able to work and decide what, if any, further information they may need.

During the swine flu pandemic, employers are being asked to consider other evidence (instead of a doctor’s certificate) as proof of an employee's illness. This will hopefully help to reduce the burden on GPs.

Internet link: HMRC guidance

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