From NHS choices website:
If you’re off work sick for seven days or less, your employer should not ask you for a sick note from your GP.
You will need a sick note if you’re off work sick for more than seven days.
The seven days include days that you don’t normally work. So when you work out how long you’ve been off sick, you should include weekends and bank holidays.
Sickness of seven days or less
Your employer 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. This is called self-certification.
Self-certification forms
Self-certification forms usually include details such as:
- information about your sickness or illness,
- the date your sickness started, and
- the date your sickness ended.
These dates may be days that you don’t normally work. For example, your sickness could start or end on a Saturday, Sunday or bank holiday.
Many employers have their own self-certification forms. If your employer doesn’t have their own form, instead they may use an SC2 form from HM Revenue & Customs – Employee’s Statement of Sickness (see the ‘further information’ section).
Sickness of more than seven days
If you’re sick and off work for more than seven days, your employer will normally ask you to provide a sick note from your GP.
When you need a sick note will also depend on your employer’s company policy on sick leave (or sickness absence). This policy should tell you how many days you can be off sick before you need a sick note.
To find out about your employer’s policy:
- ask your team leader or supervisor, or
- speak to someone from your human resources (HR) or personnel department.
Sick notes and how to get one
A sick note must be signed by a doctor, such as your GP, to say that you’re unfit to carry out your job. Sick notes are also sometimes called doctor’s notes, medical certificates or doctor’s statements.
If you need a sick note, you should make an appointment with your GP.
If you’re under the care of a hospital, your sick note may be issued by the hospital, rather than by your GP.
There’s usually no charge for providing a sick note if you’re off sick for more than seven days,
Charges for sick notes
Some employers may request a sick note, for example, from employees who repeatedly take time off sick, even if each time they’re off work, it’s for seven days or less.
For sickness of seven days or less, your GP surgery may charge you to provide a sick note. Your GP surgery will be able to advise you of their charges.