Sickness self-certification form

What you need to know

The plain-English guidance that comes with this document.

• This is all you need for the first week. Employees can self-certify for the first 7 calendar days of sickness — you can't ask for a doctor's note for such short absences, and doctors generally won't provide one. This form is the record that the absence happened and, with SSP now paid from day one, it's what supports the sick pay.
• Count calendar days, not working days, for the 7-day limit. The self-certification period is 7 calendar days, so weekends and days off count towards it. The "working days missed" box is just to help you with pay and cover — it's a different number.
• Keep the "what was the matter" light. You're entitled to know roughly why someone was off, but not to a full medical history. A line is plenty. Whatever they write is special-category health data, so store the form securely in their file, not somewhere others can flick through.
• The "was it work-related?" question earns its place. A "yes" is your early warning that something might need recording in your accident book, or even reporting under RIDDOR if it's serious. It links this everyday form to your health-and-safety duties — don't skip over it.
• Use it to trigger the return-to-work chat. Handing this form over is the natural moment for a quick welcome-back conversation. Pair it with your return-to-work form rather than treating them as rival bits of paper.
• Don't let it become a stick. Self-certification is a right, not a black mark. If a pattern of short absences is emerging, deal with it through a supportive absence review — not by making people feel they have to justify every day off sick.
• Applies UK-wide. Self-certification and SSP work the same way across the UK; Northern Ireland follows the same SSP scheme.