If you are sick for any reason other than Coronavirus related:
You can self-certify for an agreed period (normally up to 7 calendar days) but will need a note from your doctor if you are absent from work for longer than this. Without this you won’t be eligible for enhanced sick pay so this will be important to you. You should send this to your line manager (not the HR team). If you do send it to the HR team, they will forward to your line manager.

In relation to Coronavirus:
The Government has introduced an online scheme through NHS 111 under which you can, after answering a series of questions, be emailed an ‘isolation note’.  This will indicate that you should remain at home because you have coronavirus symptoms. 

If you are too ill to work – this note will be deemed to be adequate evidence of your inability to work for the purposes of sick pay – essentially equivalent to a fit note.  It will also provide evidence if you are able to work, but not able to go out of the house – for example, it can be used to indicate if you need to self-isolate but do not have symptoms yourself. 

If you need to self-isolate you may need to show a letter or text confirming this to your manager. 

If you are unable to work for more than 7 days (for a Coronavirus related reason) the relevant evidence of this must be provided as above in the same way as a doctor’s note.
If you are unable to work for more than 14 days (for a Coronavirus related reason) you will be asked to get a fit note from your doctor.

From time to time there are concessions to the time limits to reduce pressure on GP surgeries.

Please go to Q34 above if you are self-isolating but able to work.

Please go to Q18 – If you are notified by a colleague/HR that someone you have been working in close contact with has symptoms or has tested positive.

Anybody with symptoms is also asked to use the NHS Symptoms Checker