Statutory Sick Pay (SSP): employer guide
Notice and fit notes
The employee should tell you they’re sick within the time limit set by you, or 7 days if you do not have one. You cannot insist they tell you in person or on a special form.
You do not have to pay Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for any days the employee was late in telling you (unless there’s a good reason for the delay).
Example
An employee is sick from Monday 2 June. They usually work from Monday to Friday.
You’ve set your time limit at 5 days’ notice, but they only tell you they’re sick after 7 days (on Monday 9 June).
You do not have to pay them SSP for the 2 days they were late telling you.
You start paying SSP on Monday 9 June - the first ‘qualifying day’ (days an employee usually works on) after they told you they were sick.
Fit notes and asking for proof
You can only ask for a fit note if your employee is off work for more than 7 days in a row (including non-working days).
You cannot withhold SSP if the employee is late sending you a fit note.
If your employee is off sick frequently or for a long time, HMRC has information about getting medical advice.
Fit notes
A fit note (sometimes called a sick note) must be issued by one of the following healthcare professionals:
- GP or hospital doctor
- registered nurse
- occupational therapist
- pharmacist
- physiotherapist
The note can be printed or digital.
Other proof of sickness
If you agree, the employee can give you another appropriate form of evidence instead of a fit note, such as:
- an Allied Health Professional (AHP) Health and Work Report from a physiotherapist or occupational therapist, for example
- a plan to support a return to work