To support our GP’s facing tremendous pressure under the wave of the Omicron variant and the booster programme, the Government has introduced a temporary amendment to the Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) Regulations for self-certification of absence.

A worker will be allowed to self-certificate their sickness absence for up to 28 days starting from 17 December 2021 through to 26 January 2022.*

This will apply to workers whose period of absence from work commenced before 17 December 2021 and is not longer than seven days at this date, or any period that begins within the timeframe. For clarity, anyone absent on 10 December or before will need a doctor’s fit note for 7 days’ absence or more.

Please be minded that all other normal sick absence processes will apply. For more information visit: https://www.gov.uk/employers-sick-pay/notice-and-fit-notes

*This update is made as of 17 December and may be subject to change.