Most employers allow employees to self-certify their absence for the first seven days of sickness, and require a fit note for longer absences. For statutory sick pay (SSP) purposes, an employer cannot require an employee to provide a fit note until after seven calendar days of illness. If an employee is absent without a fit note, where they have been sick for more than seven days, the employer may be entitled to withhold either contractual sick pay or SSP.

Whether or not an employer can lawfully dismiss an employee for unauthorised absence depends on the reason for, and length of, the absence and the procedure that the employer follows.

From April 6th 2026 employers now also have a duty to keep records in relation to annual leave and holiday pay. Whilst this sounds like good practice anyway, this is actually the first time there has been an employment law duty to do so.