Tag: absence from work

Sick note rules in the UK: the complete 2026 guide

Written by Don on September 21, 2026. Posted in Sickness.

The rules around sick notes in the UK are not complicated, but they are scattered – a bit in employment law, a bit in NHS guidance, a bit in whatever your employer’s absence policy says. And several of them changed in April 2026. This is all of it in one place: who needs a note and when, who can issue one, how long it can cover, what it can and cannot be backdated to, what you get paid, and what your employer is actually allowed to require.

Signed off work with stress: your rights and what happens next

Written by Don on September 14, 2026. Posted in Sickness.

Being signed off work with stress is more common than most people realise, and it is a recognised medical absence like any other. It is also a confusing position to be in: nobody hands you a leaflet explaining how long you can be off, what you will be paid, whether your boss is allowed to keep ringing you, or how you are supposed to go back. This guide covers all of that. It is written for the person who is off, not for their employer.