Tag: phased return to work

Sick note for anxiety or depression

Written by Don on September 18, 2026. Posted in Sickness.

Anxiety and depression are among the most common reasons people are signed off work in the UK, and they are treated in exactly the same way as a physical illness when it comes to fit notes, sick pay and your rights at work. That is the law. Whether it always feels that way is another matter, which is why it is worth knowing precisely where you stand before you have the conversation.

Long-term sick: your rights, your pay and your job

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

A short absence is straightforward. A long one is not: the fit notes keep coming, the sick pay changes, meetings start appearing in your inbox, and at some point the question of whether you still have a job stops feeling theoretical. This covers what actually happens when sickness absence becomes long term – what you are entitled to, what your employer can and cannot do, and what the realistic paths back look like.

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.