Allied Health Professional reports have been added to HMRC’s guidance on Statutory Sick Pay (SSP): employee fitness to work as strong evidence of sickness for a period of incapacity lasting more than seven days.
Employers must tell their employees what they expect to receive as evidence of incapacity for SSP purposes and when they expect to receive it. The guidance notes that employers cannot withhold SSP for late medical evidence as this could be because the employee is unable to get an appointment with their doctor.
For incapacity that lasts more than seven days, employers can ask for medical evidence or a fit note from the employee’s doctor. However, it is the employer’s decision as to whether evidence of illness is required, and if so, what evidence is acceptable.
A doctor’s fit note or an Allied Health Professional report is strong evidence of sickness and is usually acceptable. The employee can also provide a certificate from someone who is not a doctor, such as: osteopaths; chiropractors; Christian Scientists; herbalists; and acupuncturists.
The employer can decide whether or not to accept the evidence. If it has doubts it can still ask for a doctor’s fit note.
The employee must continue to notify the employer of ongoing sickness. Payment can be withheld if there are any days for which the employer has not been notified, but not for late medical evidence.
