Employees have the right to take paid sick leave from an employer by showing a sick leave certificate—obtained online—without seeing the GP in person. The UK Government, however, ensures that the folds of “legitimacy” have an equal share of rights for both employers and employees. Acceptance of digital documents is based on the criteria that they adhere to the “sick leave policy” mentioned in their respective contracts. 

The UK Government identifies a digital doctor sick leave certificate as acceptable in both the public and private sectors to verify the “period of incapacity for work” for minor illnesses and short-term leaves. Though it is still in a nascent state and lacks the formal regularisation required for a service with this level of official involvement, telehealth services are an excellent resource, offering optimal convenience for contactless healthcare in specific circumstances. 

Legitimacy of Online Sick Leave Certificates—The SSP UK Guidelines

The guidelines set under the SSP UK denote that employers are not obliged to approve sick pay for delayed information. Payments are not based on the day you fall sick, but on the day you inform your employer or HR manager of your absence from work.

So if the employee is entitled to a 5-day notice on a Monday-Friday working week and the employee gets back after 7 days, their sick pay approvals can be cancelled or incur deductions. 

If the employer has not set a limit on sick pay, the standard norm is 7 days. 

The employee may not need to see the GP in person to obtain their sick note; an online sick leave certificate in the UK is acceptable if the sick leave is for a minor illness and not a medical emergency as such. Choosing a well-reputed telehealth service platform is detrimental to having access to qualified and GMC-recognised GPs in the country. 

Eligibility Guidelines to Consider 

Along with the facility of digital doctor sick leave certificates, modern telehealth platforms in the UK also provide online GP consultations and treatment options for a range of ailments. Below are the key considerations that make you eligible for this kind of service: 

  • Only minor illness needs are suitable for getting an online sick leave certificate when an in-person diagnosis is not a necessity. Treatable conditions include a common cold, cough, strep throat, hay fever, headache, upset stomach, and a mildly stressed feeling. 
  • Mild to moderate-level health conditions like eczema, acne, migraines, and urinary tract infections are some of the common conditions eligible for treatment under an online GP in the UK.
  • Only identifiable persons qualify as applicants for online medical certificates. They will need to present their identity and address proof to verify their age, location, and past association with us. A phone number, an email ID, and proof of identity are required to be eligible.
  • Adults over 18 years of age can use a digital sick note, which makes employees and university students suitable for this service. 

Online Sick Leave Certificates only Work for an Ongoing Illness—- Don't Try to Backdate the Document 

You cannot backdate your online medical certificates. This means if you take your rest while you are sick and then seek the medical documentation when you have mostly recovered and are ready to rejoin your work, it doesn't work like that. You must seek your sick note from the day you take your sick leave and mention the number of days you are looking to take leave based on your condition. If you need to extend the period, you can get in touch with the GP. Extension requests usually don't cost any extra money. 

Short-Term Leaves for Medical Emergencies 

Online GP advice is not suitable for medical emergencies or chronic conditions. So on what pretext may you ask for it? 

Small accidents like cuts, bruises, burns, and shortness of breath—all these are considered “emergencies” in the policies of telemedicine services in the UK. Even though these conditions can be handled without seeing the doctor in person, requests for a medical certificate from a GP online are usually declined. 

Similarly, online GP consultations, which are equally prevalent in the UK now, are not suitable when you have a non-communicable chronic disease that requires frequent in-person diagnosis, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are taking certain life-saving medications. 

Online Doctor Sick Leave Certificates Promote Employee Wellness

More and more Irish businesses are recognising the importance of workplace safety regulations as a cost-effective method for promoting a healthy work environment, reducing absenteeism, and preserving the brand's reputation as a workplace. 

Accepting a doctor's sick leave certificate for short-term leaves is one way of reducing the hassles of maintaining sick pay policies for employees. This way, employers are giving employees more time and flexibility to get the proper documentation without sacrificing their resting time. It works as a highly convenient method to manage absenteeism and promote credibility in the workplace.