Are you aware of your employer's sick leave policy?

NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale are being reminding workers to be aware of their sick leave policies during the current flu pandemic.

Most people with swine flu are experiencing a relatively mild illness and are recovering over three to five days at home with plenty of rest and fluids. For this length of time, the majority of patients are able to self certify themselves from work as sick.

However, for patients requiring more than seven days off work (which includes the days not normally worked), employers will require a sick note from a GP.

As patients are advised to stay at home if they have flu symptoms, they are therefore advised to telephone their GP practice direct for a telephone consultation (or equivalent) and ask for a sick note. The sick note will usually be issued on or after the day the GP has spoken to the patient. It will not be back dated for legal reasons.

The requirement of a sick note will depend on an employer’s company policy on sick leave (or sickness absence). This policy should state how many days an employee can be off sick before a sick note is required.

Dr Sheila Will, Director of Public Health at NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, said: “Although we are seeing a decline in cases of swine flu in the borough, we are likely to see an increase over the next couple of months. This being the case, I’d encourage workers across the borough to be clear on their company sick leave policies, and equally for employers to make sure their staff are kept informed about any specific rules for their business. This will help workers and businesses avoid unnecessary complications and costs further down the line.”