If you have been unwell for 7 days or less, you do not need to see a doctor—you must self-certify your absence.

According to GOV.UK, for absences of 7 days or less, employees do not need to provide a fit note or other proof of sickness from a healthcare professional.

When returning to work, employers may ask employees to confirm their sickness. This is called self-certification, and the method—such as completing a form or emailing details—will be agreed between the employee and employer.

If you require a fit note certificate after the 7 day period, or to extend an existing fit note certificate, please submit a request via Anima under the 'Admin → Sickness' section. This is the only way new requests or extensions will be accepted, ensuring absences are closely monitored and reviews can be organised if needed.

Please note, we do not provide “fit to return to work” certificates, as these are no longer required.