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   > Social Security Agency  > SSA projects and initiatives  > Employment and Support Allowance 

Statement of Fitness for Work - Employer Information

From 6 April 2010 the current Med 3 and Med 5 medical statements are being replaced with the new Statement of Fitness for Work.
Medical statements – also known as medical certificates or sick notes - are issued by doctors to employees when they are ill or injured. They are commonly used by employers as evidence for sick pay purposes.
With the current statement, doctors describe an individual's condition and indicate whether or not they are fit to work.
From 6 April 2010, the new statement - known as a statement of fitness for work or 'fit note'- will mean doctors can advise that the patient either:
  • is not fit for work
  • may be fit for work
A doctor will give a 'may be fit for work' statement if they think that your employee's health condition may allow them to work – as long as you give them the appropriate support.
If a doctor uses this option, they will give advice about the effects of the patient's health condition and, if appropriate, some suggestions about the types of adjustment or adaptations you could consider making to help your employee back to work.
While you won't have to act on the doctor's advice in a 'may be fit for work' statement, it may help you make simple and practical adjustments to help your employee return to work and reduce unnecessary sickness absence.
If for any reason you can't make the changes necessary to support your employee's return to work, you should - for sick pay purposes - consider the statement as if the doctor had advised that your employee is 'not fit for work'.
Your obligations to pay statutory sick pay and make reasonable adjustments under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will not change.
 
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