Is It Okay To Get a Sick Note from a GP Online in the UK While Working Remotely?

The idea of “proximity bias” hit different for many remote workers in the UK. Remote workers are often considered more privileged than in-office workers, mainly for saving commuting time, being closer to their families and significantly for “having greater control over their time”. When it comes to reporting or practising accountability for sick leaves, is it just as acceptable for a remote worker to get a sick note from a GP online in the UK? Let’s get a deeper insight.

Bottom line first: as per the UK government, it is 100% acceptable and legitimate for remote workers to use digital sick notes and fit notes when issued by a board-certified GP. It carries the exact legal weight as one obtained in a surgery in person.

Sick Leave Reporting: What the UK Company Law Says

In the UK, the Statement of Fitness for Work, simply known as the MED3 or “fit note", officially replaced the old "sick note" in 2010. Employees only need leave for over 7 calendar days (including weekends). For leaves of less than 7 days, self-certification applies, where it is not mandatory to present any doctor’s note.

Since April 2022, digital fit notes have been the standard. The requirement for a physical, "wet-ink" signature has been removed, allowing GPs and other healthcare professionals to issue these documents electronically following a video or telephone consultation.

Many employees choose to get a sick note from a GP online in the UK over self-certification, even before the 7-day self-certification period has passed. A big reason behind this is to provide immediate, incontestable proof of illness, nullifying any suspicion of leave misuse, especially in circumstances when multiple short-term sick leaves have been used within a month or two.

The Legal and Clinical Reality of Using Digital Sick Notes as a Remote Worker in the UK

The idea that remote work is a "perk" that necessitates a higher burden of proof for illness is a fallacy rooted in outdated workplace norms. Below are some of the common issues that remote workers might face:

The "Always-On" Culture vs. Sickness: Many remote workers, fearing they will be perceived as lazy or disengaged, continue to work while sick, creating tension when they try to use sick leave. Conversely, managers may doubt the severity of an illness if the employee is still answering messages.

Blurred Professional Boundaries: The lack of a physical boundary between home and work makes it difficult for managers to verify health conditions and for employees to truly rest.

Validity Concerns: Employers often view digital notes as "too generic" or harder to verify, leading to higher rejection rates, which creates conflict.

Misunderstanding of Remote Productivity: Some management styles equate physical presence with productivity; they may struggle to manage by output rather than by sight, leading to scepticism about whether a remote worker is truly "too sick" to log in.

By accepting digital health documentation without bias, companies can foster a culture of trust and equity, ensuring that the distance between a worker and the office does not become a distance between an employee and their rights.