UK HR Term
Self-certification (sickness)
Self-certification is the process by which an employee declares their own short-term sickness absence in writing without needing a medical certificate. Used for sickness absences of up to seven calendar days (including weekends).
In plain English
For short sickness absences, employees don't need a fit note from a healthcare professional. They can self-certify — declare their own absence in writing, usually on a form (the SC2 is HMRC's standard) or through the employer's HR system.
The seven-day rule
Self-certification covers the first seven calendar days of sickness, including weekends and non-working days. From day eight, a fit note is required.
What it must contain
The information varies by employer, but typically:
- The dates of absence
- The reason (a brief statement is enough — "flu", "back pain")
- Whether the absence is work-related
- The employee's signature
Why it matters for SSP
Self-certification is the evidence the employer needs to pay Statutory Sick Pay for the first week. Without a self-cert, SSP can be withheld until evidence is provided.
Use, not abuse
Most policies treat repeated self-certifications as a trigger for review. The Bradford Factor and other absence-management tools weight short, frequent absences heavily, and many employers limit how many self-certifications can be made in a rolling 12-month period before requiring fit notes for any absence.