As an employer, you must understand the significant changes concerning the fit note (med 3) form, as declared by the Government on 6 October 2023.

These may alter the way you manage your payroll and apportion sick pay, so you should review and update your processes in line with these changes.

Key alterations to the fit note

The fit note now enables both employer and employee to discuss the employee’s health and contemplate strategies to support their continued employment or gradual or permanent return to work.

Medical professionals, including GPs, have the option to send digital fit notes, assuming their IT systems allow it. Fit notes with inked signatures remain legally valid.

There will be broader availability in secondary care settings such as hospitals, expected to be in place later this year. In the meantime, employees may receive a pre-printed fit note upon being discharged from hospital.

Verifying the fit note

To confirm the fit note’s legitimacy, you should check:

• The issuer’s name
• The issuer’s profession
• The medical practice’s address

If any of your employees receive a fit note based on the old template (med3 2017), ensure it has been signed in ink by the healthcare professional.

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