Reply to: Doctors note for Contractors

[Paddy]

as the above all say no you do not need to provide one as your are not their employee.

If you are running your own limited then they could state that the support provided by your limited company during the past week was not acceptable and may constitute a breach of contract as your co failed to provide a suitable replacement (assuming you have an ROS clause in the contract).

Your co may then need to provide evidence that their employee (e.g. you) was actually ill (in the form of a doctors note) and also that your co made a resonable attempt to source a suitable replacement. The client may also look for documetation or evidence of the communications which passed between your co and them keep them informed of the situation and a likely end date to your co's inabaility to provide support/service at the levels agreed in the contract.

Realistically I imagine the client co are looking for reassurances that you were genuinely ill and not simply having a bit of a jolly.

I doubt very much is a week or so off being sick would ever be considered as a breach of contract. It’s more like an act of God.

I like the idea of telling them that if they pay you for that week you will then supply a sick note. Otherwise tell them your Limited Company will be breaking the Data Protection Act by passing on confidential employee information.

[uky kozak]

Interesting.

If you were a real contractor and were fit enough to go see the quack, then you would also be fit enough to drag your rear-end into the ClientCo site and work.

What are they running there? A holiday camp???

Yep great thinking go to work and make the rest of the contractors ill !!!! -

[PM-Junkie]

Only time I have taken time off mid contract was when I was told to. If I remember right the phrase used was to "get my sorry arse home and stop infecting everyone".

For the remaining 7 weeks of the gig I was jokingly known as "the disease". Cute.

[BolshieBastard]

I always act professionally if Im unable to travel and work due to illness. I always phone and let them know I wont be in but I never, ever comply with any 'sick note' request.

I once had a contract to review which stated a sick note was required for such absences. I told the agent that I had no problem letting client know on the first day of absence but no way would I get a sick note. I wanted the clause removed and they agreed.

[Fred Bloggs]

yeah i did - they backed down. pussies.

Good man!

[blacjac]

Tell them you can't get a doctors note but you can get one from your Mum

AndyW's

[bman]

yeah i did - they backed down. pussies.

[Fred Bloggs]

Do you fill in holiday forms and holiday charts as well? Tell them to ram the sick note where sun doesn't shine.

[Grinder]

All this flack we get about man-flu, but look at all the fuss they made last year about bird flu

[minestrone]

I am not surprised clinics are over run with people when employers ask GPs to police their workforce.

Most GPs will hand out sick lines for anything if you are in employment, they see it as getting back at employers who demand that you get a line for 10 uncomfortable office minutes on the throne with a dry spikey turd.

[MPwannadecentincome]

I naturally hate all this rubbish which im sure like you is one of the reasons i became a contractor. Normally i would tell em to go jump but before I make that phone call i'm concerned whether to just jump through the hoops as I have a good relationship with this agency and they seem to be the only ones right now with a decent next role.

Just wondering if I should play it easy this time for the sake of keeping em sweet to get this next contract (contract finishing in 4 weeks) or whether to stick to my guns and fight it out

hey look at the bright side if you get a sick note you can claim Statutory Sick Pay for yourself as an employee - which is what £20 or so?!

[Bagpuss]

Tell them you can't get a doctors note but you can get one from your Mum

[Chugnut]

Mutter "Ok I'll get your note. I just hope I haven't got the highly contagious airborne nob rot virus doing the rounds at the moment". Then sneeze in his face.

Stumble off, furiously scratching your plums.

That's the last you'll hear about that note. I've used this infallible approach myself many times.

[swamp]

Tell them: "OK I'll see about getting a note". Then fob them off with excuses, like you're not registered with a new doctor since you moved house... Tactfully remind them you're a contractor. They'll soon get bored and go away.

[gingerjedi]

Realistically I imagine the client co are looking for reassurances that you were genuinely ill and not simply having a bit of a jolly.

Realistically the HR department don't know their arse from their elbow, the reason they ask for doctor’s note is so they can claim the statutory sick pay back from the government for the permy employees that they still pay regardless.

The only reason you may need to provide one is to claim statutory sick pay for yourself from the government as I believe you're entitled to do? (I am often wrong??), nothing to do with the client.