The temporary arrangements, designed to ease pressure on GPs in connection with the Omicron variant and vaccination boosters programme, extended the self-certification period for SSP from 7 to 28 days.
This meant that for any sickness absences which began on or after 10 December 2021, up to and including 26 January 2022, employees were not required to provide medical evidence of sickness, such as a fit note, for the first 28 days of absence.
For absences from 27 January 2022 employees will once again be required to provide a fit note after 7 days of sickness in order to claim SSP from their employer.
