sickness details

[rightdave]

can my employers legally have to know the nature of illness if only off work for a couple of days? I'm thinking if it's something very private that i don't want them to know about.

would it be enough just to phone in and say I'm ill?

[Hgrove]

I am not 100 p.c. sure but I don't think your employer has a right to know, although if the emloyer asks you to see their own doctor, (unlikely for the sake of a couple of days) then the doctor would know - but s/he would be bound by confidentiality.

[Miss Zippy]

Most companies require you to self-certify your absence if you�ve been off sick for only a very short time (four days maximum usually and then a doctor�s certificate is required), so you will probably have to specify the nature of your illness.  However, if it�s something private, why don�t you just put down something else?  I�m not advocating people making things up, but in your case you have a reason to be off ill but don�t want to disclose the personal nature of it. Employers are unlikely to question an isolated two day absence unless you have had several one or two day absences in a short period of time so I shouldn�t worry unnecessarily.

[ursula62]

Do check first. Some employers have a condition that if you are found to have given misinformation deliberately about sickness absence then this can be regarded as gross misconduct and lead to instant dismissal. Only give wrong information if you are absolutely certain that you won't be found out and that no such condition applies to your employment.

It's better just to write personal on the form and then agree to see the company doctor (who cannot tell HR without your written permission) than to risk losing your job over an illness.

[smudge]

I would go along with Ursula.

Dishonesty has a way of catching up with you, perhaps not now, but later. So to safeguard yourself, I would write either 'Personal reasons' or Personal illness', whichever suits, on your self certification form. 

If it's a one off situation, HR may be happy to leave it at that. If they wish to take it further, you can then explain that it is a very private or delicate situation, but you would be happy to see an independant doctor. Chances are, they won't persue it. Good luck.

[smudge]

*I meant private matter, rather than situation!