Stop Press: Fake Fit Notes
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11.6.2010 It has emerged that fake fit notes are being sold for as little as £10 online, raising concerns that workers may find it easier to fraudulently claim sickness absence. A website is openly selling fake versions of the new fit notes, described as "authentic looking replica doctors sick note or medical certificates. Written on official doctors' notepaper, with real stamp." Despite being marketed as “for novelty use only”, there are worries that they may be difficult to tell apart from genuine fit notes as they can be stamped as having been issued by real medical centres across the UK. Any employer who is suspicious of a fit note’s validity may want to contact the surgery which issued the note to check its legitimacy. Alternatively, the worker could be referred to an independent health adviser or doctor. As a preventative measure, staff could be informed that anyone found using the fake fit notes would face disciplinary action, although conversely it may be preferable not to draw workers’ attention to the existence of the service being offered.
This bulletin is for general guidance purposes only and should not be used for any other purpose.
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