Do Sick Notes Include Weekends?
Yes. Sick notes in the UK cover calendar days, not working days. Weekends, bank holidays, and any other non-working days all count towards the duration of a sick note. A two-week sick note covers 14 consecutive calendar days, including both Saturdays and Sundays within that period.
This applies to both the 7-day self-certification period and any fit note or private medical certificate issued by a doctor. The calculation is based on consecutive calendar days from the first day you are unwell, regardless of your shift pattern, contracted hours, or whether you normally work weekends.
Understanding how weekends factor into sick note duration matters because it affects when you need medical evidence, how long your certificate covers, and when you are expected back at work.
Calendar Days vs Working Days: How Sick Note Duration Is Counted
One of the most common misunderstandings around sick notes is the difference between calendar days and working days. UK sick leave rules use calendar days for every duration calculation.
| Calculation type | Calendar days | Working days |
|---|---|---|
| What it counts | Every day including Sat, Sun, bank holidays | Only contracted work days (typically Mon to Fri) |
| Used for sick note duration | Yes. All sick note and self-certification periods run in calendar days. | No. Certificate length is not measured in working days. |
| Used for SSP qualifying days | No. SSP is paid only for qualifying days. | Yes. Qualifying days are normally the days you are contracted to work. |
| Example: 7-day absence starting Thursday | Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed = 7 calendar days | Thu, Fri, Mon, Tue, Wed = 5 working days |
The GOV.UK guidance on taking sick leave is clear on this point: the 7-day period before a fit note is required includes non-working days such as weekends and bank holidays. This rule applies to all employees regardless of contract type, whether full-time, part-time, or zero-hours.
Self-Certification and the 7-Day Rule
For the first 7 calendar days of illness, you can self-certify your absence. You do not need a fit note or medical certificate during this period. Your employer may ask you to complete a self-certification form, either form SC2 or their own version, when you return. GOV.UK is explicit that employees who are off for 7 days or less do not need to give their employer a fit note or other proof.
Worked Example
This 7-day calendar rule applies identically to part-time workers. If you work only Mondays and Wednesdays, the clock still runs through Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The NHS guidance on fit notes confirms this: a fit note is needed when you have been unable to work for more than 7 days, including weekends and bank holidays.
Do Bank Holidays Count on a Sick Note?
Yes. Bank holidays are treated identically to weekends for sick note purposes. They count as calendar days within both the self-certification period and any fit note or medical certificate duration.
Days that count
Saturdays, Sundays, bank holidays, rest days, annual leave days you were scheduled to take, any day you do not normally work.
What does not reset the clock
Returning briefly then falling ill again within the same period may be treated as continuous absence under your employer's policy. Check your contract or staff handbook for specific rules on linked absences.
If a bank holiday falls within the period covered by your sick note, you do not need to extend the certificate. The sick note already covers that day. Statutory holiday entitlement continues to build up while you are off sick, however long the absence lasts, so whether you can take that bank holiday at another time depends on your contract and your employer's leave policy.
Sick Note Duration vs SSP Payment Days
There is an important distinction between how long a sick note lasts and which days you receive Statutory Sick Pay.
Your sick note covers every calendar day within its stated period. SSP is paid only for qualifying days. Qualifying days are the days you normally work under your contract, agreed between you and your employer. If you work Monday to Friday and those are your qualifying days, Saturday and Sunday are not paid, even though your sick note covers them. Where you and your employer agree there are no working days in a week, GOV.UK sets Wednesday as the qualifying day for that week.
Since 6 April 2026, SSP is payable from the first qualifying day of the absence, because the three waiting days were abolished. The lower earnings limit was removed by the Employment Rights Act 2025, so employees earning below the old threshold are no longer excluded from SSP on earnings grounds. For 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027 the weekly rate is £123.25 or 80% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower, and SSP runs for up to 28 weeks.
Where you are off for part of a week rather than a whole week, SSP is worked out as a daily rate. Divide the weekly rate by the number of qualifying days in that week, then multiply by the number of qualifying days you were sick. On five qualifying days a week that works out at £24.65 for each qualifying day missed at the flat rate, and less where 80% of your average weekly earnings is the lower figure.
The sick note itself does not determine SSP entitlement. It provides medical evidence of absence. SSP eligibility depends on statutory rules including your employment status and notification to your employer.
Getting a Medical Certificate That Covers Weekends
If your illness extends beyond 7 calendar days, you need a fit note or private medical certificate. The certificate your doctor issues will state start and end dates using calendar days, so weekends are automatically included in the coverage period.
If you cannot get an NHS GP appointment in time, a private medical certificate from a GMC-registered doctor is an alternative that many employers accept, though acceptance remains their decision. MedicalCert consultations are fully online, reviewed by GMC-registered UK doctors, and most certificates are issued same day or by 9am the next morning.
From £47. Full refund if a certificate cannot be issued on clinical grounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a 7-day sick note include weekends?
Yes. A 7-day sick note or self-certification period covers 7 consecutive calendar days, including Saturdays, Sundays, and any bank holidays that fall within the period. The count starts from the first day you are unwell, not the first working day you miss.
Does a 2-week sick note include weekends?
Yes. A 2-week (14-day) sick note covers 14 consecutive calendar days. This includes all Saturdays and Sundays within the period. If your doctor writes a certificate from 1 June to 14 June, that covers both full weekends falling within those dates.
Do bank holidays count towards sick note days?
Yes. Bank holidays count as calendar days for sick note duration. If a bank holiday falls on a Monday and your sick note runs from the previous Friday, that Monday counts as day 4 of your absence. You do not need to extend your sick note to account for bank holidays.
How are sick note days calculated in the UK?
Sick note days are calculated using consecutive calendar days from the first day of illness. Every day counts, including weekends, bank holidays, rest days, and days you are not contracted to work. This is confirmed by GOV.UK guidance on taking sick leave and by the NHS fit note guidance.
Can my employer refuse a sick note that covers weekends?
Not on that basis alone. Sick notes are issued in calendar days by design, so a certificate that covers a weekend is normal and is not invalid for that reason. The dates stated by the doctor or healthcare professional cover all days within the period. Whether your employer accepts a private medical certificate in place of a fit note is a separate question and remains their decision. GOV.UK guidance for employers says that, if the employer agrees, the employee can give another appropriate form of evidence instead of a fit note.
Does self-certification include weekends?
Yes. Self-certification covers up to 7 consecutive calendar days including weekends and bank holidays. If you become ill on a Friday, Saturday is day 2 and Sunday is day 3. Your employer may ask you to complete a self-certification form, form SC2 or their own version, when you return to work.
Do I get SSP for weekends when I am off sick?
SSP is paid only for qualifying days. These are normally the days you are contracted to work, agreed between you and your employer. If you work Monday to Friday and those are your qualifying days, you do not receive SSP for Saturdays and Sundays, even though your sick note covers those days. Where you are off for only part of a week, the daily rate is the weekly rate divided by the number of qualifying days in that week, multiplied by the number of qualifying days you were sick.
What if my sick note runs out on a weekend?
If your sick note expires on a Saturday or Sunday and you are still unwell, you should arrange a new certificate before your next scheduled working day. You can request a private medical certificate online over the weekend when NHS GP surgeries may be closed. MedicalCert consultations are available 7 days a week.
Is a private sick note valid if it includes weekends?
Including weekends does not affect a certificate's validity. A private medical certificate covers calendar days in exactly the same way as a fit note, and it states the start and end dates of the period of incapacity, which includes every day in that range. Whether your employer accepts it in place of a fit note, and whether they treat it as sufficient evidence for Statutory Sick Pay, is their decision under GOV.UK guidance.
Do part-time workers count weekends in their sick note?
Yes. Part-time workers follow the same calendar-day calculation as full-time employees. If you work only Tuesdays and Thursdays, the 7-day self-certification period still runs through all seven consecutive calendar days from day one of illness, including the five days you do not normally work. This is the same rule applied consistently to all UK employees regardless of contract type.
Sources and Further Reading
The information on this page is based on current UK employment law and official government guidance:
GOV.UK, Taking sick leave: confirms the 7-day rule includes non-working days such as weekends and bank holidays.
GOV.UK, Statutory Sick Pay: employer guide: confirms SSP is paid for qualifying days, at £123.25 or 80% of average weekly earnings whichever is lower, for up to 28 weeks.
GOV.UK, Work out your employee's Statutory Sick Pay manually: sets out how qualifying days are agreed and how the daily rate is worked out.
NHS, Getting a fit note: states a fit note is needed if you cannot work for more than 7 days, including weekends and bank holidays.
ACAS, Guidance on managing sickness absence and proof of illness requirements.
