LogoSickNote

Bereavement Sick Note: Rules & Self-Certification

Understanding your rights to time off during grief, and how to self-certify sickness due to bereavement stress.

Can I take sick leave for bereavement?

Yes. If the grief is affecting your physical or mental health (e.g., stress, anxiety, insomnia), you can take sick leave. For the first 7 days, you can self-certify without seeing a doctor.

Create Bereavement Sick Note

Compassionate Leave vs. Sick Leave

It's important to understand the difference:

  • Compassionate/Bereavement Leave: Specific time off granted by an employer after a death. Legal rights here vary (employees have a right to "reasonable" unpaid time off for dependents, but paid leave depends on your contract).
  • Sick Leave: If you are too distressed to work, this is a health issue. You have the same rights to sick leave and Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) as with any other illness.

When to use a Sick Note

If your employer does not offer paid bereavement leave, or if the standard 3-5 days offered isn't enough for you to recover mentally, you can self-certify as sick due to "Stress" or "Bereavement Reaction".

How to Write a Bereavement Sick Note

You do not need to share overly personal details if you are uncomfortable. Common reasons listed on self-certification forms for bereavement include:

  • "Stress"
  • "Anxiety"
  • "Bereavement reaction"
  • "Insomnia / Exhaustion"

The 7-Day Rule

Just like any other illness, you can self-certify for the first 7 days of absence. This gives you a week of space to grieve without the added pressure of needing to book a GP appointment immediately.

Generating a Professional Note

During a difficult time, dealing with administrative paperwork is the last thing you want to do. Our tool helps you generate a compliant, professional PDF notification for your employer in seconds.

Why Use Our Service?

  • Private: We don't judge or store your personal reasons.
  • Simple: No complex medical forms, just the facts required by law.
  • Respectful: A clean, professional document to send to your manager.
Generate Note - £14.99

Common Questions

Will I get paid?

If you are on sick leave due to bereavement impact on your health, you are entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if you qualify (off for 4+ days in a row). Your company may offer more generous sick pay.

Do I need proof of death?

For sick leave (self-certification), you generally do not need to provide a death certificate. You are certifying that you are unfit to work. However, for specific bereavement leave policies, some employers might ask for evidence.

Generate Your Self-Certification Note

Take the time you need. Create a valid notification for your employer instantly.

Create Note