An employee has told us that she is booked in for some cosmetic surgery. She is going privately, and is paying herself (so the surgery is not on the NHS). However she has spoken to her GP about this and he has agreed to write her a Doctors note to cover her 8-week recovery period.

If it wasn’t for the Doctors note we would have told her that as the surgery was elective she would need to take unpaid leave/ holiday for the period. However I am at a loss what to do now she has mentioned the Doctors note – the employee works in a Residential Home for the Elderly and due to Health and Safety we are usually very strict – if an employee is covered by a Doctors note we do not allow them to work.

Has anyone any experience of this situation/ could anyone give me any advice?

Many thanks

Ruth Queen