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Medical Certificate for Office Workers

Need documentation for sick leave or carer's leave? Request your Absence from Work Certificate online for $5, reviewed by an AHPRA-Registered Pharmacist. No appointment required.

Request a CertificateWhen you might need one

Only $5 · Takes less than 5 minutes

Jump to: Sick & carer's leave · When you need a certificate · Can't get a GP appointment · Your employer's requirements · FAQ

  • Only $5, no appointment required
  • Reviewed by AHPRA-Registered Pharmacists
  • Certificate delivered by email
  • No certificate, no charge

Sick leave and carer's leave for office workers

Office and corporate work covers a huge range of roles: administration staff, receptionists, customer service teams, finance and accounting staff, HR and people teams, marketing staff, IT and technology workers, operations and business support staff, and other corporate employees, in businesses large and small. Depending on your employment arrangements, you may be able to access personal leave when you're too unwell to work, and carer's leave when you need to care for an eligible family or household member. At Sicknotes, we call the supporting documentation an Absence from Work Certificate, though you might know it as a medical certificate or sick note.

Carer's leave is different from personal leave. It's there for when you need to care for an eligible family or household member who is sick or facing an unexpected emergency, for example a sick child, a partner or a parent. Eligibility and evidence requirements can depend on your employment arrangement and workplace rules, so check your own entitlements if you're unsure. If eligible, Sicknotes lets you request an Absence from Work Certificate online, without needing to book a GP appointment.

When might you need a certificate?

A few common situations where office workers request a certificate:

  • You're too unwell to work, whether you're office-based or working from home
  • You're too unwell to attend a scheduled meeting or work commitment
  • You need to care for a sick child or another family member
  • You have a short-notice absence and need documentation
  • Your employer has asked for evidence of your absence

Can't get a GP appointment around your work day?

Fitting in a GP visit isn't always easy around back-to-back meetings, a full inbox or a busy day at your desk. Booking an appointment just to get paperwork can feel like more hassle than it's worth. For eligible requests, Sicknotes is one option: complete your request online and have it reviewed by an AHPRA-Registered Pharmacist, without booking an appointment.

This isn't a substitute for medical care. If your symptoms are severe, persist or worsen, or you need diagnosis, treatment or ongoing care, please see your GP or another appropriate healthcare professional.

  • Only $5, no appointment required
  • Reviewed by AHPRA-Registered Pharmacists
  • Certificate delivered by email
  • No certificate, no charge
Request a Certificate

Working from home or hybrid?

Plenty of office workers now split their time between the office and home, or work remotely most of the time. Being unwell doesn't look the same for everyone in a hybrid role, but if you're too unwell to work, your employer may still expect you to notify them and may ask for evidence to support personal or carer's leave, the same as if you worked on site.

Sicknotes doesn't assume what your employer's policy is. If you're not sure whether you need to provide evidence for a day working from home, check your workplace's absence policy or ask your manager or HR team.

Check your employer's requirements

Office and corporate employers range from small local businesses to large national companies, and employees can be covered by different awards, enterprise agreements or other arrangements, so requirements for providing evidence of an absence can vary between employers.

Under the Fair Work Act, employers can ask employees to provide reasonable evidence to support a claim for personal or carer's leave, and a medical certificate is one example of that evidence, although individual employers, awards and agreements can have their own requirements. If you're unsure what your employer requires, check your workplace policy before submitting your certificate. For more on your leave entitlements, see the Fair Work Ombudsman's guidance on sick and carer's leave.

How Sicknotes works

  1. 01

    Answer a few quick questions

    Tell us about your circumstances to help your pharmacist review your request. It only takes a few minutes.

  2. 02

    Pharmacist review

    An AHPRA-Registered Pharmacist reviews your request. If needed, the pharmacist may ask for some additional information to complete the review.

  3. 03

    Receive your certificate

    If appropriate, the reviewing pharmacist will issue an Absence from Work Certificate and we'll email it directly to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can office workers get a medical certificate online?
Yes. Eligible Australians working in offices and corporate roles can request an Absence from Work Certificate online through Sicknotes. Your request is reviewed by an AHPRA-Registered Pharmacist, and a certificate is only issued where the pharmacist determines it's appropriate.
Can I get a sick note for work online?
Yes. Sicknotes is available for eligible personal leave requests, sometimes called a sick note, whatever kind of office or corporate role you're in.
Do I need a medical certificate if I work from home?
That depends on your employer's own policy, not on where you're working. Some employers ask for evidence of personal or carer's leave regardless of whether you're in the office or working from home. Check your workplace policy if you're unsure.
Can I get a certificate for carer's leave?
Sicknotes can review requests relating to carer's leave, for example to care for a sick child or another eligible family or household member, subject to the information you provide and the outcome of the pharmacist's review. A certificate isn't guaranteed.
Will my employer accept a Sicknotes certificate?
Requirements can vary between employers, so we can't guarantee that every employer will accept a certificate. Sicknotes provides an Absence from Work Certificate, reviewed by an AHPRA-Registered Pharmacist, through our standard request process. If you're unsure what your employer needs, it's worth checking your workplace policy, award or agreement before you submit it.
Do I need to see a GP for a work medical certificate?
No appointment is required to submit a request through Sicknotes, which is reviewed by an AHPRA-Registered Pharmacist. If you need diagnosis, treatment or ongoing care, or your symptoms are severe, please see your GP or another appropriate healthcare professional instead.
How much does an office worker medical certificate cost?
Sicknotes costs just $5. If a certificate can't be issued, you'll receive a full refund.
How long does it take?
We aim to review your request within one hour of submission. During busy periods, review times may be longer.
What if my certificate cannot be issued?
Every request is individually reviewed, and a certificate isn't guaranteed. If a certificate can't be issued, you'll receive a full refund. No certificate, no charge.

Ready to get started?

Request your Absence from Work Certificate online today. Simple, affordable and built for a short-term absence from work.

Request a Certificate

Only $5 · No certificate, no charge