Answered by Samantha Newton FCIPD, Chartered Fellow CIPD · Last reviewed August 2026
You can ask, and it's usually the right move, but you can't force someone to go. A referral to occupational health or their GP tells you what they can and can't do, how long something might last, and what adjustments would help. That evidence is what makes any decision later on fair and defensible, so get it early rather than late.
If they refuse, don't just guess and act. Explain why you're asking, deal with their worries about confidentiality, and note that you offered. Then you can make a reasonable call on what you do know, and show you tried to find out more. Acting on assumptions about someone's health, with no evidence, is exactly where sickness cases fall apart.
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Every situation has its own details, and those details change the right answer. For a read on yours, take the free Employee Situation Check or book a call.
General guidance to help you decide your next step, not legal advice. Employment law changes, so always check the current position for your own situation.
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