Can occupational health get you sacked?
This is a very common and very real worry—especially if you are already struggling with your health, stress at work, or a long period of sickness absence. If your employer mentions an occupational health referral, it can feel like the start of something bad.
The honest answer is no, occupational health itself does not sack you. But the full picture is a little more nuanced. Occupational health (often shortened to OH) plays an important role in how employers make decisions about your job, your health, and your future at work.
What Is Occupational Health?
Occupational health is a medical service used by employers to understand how an employee’s health affects their ability to work, and how work may be affecting their health.
Your employer might have:
- Their own occupational health department, or
- An external occupational health provider (often called a “fit for work” service)
Occupational health professionals are usually doctors, nurses, or physiotherapists with specialist training in workplace health.
They are not your GP, and they are not part of HR, although they may work closely with HR.
Can Occupational Health Get You Sacked Directly?
No. Occupational health cannot get you sacked.
They do not:
- Make decisions about dismissal
- Discipline employees
- Decide whether you keep your job
Their role is to assess, advise, and report.
However, occupational health can provide information that your employer may later rely on when making decisions about:
- Capability
- Long-term sickness absence
- Reasonable adjustments
- Whether you are fit to continue in your role
So while occupational health does not sack you, their report can influence what your employer decides next.
What Does Occupational Health Actually Do?
Occupational health focuses on two main things:
Your Fitness to Work
They assess:
- Whether your health condition affects your ability to do your job
- Whether you can work full-time, part-time, or with adjustments
- Whether you are likely to return to work if you are off sick
Whether Your Workplace Is Suitable for You
They also look at:
- Whether your job is making your condition worse
- What changes could help you stay in work
- What support your employer should provide
Their aim is usually to keep you in work safely, not push you out.
Why Do Employers Use Occupational Health?
Employers use occupational health for several reasons, including:
- When you are struggling with physical or mental health
- If you are disabled and need reasonable adjustments
- If you are on long-term sick leave
- When planning a return to work
- To reduce sickness absence
- To comply with health and safety laws
- To manage stress, pressure, bullying, or workplace risks
From an employer’s point of view, occupational health helps them show they are acting fairly and lawfully.
When Might an Occupational Health Referral Feel Risky?
Although occupational health is meant to be supportive, it can feel worrying in certain situations, such as:
- You have been off sick for several months
- You are repeatedly signed off by your GP
- Your condition has no clear recovery date
- Your role cannot easily be adjusted
- Your employer is questioning your capability
In these cases, an occupational health report may explore whether:
- You are likely to return to work
- Adjustments would actually help
- Continuing employment is realistic
This is where people often fear being sacked—but the process still has legal limits.
Can an Employer Sack You After an Occupational Health Report?
An employer can dismiss an employee for capability reasons, but only if they follow a fair process.
This usually includes:
- Getting medical evidence (such as an OH report)
- Consulting with you
- Considering reasonable adjustments
- Considering alternative roles
- Giving you time to recover where reasonable
If an employer ignores these steps, a dismissal may be unfair or discriminatory.
Occupational health is just one part of that process—not the final decision-maker.
What Is the Difference Between an OH Report and a Doctor’s Report?
This is an important distinction.
A GP or Specialist Doctor’s Report:
- Focuses on diagnosis and treatment
- Looks at your health in general
- Is about medical care
An Occupational Health Report:
- Focuses on work ability
- Looks at how your job affects your health
- Suggests workplace adjustments
- Gives practical advice to your employer
Occupational health does not replace your doctor. They simply translate medical issues into workplace guidance.
Do You Have to Attend an Occupational Health Assessment?
You cannot usually be forced, but refusing without good reason can cause problems.
If you refuse:
- Your employer may have to make decisions without medical advice
- That can work against you
- It may look like you are not cooperating
In most cases, attending occupational health is in your best interest.
What Happens During an Occupational Health Assessment?
An occupational health assessment may be:
- In person
- Over the phone
- By video call
You may be asked about:
- Your health condition
- Your symptoms
- Treatment you are receiving
- How work affects your health
- What support you think would help
This is not an exam. It is a conversation.
Can Occupational Health Contact Your GP?
Yes—but only with your consent.
If more information is needed:
- You will be asked to sign a consent form
- You can ask to see the GP report before it is shared
- You can correct factual errors
Refusing consent is possible, but it may limit how helpful the OH report can be.
Can You See the Occupational Health Report?
Yes. You have the right to:
- See the occupational health report
- Request corrections to factual mistakes
- Understand what has been said about you
You should always ask for a copy.
What Happens After the OH Report Is Sent?
Your employer should:
- Read the report carefully
- Consider its recommendations
- Discuss it with you
- Decide next steps together
Possible outcomes include:
- A phased return to work
- Reduced hours
- Changed duties
- Equipment or adjustments
- Further treatment or support
- More time off
Dismissal should be a last resort, not the first option.
Can Occupational Health Be Used Against You?
It should not be—but it can feel that way if handled badly.
Problems arise when employers:
- Treat OH advice as instructions rather than guidance
- Ignore positive recommendations
- Use health as an excuse to remove someone
- Fail to consider reasonable adjustments
If this happens, the issue is usually the employer’s behaviour, not occupational health itself.
What About Disability and Reasonable Adjustments?
If your condition meets the legal definition of a disability under the Equality Act 2010, your employer has a duty to:
- Make reasonable adjustments
- Avoid discrimination
- Consider OH advice carefully
Occupational health often helps identify what adjustments are reasonable.
Failing to act on this advice can put your employer at legal risk.
Can Occupational Health Protect Your Job?
Yes—very often.
A good occupational health report can:
- Support your need for adjustments
- Confirm you are likely to recover
- Recommend flexible working
- Prevent rushed decisions
- Show you are engaging with the process
Many people stay in work because of occupational health, not despite it.
What Should You Do If You Are Referred to Occupational Health?
Here are some practical tips:
- Be honest about your health
- Explain how work affects you
- Think about adjustments that would help
- Ask for a copy of the report
- Keep communication open with your employer
- Get advice if you feel pressured or treated unfairly
Final Thoughts: Can Occupational Health Get You Sacked?
To be clear:
- Occupational health cannot sack you
- They do not make employment decisions
- They provide medical and workplace advice
- Employers must still act fairly and lawfully
While an occupational health report can influence what happens next, it is usually there to support you, not remove you.
If you understand the process and engage with it properly, occupational health is far more likely to help you stay in work safely than push you out.
If you ever feel unsure or at risk, getting early advice can make all the difference.