Average Time Off Work With Shingles (UK Guide)

The short answer. There is no standard time off work with shingles. The NHS says: “Stay off work or school if the rash is still oozing fluid (weeping) and cannot be covered, or until the rash has dried out.” The rash can take up to 4 weeks to heal. You can self-certify for the first 7 days; after that, a doctor assesses whether you are fit for work.

When to stay off work with shingles

The NHS rule turns on the rash, not on a number of days. If the rash is weeping and you cannot cover it, stay off. The NHS says the rash can be covered with loose clothing or a non-sticky dressing, and it does not tell you to stay off work for a rash that is covered. Once the rash has dried out, it is no longer a reason to stay off.

Infection is only part of the picture. Shingles can be painful, and the first signs can include a headache or feeling generally unwell. Whether you are well enough to do your job is a separate question from whether you could pass anything on.

Is shingles infectious?

The NHS says you cannot spread shingles to others. People could catch chickenpox from you if they have not had chickenpox before or have not had the chickenpox vaccine, and you can only spread the infection while the rash oozes fluid.

During that time, the NHS says to avoid:

anyone who is pregnant and has not had chickenpox before
people with a weakened immune system, such as someone having chemotherapy
babies less than 1 month old

If your work brings you into contact with any of these groups, tell your employer while the rash is weeping, so you can agree what to do.

How long shingles lasts

According to the NHS, the rash can take up to 4 weeks to heal, and your skin can be painful for weeks after the rash has gone, though it usually gets better over time. That describes the illness, not your time off. The NHS rule on work is about whether the rash is weeping and can be covered, and the rest depends on how well you feel.

Getting treatment early

If you are 18 or over and have symptoms of shingles, the NHS says to see a pharmacist, ideally within 3 days of the rash appearing, because antiviral medicine usually needs to start within 3 days. Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if, for example, you are pregnant, the rash is on your eye or nose, or you have changes to your vision. You can call 111 in England, Scotland and Wales, and 111 online covers England only. In Northern Ireland, contact your GP or the GP out-of-hours service.

Sick notes for shingles

For an absence of 7 days or less you self-certify, so you do not need a doctor’s note. For statutory sick pay your employer cannot require medical evidence for that first week, and if they want a note sooner, any fee should be covered by them. If you are off for more than 7 days in a row, they can ask for one. A self-certification guide covers the first week.

If you need a note and a GP is hard to reach, a private sick note from a GMC-registered UK doctor is possible after an online assessment, though the doctor may decline. Your employer decides whether to accept a private certificate; DWP guidance tells employers they can. Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) need an NHS fit note instead.

Sick pay

If you qualify, statutory sick pay starts from your first full day off, at £123.25 a week or 80% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower. Read the statutory sick pay guide.

While you are off

Being off sick does not mean you cannot leave the house, but while the rash is weeping the NHS advice on avoiding certain people still applies. See what you can do while off sick, and the time off by condition hub for the rules every absence shares. Other infections and injuries are covered too, including time off with a perforated eardrum.

Common questions

What is the average time off work with shingles?

There is no standard period. The NHS says to stay off work if the rash is still oozing fluid (weeping) and cannot be covered, or until the rash has dried out. How unwell you feel matters too.

Can I go to work with shingles?

The NHS says you can cover the rash with loose clothing or a non-sticky dressing. If the rash is weeping and cannot be covered, stay off until it has dried out.

Is shingles contagious at work?

You cannot spread shingles itself. People who have not had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine could catch chickenpox from you, but only while the rash oozes fluid.

Can I get a sick note for shingles?

For the first 7 days you self-certify. If you are off longer, a doctor can assess you and decide whether to give you a note.

How long does shingles last?

The NHS says the rash can take up to 4 weeks to heal, and the skin can stay painful for weeks after it has gone, though this usually improves over time.

Off work with shingles?

Describe your rash and how you feel in an online questionnaire. A GMC-registered UK doctor decides whether a private sick note is right. £47.

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Assessed by a GMC-registered UK doctor. Full refund if a note cannot be issued on clinical grounds.

Average time off work with shingles