Work with a heart condition

Taking time off work

How long will I need to take off work after a heart attack, diagnosis or surgery?

How long you have off work depends on:

• your condition
• the treatment you have
• how well you’re recovering
• the type of work you do
• your financial situation.

Most people with a heart condition will be able to return to work.

These timings are a general guide. It’s important to speak to your doctor about your individual situation. Some people can recover in weeks but for others recovery can take months or years.

• Heart attack – it will depend on your heart attack and the treatment you’ve had. For example, if you have an angioplasty and stents, you may be able to return to work after 2 to 4 weeks. But if you’ve coronary bypass surgery you will need longer off work, such as 6 to 12 weeks.
• Heart surgery – most people will need to take at least 8 to 12 weeks off work after heart surgery. If you have a minimally invasive surgery, like keyhole surgery, you may be able to return to work sooner.
• Pacemaker or ICD – you may be able to return to work 1 week after having a pacemaker or ICD fitted.
• Heart failure – it will depend on whether your heart failure is controlled and if you have symptoms that affect your ability to work.

If you work a manual job, it will take longer to return to work. Also, if you drive a vehicle for work, such as a lorry, you’ll need to check when you can return to driving.

It’s important to speak to your doctor and work out a plan for you. They can help you decide when is realistic to return to work and whether you need reasonable adjustments like a phased return to work.

Sick pay and statutory sick pay

Will I get sick pay while I am off work?

You may be entitled to sick pay if you're off work for health reasons, such as:

• Statutory sick pay – payment for up to 28 weeks. The amount is based on how much you usually get paid.
• Company sick pay (contractual) – an additional sick payment from your company.

Speak to your manager or check your company benefits information or employment contract for more information on the sick pay you’re entitled to.

If you’re not entitled to sick pay or you only have a limited amount of paid sick leave, you should contact Citizen’s Advice or your local Jobcentre Plus office for support.

You may be able to apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and they can give you information on other potential benefits.

Find out who is entitled to statutory sick pay and who is not on the Citizen’s Advice website.

How do I get a sick note for work?

A sick note (or fit note) is a document from a healthcare professional that explains if you need time off work or adjustments to your work for health reasons.

You can get a sick note by asking a healthcare professional caring for you to write one, such as your doctor, surgeon or nurse.

You may need a sick note for your employer if you’re off work for 7 days or more (5 working days). Speak to your employer to find out if they need a sick note.

Returning to work

Do I have to tell my employer or manager about my condition?

You do not have to tell your employer or manager about your condition or treatment. This includes interviewing for new roles.

However, it can help your employer to be more supportive and make reasonable adjustments for you. It’s up to you.

You can ask your manager to keep the information private if you’d rather not tell other colleagues.

What are reasonable adjustments at work?

Reasonable adjustments are changes to your workplace or role to help you return to work. They can include:

• a phased return to work
• time off for medical appointments
• changes to your work pattern or role
• changes to your work environment.

They’re not guaranteed so the best first step is to speak to your manager and work out what is possible.

Examples of reasonable adjustments

• Reviewing your work duties if you have a pacemaker or ICD and cannot be near certain equipment.
• Changing to desk-based work or less physically demanding duties if you do a manual job while recovering from treatment.
• Time off work for medical appointments or counselling support.
• Changing your work hours if your condition or medicine makes you feel tired at certain times of the day. Or if you need to avoid rush hour.
• Being able to work at home more often if your condition makes you more tired than usual or you have symptoms.
• Coming back to work part-time, doing shorter days or having a lighter workload while you’re recovering or dealing with symptoms of your condition.
• Finding alternative duties if your role depends on your driving and you cannot drive for a period of time.

You can also contact Access to Work to see if you can get a grant for equipment or support workers.

What are my rights if my work does not support me?

Your heart condition may be considered a disability under the Equality Act 2010 if:

• it significantly affects your daily activities
• will affect you for longer than 12 months.

It also includes people diagnosed with conditions that get worse over time, for example heart failure.

Under this Act you cannot be treated unfairly or lose your job because of your heart condition.

Speak to your HR team if you’re not getting the right support. You can also contact ACAS and Citizen’s Advice for advice on how to resolve any issues at work.

What happens if I cannot do my current role anymore?

In some cases, you may want or need to continue working but you cannot do your role anymore. For example, if it’s too physically demanding, you’re unable to drive or cannot be near certain equipment if you have a pacemaker or ICD.

The first step should be to speak to your manager or employer to find out what’s possible. You may be able to change your work responsibilities or explore other job roles that are more suitable.

If you need to change jobs because of your heart condition, get in touch with your local Jobcentre Plus office. They will be able to tell you more about your options, such as benefits you may be entitled to, and setting up a meeting with a disability employment adviser.

You can also get information from your national Careers Service.

Giving up work

What happens if I cannot return to work?

Some people cannot or choose not to return to work after a diagnosis or treatment.

Resigning from your job means you also give up any rights and benefits linked to it. If you’re planning to stop working, get independent employment guidance before you make any decisions.

In some cases, you may be able to get “ill-health retirement” or “medical retirement”. This means you can take your pension before the usual minimum age of 55.

Not everyone is eligible for this as it depends on your pension provider, employer pension scheme and individual circumstances. You’ll need to speak to your doctor, employer and pension provider to find out if this is possible.

Work if you’re a carer or parent

Working while looking after friends and family with a heart condition can be challenging.

Speak to your employer about your situation and whether you can make reasonable adjustments to your role, such as:

• Time off to attend medical appointments.
• Adjusting your work hours around caring needs.

You may want to speak to them about a flexible working request so you can work part-time. In some cases, you need to take time off from work either temporarily or permanently.

There is support available and you may be able to claim benefits for being a carer. Find out more about the financial support available.

Get support with work

It’s normal to feel nervous about going back to work. There are places you can go to for practical support and information.

British Heart Foundation

• Call our Heart Helpline to speak to our cardiac nurses. They can help answer your questions.
• Speak to other people with a heart condition about work and support in our online community.

Citizen’s Advice

Citizen’s Advice offers information and support with work, your rights and financial issues.

Read their information on work, pay and reasonable adjustments

Find out if you’re entitled to sick pay

Other helpful organisations

• Turn2us is a charity which helps people gain access to the money available to them through benefits, grants and other financial help.
• ACAS gives people free, impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practice.
• Mind offers people resources, support networks and a free helpline to help people with their mental wellbeing.
• Working Families is a charity supporting working parents and carers. They can give you free legal advice on your rights as a carer.