The government's proposal allowing employers not to need proof when they suspect an employee of pulling a "sickie" will not mean all staff will have to to provide medical certificates every time they are sick, Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson says
The government’s proposal allowing employers not to need proof when they suspect an employee of pulling a "sickie" will not mean all staff will have to to provide medical certificates every time they are sick, Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson says.
The suggestion every employee will be asked to provide a medical certificate whenever they are off work sick is ridiculous, she says.
“Employers aren’t going to waste their time and money asking every employee for a medical certificate when they take a day off sick. It’s simply ridiculous to believe that would be the case.
“Ultimately, the employer must make arrangements to pay for the doctor’s visit. No one is going to go to those lengths for the sake of it," Ms Wilkinson says.
She said the proposed amendment would allow employers to question those they suspected of routinely abusing the sick leave provision, but “good” workers would not see any difference to the current regime.
“This could be someone who calls in sick on the busy days or has a pattern of taking Mondays or Fridays off work. To argue that this would lead to increased healthcare costs or an overwhelming workload on doctors is laughable,” she said.
