Sickness Absence

Q After how many days' sickness absence does an employee have to submit a medical certificate?

A If an employee is absent for more than 7 consecutive days (including non-working days) an employee should supply you with a medical certificate issued by an appropriate medical practitioner. For absences of 7 days or less the employee can self-certificate.

Q Can I force an employee to undergo a medical examination by our Occupational Health Advisor or our Company Appointed Doctor?

A You cannot force an employee to attend an appointment, but you can reserve the right in their terms and conditions of employment to request them to attend. If they repeatedly refuse to do so, you will be free to base any decisions you make on the evidence available to you.

Q Do I have to have an employee's consent before I can approach their GP for medical information?

A Yes, under the Medical Information Act you must obtain an employee's written consent before approaching their GP.

Q How many days' sickness absence in a year is cause for concern?

A It depends on the reasons for absence. Single absences of one week or more have much less impact on your business than a number of casual days adding up to the same amount of time. We advise that you use return to work interviews as a matter of course. This will alert you to problems at an early stage. Anything over ten days' casual sickness absence a year is cause for concern.

Sick Pay