Employees (and their unions) may sometimes hold the belief that
an employer may not question their absence from work or challenge
their medical certificate. "It's my right to take sick
leave", they may exclaim.
A manager may fear challenging this employee, and prefer to not
have a difficult conversation. Maybe they have heard an Industrial
Commissioner say "[w]here the certificate states that the
employee will be absent on a particular date it must be assumed
that the doctor found the employee incapable of working on the
specified date".i
Employers do have the right to manage absences. To ensure
business services are delivered effectively and efficiently,
employers must manage resources (including staff) and discharge
their legal obligations (including safety) with full and proper
information to make the right decisions. Employees are obliged to
cooperate.
