Medically certified sickness: When can a medical certificate be called into question?

Absenteeism costs the Australian economy more than $33 billion each year in payroll and lost productivity, according to a 2014 Direct Health Solutions survey.¹

With the cold and flu season upon us, it is important to clarify the rights of an employer when an employee calls in sick. 

When approaching the issue of sick leave, employers need to be mindful of:

• ensuring that their workers' safety is not put at risk by working with an employee who is unfit to return to work (despite a seemingly positive medical certificate); and
• maintaining a high-morale work environment, where the workforce believes management is not being unduly accommodating by accepting medical certificates in questionable circumstances.