scrubbedexpat091

More doctors should do this. I've worked for places that required one even if you missed just 1 or 2 days. I could see needing a medical note for a week or more, but a day or 2, not so much.

Just because someone is feeling too ill to work, doesn't mean a doctor visit is necessary.



Doctors admonish employers for sick notes, send $50 invoices - British Columbia - CBC News

BristolUK

Perhaps employers should have their own doctor


I really wanted this clip but couldn't find it.

Doc Morrissey: Do you find you can't finish the crossword like you used to, nasty taste in the mouth in the mornings, can't stop thinking about sex, can't start doing anything about sex, wake up with a sweat in the mornings, keep falling asleep during '"Play For Today"?

Reginald Perrin: That's extraordinary, Doc! That's exactly how I've been feeling.

Doc Morrissey: So have I. I wonder what it is?

Siouxie

Here you go Bristol

The part you want is at 15m (but the previous 2 minutes are funny as well)

mikelincs

It's dependent on the employer, in the NHS when I started in the UK you only needed a doctors note for more than 7 days, then that was shortened to 3 days but you could fill in a certificate yourself for 7 days, then before I left, self certificate for 3 or more days, BUT if you had more than 7 days self certificated in a year, then you needed a doctors certificate for even 1 day. This was down to abuse of the system, particularly on a Monday morning where people were still suffering from the excesses of the weekend. In the area I worked we had one employee who was advised to resign, if he didn't he would face disciplinary action and the sack, he had 5 Mondays in a row off work, hungover.

BristolUK

It's all funny. I have them all on unplayable VHS in a cupboard.

dave_j

Ah.. brings it all back... the 'Easy Three' as my shift workers used to describe the 3 day self certification period. Not a lot we could do about it.

scrubbedexpat091

I've only ever worked at 1 employer who wanted sick notes the rest had strict sick policies in place. X amount missed per year and your fired kind of policies.

One place gave 1 point for each day missed or late, 3 points and you got written up, 5 points and you were fired.

Only way around the points was to take a medical leave of absence with a doctors note saying you need 7 or more days off to recover.

Such policies encourage employees to come into work ill as do having no paid sick days.

MarkG

Yes, it's absurd. It just means people spread diseases to other employees, who either take days off or aren't working at their full potential if they also come in sick.