[Australia] GPs urge employers to put an end to ‘pointless’ sickie rule

In Australia, GPs are urging employers to scrap the practice of asking employees to provide medical certificates in certain scenarios, Yahoo Finance reports.

Every company has their own policy around proof when workers call in sick.

While some demand a note after a single day off, others might be more lenient. 

‘Tim’ (not his real name), a GP working in Byron Bay, reportedly told Yahoo Finance that around a fifth of the patients he typically sees each day come in for work-related medical certificates.

The GP said the majority of these have an in-person appointment at his private clinic - costing them around $50 after the Medicare rebate - however, he said they really shouldn't have to do this.

"Adults with a viral illness don't need to see a GP," he said. "They need to stay at home and get better."

In addition to the $50 appointment fee, these employees must cover the cost of transport and medications, if required. With winter drawing in, the number of workers becoming sick with a cold or other seasonal illness is likely to rise.

Max Mollenkopf - a NSW GP - reportedly said that patients who need no care, only the medical certificate, can keep appointments from those who really need them.

"If someone is sick and they want to see me, every day of the week I want them to be able to come in," he told the ABC. "I didn't sign up to do medicine to do HR policy on behalf of large corporations."

Medical certificates are needed to ensure that an employee taking several days of sick leave is genuinely ill.

According to the Fair Work Commission, it's up to employers to make their own policy; they "can ask employees to provide evidence for as little as one day or less off work".

"An employee who doesn't give their employer evidence when asked may not be entitled to be paid for their sick or carer’s leave," Fair Work said.

‘Geoff’ a Melbourne GP told Yahoo Finance there should be a nationally recognised policy allowing workers three days off without needing to prove they're sick.

"Beyond 72 hours is fair enough, but for short, self-limiting illnesses it’s pointless," he said.

"Also for patients who don’t see a GP regularly, they are not eligible for a Medicare rebate for a telehealth consultation, meaning they either pay a full fee or they attend face-to-face with their symptoms like flu or gastro and expose other patients to this in the waiting room."

Source: Yahoo Finance

(Link and quotes via original reporting)

In Australia, GPs are urging employers to scrap the practice of asking employees to provide medical certificates in certain scenarios, Yahoo Finance reports.

Every company has their own policy around proof when workers call in sick.

While some demand a note after a single day off, others might be more lenient. 

‘Tim’ (not his real name), a GP working in Byron Bay, reportedly told Yahoo Finance that around a fifth of the patients he typically sees each day come in for work-related medical certificates.

The GP said the majority of these have an in-person appointment at his private clinic - costing them around $50 after the Medicare rebate - however, he said they really shouldn't have to do this.

"Adults with a viral illness don't need to see a GP," he said. "They need to stay at home and get better."

In addition to the $50 appointment fee, these employees must cover the cost of transport and medications, if required. With winter drawing in, the number of workers becoming sick with a cold or other seasonal illness is likely to rise.

Max Mollenkopf - a NSW GP - reportedly said that patients who need no care, only the medical certificate, can keep appointments from those who really need them.

"If someone is sick and they want to see me, every day of the week I want them to be able to come in," he told the ABC. "I didn't sign up to do medicine to do HR policy on behalf of large corporations."

Medical certificates are needed to ensure that an employee taking several days of sick leave is genuinely ill.

According to the Fair Work Commission, it's up to employers to make their own policy; they "can ask employees to provide evidence for as little as one day or less off work".

"An employee who doesn't give their employer evidence when asked may not be entitled to be paid for their sick or carer’s leave," Fair Work said.

‘Geoff’ a Melbourne GP told Yahoo Finance there should be a nationally recognised policy allowing workers three days off without needing to prove they're sick.

"Beyond 72 hours is fair enough, but for short, self-limiting illnesses it’s pointless," he said.

"Also for patients who don’t see a GP regularly, they are not eligible for a Medicare rebate for a telehealth consultation, meaning they either pay a full fee or they attend face-to-face with their symptoms like flu or gastro and expose other patients to this in the waiting room."

Source: Yahoo Finance

(Link and quotes via original reporting)