#Harassed for calling in sick how to

That is, if a doctor says the employee is too ill to work, then they’re too sick to work.Īlthough an employer can challenge a medical certificate, the circumstances for doing so are rare.įor instance, an employer may be able to challenge a certificate because it appears fraudulent. Generally, a doctor’s certificate has to be taken on face value. Keep a record of when the employee calls in sick including dates, times, and reasons for the absence.Īs an employer, you can request evidence from an employee to support their reason for calling in sick – for example, a medical certificate. If you suspect an employee is abusing their personal/carer’s leave, it’s important you document their behaviour. But what can you do when an employee keeps calling in sick? And how do you stop employees from illegitimately accessing the entitlement? Step One: Document All Incidents Personal Carer’s Leave is intended to be used when needed.

#Harassed for calling in sick how to

* a family member as defined by the Fair Work Act How to Stop Employees From Calling in Sick Unnecessarily Employers are responsible for funding all paid personal/carer’s leave in Australia. If an unexpected emergency affects either the employee, family member or member of the householdĮmployees can use this time for their own mental health.If the employee needs to care for a family member* or household member who is unwell.If the employee is unfit for work due to a personal injury or illness.Employees roll over any unused time but will not ordinarily receive a payout for unused sick leave once they retire or leave the company (unless the employee’s Modern Award or enterprise agreement provides for differently).Įmployees can use personal carer’s leave in Australia for the following reasons: Permanent part-time employees and permanent employees with variable hours are entitled to 1/26 th of their ordinary hours in paid personal/carer’s leave. Under the Fair Work Act 2009 national system, permanent full-time employees are entitled to 10 days of paid personal/carer’s leave per year. In Australia, sick time leave is known as personal/carer’s leave Laws surrounding sick days and paid time off are in place to protect both employees and employers. Federal Laws for Calling in Sick in Australia Keep reading to learn practical suggestions on how to handle someone who keeps calling in sick. Not only can they infect others but their job performance and productivity might suffer.īut what happens if you have the opposite problem and an employee is constantly calling in sick? You most likely start to question their motives and honesty.Īre you unsure of all the laws surrounding personal / carer’s leave in Australia? Or what to do if you suspect an employee is not using their personal/carer’s leave correctly? While covering sick employees is tough, the last thing you want is staff members coming to work if they’re not feeling well. Getting sick is a part of life and happens to the best of us. Published Janu(last updated February 9, 2023) Stephen Roebuck - Head of Operations