Employers scoff at 'sickie' plan | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

Rotorua employer Mike Lowe says he will not pay $60 for a medical certificate for an employee who has been away sick for a day.

"It's ridiculous."

The Government has announced widespread changes to employment laws, including that employers can request proof of sickness or injury if an employee takes a day off sick. However, bosses will have to cover the employee's costs for getting a medical certificate.

At present employers have to have "reasonable grounds", for example seeing a sick worker out and about, before asking for a medical certificate if they take fewer than three consecutive days off sick.

Mr Lowe, who is the general manager of Rotorua engineering firm Hayes International, questioned what employer would ask an employee for a medical certificate after one day unless the employer was "abusing the system, like they always take Mondays off".

 Responsible employers should know their employees better than having to ask them for a medical certificate after one day off sick.

 Lockwood chief executive Bryce Heard described the proposed changes surrounding sick leave as a "storm in a tea cup", as most employers know early on which staff are "working the system".

Mr Heard said he didn't have a problem with employers footing the bill for a medical certificate.

 "It will stop an employer from asking for a medical certificate needlessly."

But he didn't think the proposed change was a "major either way" as most employers knew early on which staff were taking "sickies".