It states that if an organization needs evidence that people are sick, they may request a medical certificate after 7 days of illness instead of the usual 3 days.
Bryan Betty, medical director of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, said doctors often mention this issue.
“For winter illnesses such as flu, covid, RSV, etc., the system is basically functioning. Certainly, it’s probably an unnecessary additional burden and GP’s remorse. Frequently I To get rid of. “
He said schools and employers should consider waiving certificate requirements, or at least extending the time they are needed.
“We have sent out a message as a health system that if you get sick or sick due to flu or flu-like illness, you should stay home so as not to spread it.
“In fact, Covid requires you to stay at home for seven days, so I think you might be thinking about extending the period to seven days and keeping your certificate,” Dr. Betty said. rice field.
This year, the school was sick and teachers claimed twice as much sick leave as in the same period in 2019.
Sherry Taylor Patel, president of the Principals’ Federation, said most schools do not require a certificate unless the students and staff involved are in doubt.
“Some people may think that if you have the problem of not coming back, you may need to ask for a medical certificate, but most of the time you want to go back to school,” she said. ..
Business New Zealand’s Employment Policy Manager Paul McKay understands that employers have the legal right to request a medical certificate after three days of illness, but doctors are under pressure. Said.
“Most employers sympathize with the plight of the GP, who is currently seeing so many people with Covid, RSV, flu, etc., so a rational or rational conversation about taking a more generous stance on medical certificates. Will be needed, “he said.
McKay said it was inevitable to take sick leave when he wasn’t sick, but the company didn’t report any specific problems with it, hoping people would come to work and spread the virus. did not exist.
“There’s a bit of risk in both directions. I think it takes mature and rational conversations at all levels to be realistic here. Of course, you don’t need a certificate. Your employer is all. At the same time that sending employees to doctors can be very expensive, they need to know that they are responsible and need to leave if they get sick. “
Mackay also said employers had to accept that their employees might not be able to get an appointment with a general practitioner.