Medical Examination - Who Should Pay The Bills?

Dear Admins,
Please my organization in Nigeria has asked all staff to go for medical examination because they believe some staff that were employed less than a year ago are always taking sick leave, whereas we older staff have not be having health challenge.
Though, this is a welcome development by all staff but the problem is that the management what the staff to foot the bills, is this appropriate?

Hi
excuse me but I am finding this very funny.
Employees normally take leaves making such excuses but are they crossing their Leave limits that the Management decided to get them all checked up?
I am sure this is just a Management strategy to restrict employees from taking leaves and hence they want the employees to pay
however, if the employees are not taking leaves more than they are entitled to and their performance is not hampered, then that should not be a big problem!!
You should rather encourage employees to take vacation to use their leaves while being regular other times.
I dont know your country law however, Employer should normally bear the cost if they demand Medical Examination.
Sam

Hello Thaophique,
Sam has mentioned a valid point--as long as the employees don't CROSS their Medical Leaves Limit, what's the problem?
Or is it that they have crossed the Leave Limits & so the management wants the Medical Examinations to be done?
What is the Medical Leave Policy of your company?
When the company wants the medical tests done, it's for them to bear the costs--either get it done thru some tie-up with a Hospital [so that the company can negotiate the total cost] OR reimburse the costs to the employees on submission of bills. Usually for such situations, the I way would be better.
Rgds,
TS

Dear Thoufiq

First check up what is the legal position in Nigeria. I wonder whether they have any labour law and if so whether there is any provision for such a situation.

However asking those already on the job to produce medical certificate at their cost is improper, to say the least, and meaningless. Even if they are forced they will manipulate such certificate and it is no guarantee that they will not fall sick.an

However going by Indian practice, you can always have a regular medical board of two or three doctors. They need not be engaged on full time but can be on. Employer can always refer they employees periodically or when there is frequent sickness to such board for a medical evaluation and to ascertain whether they are fit to be engaged in the job given. For eg. a driver can be medically examined for his vision, nigh vision, hearing and leg and arm movement and mental alertness and if the board find there is shortcomings on these fronts, he can be offered an alternative job available to which he will fit or can be medically terminated without blemish with all past dues. So is the case of data entry operator, cook, machine operator and so. You can provide for these situation and medical board in your Standing order or HR manual and while recruiting employees they should undertake to abide by the SO or manual. These are all in accordance with international norms. Just see that you have a manual or Standing order to cover these situations.

O Abdul Hameed

Formerly Addl.Commissioner ESIC

[Login to view]

The rule are different form country to country. In India the company has to bear the costs for routine/pre-employment medical examinations. If a company want its employees to undergo medical examination the cost shall be borne by the company only.