How to Handle an Employee Taking Weekly Sick Leave Without Proof?

Hello. Thanks for the suggestion in the last post.

I need a suggestion. An employee of my company takes one sick leave every week. He emails me the same format of leave with dates changed once a week. Because it's a sick leave, we cannot deny it, nor can we ask for medical proof because medical reports are needed if leaves are more than 2 days. I don't know what to do as it is affecting the work and the team.

You can ask for medical proof for every sick leave he avails because the company is paying for that as paid leave, and it should be used for its intended purpose. So, you have the right to check its authenticity, especially if it is being requested frequently by demanding a doctor's recommendation. You can also send him for a full health check-up and obtain a fitness certificate to determine if he is fit for the job or not. If he is not fit and genuinely has health issues, you can discuss options with him, such as providing a settlement or offering an alternative job profile that does not involve critical tasks.

It's a step-by-step process to understand your employee's perspective.

Dear Rashmi,

You can advise the concerned employee to get checked at a government hospital and bring a fitness certificate for their repeated medical leaves.

Hi Ma'am,

I believe there must be a leave policy in your company with provisions for sick leave as well. According to it, you may be denied if anyone applies for sick leave exceeding the limit.

Further to what other members mentioned/suggested, the better way to handle this situation without getting into any interpretation/misuse of the existing Medical Leave Policy is to get the employee medically checked in the office premises. There's no policy that prevents you from doing it.

Another way to handle this could be to modify the existing policy... but why should others who don't misuse suffer due to this single oversmart employee? Whatever you decide to do, do it fast. Such actions by one employee have the scope to turn into a precedence for others too - you will have a bigger problem on your hands if you don't control this guy. Even straight guys may get the idea to follow him.

Regards,
TS

This is in addition to what other members have said. How many weeks has the employee availed of medical leave? Is it just 1-2 weeks, or has the employee been taking leave for the last 5-6 weeks? Have you spoken with the employee concerned? What about the Manager of the employee? Has he/she complained to you about the disruption of work due to the absence of the employee? What about the deliverables of the employee? Have the deliverables been impacted due to weekly medical leave or because, irrespective of the employee's absence, the employee has managed his/her job?

Overall, what is the behavior of the employee? Is he/she detached? Does he/she give the feeling that he/she is looking for a change of job and that medical leave is an alibi to attend interviews?

I recommend organizing a meeting with the employee in the presence of the Manager. You need to know exactly what the problem is, why that medical problem repeats every week, and how long it could last. Involve the employee in finding a solution for the discontinuity in work arising from the weekly medical unfitness. Keep the leave records at hand for the discussion during the meeting.

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar

Hello Rashmi,

Dinesh Divekar's line "Does he/she give the feeling that he/she is looking for a change of job and medical leave is an alibi to attend the interviews?" rings a bell. I have seen this happen quite often when someone wants to attend interviews. I suggest checking discreetly with his/her colleagues on the general current attitude.

Regards,
TS

Dear Rashmi,

Furthermore, you can also send the employee for a detailed medical check with the company-certified doctor to cross-check on his sickness claim. You will find the answer once you do this exercise.