Online medical certificate distributors
Over the last few months, there has been an increase in workers unable to work due to illness, whether it be from contracting coronavirus, the common flu or mental health struggles leaving them unfit for work. The National Employment Standards, Section 107 states an employee who has given notice to their employer that they are taking paid leave must give their employer evidence that would satisfy a reasonable person that they are unfit for work due to illness or injury. Internal policies within practices will also influence evidence required by employees.
A growing number of websites now allow employees to pay a fee to obtain medical certificates without having a GP consultation. Managers and employers should keep this in mind when receiving medical certificates as it is within an employer’s right to seek authentication if you are sceptical about a medical certificate you receive. Some sites simply require employee’s personal details, symptoms and credit card details to purchase the certificate covering the amount of time they wish to have off work.
It is understandable why this option is appealing, as during the pandemic individuals are more cautious about leaving their home when they feel unwell, and some may not be able to enter a doctor's practice if they have cold or flu like symptoms. Apart from the above mentioned type of websites, there are sites where employees can get medical certificates which do require consultations.
The main types of medical certificates now available online from websites require employees to either complete an online form or participate in a video or tele-health consultation, or to submit a form that a medical practitioner reviews before providing a certificate.
It is important to consider your employee’s privacy before making enquiries with their treating practitioner. You may only be able to confirm whether the certificate was issued, and no questions should be asked about the employee’s condition without prior written consent from them to be communicating with their doctor for these reasons. If you are concerned about a certificate you have received from an employee, you should first contact our team for assistance. We highly recommend you obtain legal advice if you find yourself in a position where you think you may have received a fraudulent medical certificate.
The AMA provide a guide to our doctor members on issuing medical certificates.
AMA Guidelines on Medical Certificates
AMA Queensland’s corporate partner, Hillhouse Legal, also offer a 30 minute free consultation session for AMA Queensland members. For information on how to get a referral, please contact the Workplace Relations Team on (07) 3872 2222 or email us at workplacerelations@amaq.com.au.