Put Up the Evidence for Sick Leave Abuse, CTU Tells Employers

Employers should put up the evidence of widespread sick pay abuse or admit that recent accusations are just part of another political campaign, Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.
He was responding to claims from Business New Zealand of widespread abuse of the new sick leave provisions in the Holidays Act 2003 and that employers should watch out for "sickies" on Queens Birthday weekend.

"There have always been some people who will misuse sick leave but there is no evidence that the level is any higher than it ever has been," Ross Wilson said.

Misuse is usually associated with poor management and poor morale.

"In any event employers have legal rights to address any such situation," he said. "That includes the legal right in the Act to seek a medical certificate after three days absence."

It was noteworthy that Business NZ had not produced any evidence of widespread abuse and the CTU was confident that it was not occurring.

"Workers value their sick leave entitlement too much to jeopardise it through misuse," Ross Wilson said.