Do I need a medical certificate if I’m off sick for a day?

One of the great things about living and working in Australia is that we have access to paid sick leave. A full-time worker in Australia has access to 10 days of sick leave each year, which accrues if you don’t use it, and is calculated at a pro-rata rate for part-time workers. You can also have access to unpaid sick leave if you run out of leave, at the discretion of your employer.

But when do you need to supply a medical certificate to use your sick leave – especially if it’s just a single day off work? If you’ve taken a day off because you’re feeling unwell, sometimes the last thing you want to do is get out of bed and head to your GP for a doctor’s certificate.

So, can your employer insist you supply one, for just one day?

Can an employer ask for a medical certificate for one sick day?

The short answer is: yes, your employer can ask for a medical certificate for one day off work, if you were unwell or injured and unable to work, or if you were unable to work because you had to care for a family member.

Many employers will give you the benefit of the doubt if it’s just one day, and may only ask for a certificate for two or more days. It can help to check your contract, or the award for your industry, so you know what your rights and responsibilities are.

If, for some reason, you cannot provide a medical certificate, a statutory declaration may also be accepted.

How can you get a medical certificate?

It’s not uncommon to struggle to get a same-day appointment with your doctor, but medical certificates may be able to be back-dated if necessary so you can still see your doctor and ask to have a certificate to cover your day off.

If you don’t feel like you need to see a doctor, but you need a medical certificate for work, school or university, you can also fill out a form to submit a request online and have an online medical certificate certified by an Australian-registered doctor. Although it’s important to note these certificates cannot be backdated.

InstantScripts doctors work from 6am to midnight, seven days a week, to review requests for medical certificates, which are priced from $19.

To make it easier and quicker to see a doctor, you could also access a telehealth appointment online. InstantScripts offers telehealth appointments from 6am to midnight every day of the week.

This article was written by Carolyn Tate, a Brisbane-based writer with a particular interest in women’s health, mental health and living well. Carolyn holds a Bachelor of Professional Writing and a Bachelor of Political Science.

Sources:

https://www.fairwork.gov.au/leave/sick-and-carers-leave/paid-sick-and-carers-leave/notice-and-medical-certificates

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/talking-to-your-employer-about-illness