When do you need a medical certificate for work?
Full-time and part-time employees can take paid sick leave when they can’t work because of a personal illness or injury, including stress and pregnancy-related illness. Your employer can ask for evidence that you were unfit for work, and there’s no minimum: they can ask even if you’re off for one day or less.
Some workplaces set a rule, for example requiring a certificate for a Monday absence. An award or registered agreement can say when evidence is needed and what type, but the type requested must be reasonable in the circumstances.
Telling your employer
Let your employer know as soon as you can, which can be after your leave has started, and tell them how long you expect to be away.
What your employer can and can’t ask
- They can ask for evidence that would convince a reasonable person you were genuinely unwell, such as a medical certificate or statutory declaration.
- They can’t reasonably attend your medical appointment unless you ask them to.
- They can’t reasonably contact your doctor or practitioner for more information.
Getting a sick leave certificate with Click Clinic
Fill in the request form with your symptoms and the dates you need. A registered practitioner assesses your request and, if a certificate is appropriate, emails it to you. If you need a physical examination, tests or ongoing treatment, see a GP in person instead.
