Fitness to return to work (cert ?) required Ireland

L

landmarkjohn

Registered User
Messages
150
I am returning to work after a hip operation, based in ROI. Is it normal for an employer to request a letter from a doctor confirming fitness to work after a standard operation like this? The work is mainly sedentary but may sometimes require a bit of manual labour.

For background UK based supervisor is requesting this. Thanks.
 
Not normal but not unusual either, especially in multi-nationals. I've requested them in the past for employees returning from a long term illness.
 
Becoming more and more normal, employers have to cover themselves to prevent injury/ compensation claims down the line.
 
Even in the public service you are required to supply a medical certificate which allows you on return to work to carry the full range of duties.
 
Agree with Leper.

Public servants are currently required to supply a certifificate of fitness to return to work.

So, for example if I received a cert for a week and I decided to return to work a day Early I would need to visit my GP to get a "fitness to return to work certificate."
 
If an employee has exceeded the number of short term sick days allowed in the company policy and then starts calling in sick for say 5 days at a time. On their return they have started requesting the absence which was justified as sick - be taken off their annual leave allocation which ensures they will receive payment for it. The employee has an ongoing medical condition which is being used to justify if that's the right word the absence but at the same time is self diagnosing and not supporting the time off with medical certification. Would there at some point be a requirement on the organisation to request an assessment on suitability to fulfill their contract.
 
riddles said:
If an employee has exceeded the number of short term sick days allowed in the company policy and then starts calling in sick for say 5 days at a time. On their return they have started requesting the absence which was justified as sick - be taken off their annual leave allocation which ensures they will receive payment for it. The employee has an ongoing medical condition which is being used to justify if that's the right word the absence but at the same time is self diagnosing and not supporting the time off with medical certification. Would there at some point be a requirement on the organisation to request an assessment on suitability to fulfill their contract.
Click to expand...
It would be reasonable for the organisation to request one but I don't see there being an requirement.
 
If there's a fear that the person might end up taking a case against the company in the future, then it would be prudent. A lot there will depend on the person and the nature of the condition.

We had a case a number of years back with an ongoing medical issue. After advice, we sought such a cert and had the person attend a company appointed doctor (our policies explicitly allowed for such scenarios). In that case the doctor stated the working environment would be detrimental to their recovery, and so they were not fit to return to work.

You'll need to tread very carefully though, and your options now will very much depend on how well you're covered your bases in employment contracts.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top