The risks of pulling a sickie

It pays to not be spotted fishing. Unless your illness is not inconsistent with fishing, that is. Photo / 123rf

With Anzac Day falling on Tuesday, the temptation to come down with a headache or diarrhoea will be tempting a lot of people, but you do so at your peril, says employment expert Max Whitehead.

It's a big risk to call in sick today and highly likely you will be asked to produce a medical certificate, which employers can ask for under the Holidays Act if there are reasonable grounds for suspicion, Whitehead said.

However, under the law your boss would need to pay for the doctor's visit.

"For some people a visit to the doctor costs a day's wages," said employment lawyer Helen White.

"It's not that insignificant," she said.

White also said it would be unfair for an employer to ask an employee for a doctor's certificate simply because they did not believe them.

She said an employee would need to be spotted out and about before such a measure was taken.

Really sensible employers and employees will use that time as annual leave

Helen White, employment lawyer

What's more, Whitehead and Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Barnett, said social media make it easy to get caught out.

"The eyes are on you all the time," Whitehead said.

White said if you call in sick but get spotted fishing on Facebook, you could be in trouble. Rather than getting asked for a doctor's certificate, you could be pulled in to a disclipinary meeting.

That is unless you're illness is inconsistent with work but not fishing.

"There has been some case law around this," White said.

White said there had always been a phenomenon of Mondayitis but it was sensible for employers to give staff time off tomorrow with Anzac Day falling on Tuesday.

"We have to start responding to how busy people are. They are all working, they have got their kids. It's Anzac Day and school holidays. Really sensible employers and employees will use that time as annual leave," White said.

Barnett said a lot of companies will give staff time off today so long as it does not disrupt business too much. He is going to Edgecumbe to help with the clean-up after the floods.

An ANZ spokesman said customer facing roles, such as branch and contact centre staff, would be working today but a lot of head office types in the main centre will be taking leave.