Concern over sick leave

Press, 17 August 1983, Page 5

Concern over sick leave

The Christchurch Transport Board yesterday rejected a proposal from its general manager, Mr M. G. Taylor, to require all staff members to produce a medical certificate to support claims for sick leave, no matter how short. The board decided instead to establish a sub-commit-tee to meet union representatives to discuss the matter and report to a committee.

Board members also suggested that when the subject gets back to the full board it should be heard in private because of its sensitivity. Mr Taylor urged the move because, he said, abuse of the present system was now so bad that he would need 10 more drivers on top of the present establishment of 502 to reduce

the number of call-backs being worked to a reasonable level. Mr Taylor told the board yesterday that before April, 1980, any staff member who went on paid sick leave had to provide a medical certificate, no matter how short the absence. After April, 1980, following the normal practice of most other local bodies, the medical certificate was no longer required for absences of only one or two days. Two years later, the board came in line with the largest local body in the country, the Auckland Regional Authority, and allowed three days paid sick leave without a medical certificate.

After both changes sick leave rose sharply. In the two years after April, 1980, it went up more than 20 per

cent, and it had continued rising since the latest innovation. In addition, a study had shown a “remarkable” connection between absences, allegedly for sickness but not requiring medical certificates, and rostered days off. “In other words, the waiver of the medical certificate requirement has resulted in substantial abuse of paid sick leave,” said Mr Taylor. “The taking of ‘sickies’ to give three or four days off instead of the normal two has become of significant proportions.” Two years ago, in the worst week, there would be no more than 10 cases of drivers being called back to work on their days off.

In the last 15 months, the call-backs had risen, reach-

ing 50 or 60 a week during the influenza season of the last two or three months. While this might indicate that more drivers were needed, he believed that, in fact, the rise was caused by abuse of the sick-leave system since the medical certificate requirements were relaxed. Rather than recommend an increase of 10 in staff, Mr Taylor believed it was only proper for him to recommend that medical certificates be required for all claims for paid sick leave. He said that most private sector awards required it. Mr Taylor warned the board, however, that he expected “quite strenuous” opposition from the unions involved, particularly the Tramways Union (which covers the drivers) and the Engineers’ Union.