Employer won't accept self-certification - advice please!

paulac_3

Thanks once again everyone - I really appreciate your input.

The TES website is particularly useful kingfisherblue - there is a poster on there in a very similar position to myself - sadly it looks as though she gave up in the end!

I shall continue to dig my heels in until he can come up with this policy in writing and take it from there.

Weirdlittleman

This is fair in my view.
If employers were not allowed to go above the self certification or query it then it would be open season for week long sickies constantly.

Any absense policy I have ever read states that whilst self certification is done the employer can ask for a doctors note if they wish for precisely these reason they did this is simple english (how did a doctors note become a self certificate OP? - It seems a very favourable leap for yourself).

The problem is now that you wont get a sick note from the doctor. I would suggest you get a hold of your absence policy and request a meeting with your line manager and explain all this and hope for a favourable outcome.

Declining to get a doctors note when specifically told by the head in my view could be seen as a discliplinary situation and depending on other factors how serious it would be.

paulac_3

Admittedly I was too naiive about the Doctor's cert/self cert. As I said, I have only had a couple of short absences in all the time I've worked and never had a doctor's cert before. I looked on my doctor's website and it stated self certification was adequate so that's what I did.

I would agree an employer who has been given good cause to doubt an employee should be able to ask for further proof, but surely there is room for flexibility here - I've always played fair and would hope my employer would take that into account.

diable

I would go to the Doctors explain your situation and ask him for a sick note. You could also ask him to sign you of for three weeks with stress ;p

Uncertain

Within the self certification period your doctor it quite entitled to charge for a certificate if your employer's insist on one. Maybe this was the reason you didn't ask for one? ..............

zzzLazyDaisy

Weirdlittleman wrote: »

This is fair in my view.
If employers were not allowed to go above the self certification or query it then it would be open season for week long sickies constantly.

Any absense policy I have ever read states that whilst self certification is done the employer can ask for a doctors note if they wish for precisely these reason.

The above comments are valid but:

The school will have written procedures and it is up to the head to

a) ensure the staff are aware of the performance/absence/disciplinary procedures and have copies (as they are entitled to by law); and

b) to ensure that they follow the correct procedures before imposing any sanction or additional requirement on the employee.

It appears from OP's comments that no procedures have been followed and in fact she does not even appear to have copies of the relevant procedures - or the grievance procedure, should she wish to take this further.

Weirdlittleman

The OP was told to get a doctors note and didnt. What did they think was coming?