“Because staff are exhausted and pushed to their limits most days, staff are getting sick more often.”
Thorn said nurses were told they must provide a medical certificate for each day they were off sick, under a policy introduced earlier this month.
Health NZ would reimburse the cost of the doctor visit, in line with employment law, she said.
“That’s how they’re addressing increased sick calls, instead of addressing why people were sick so often.”
As there had always been a requirement to provide a medical certificate after being sick for three days or more, Thorn thought the new requirement could backfire and encourage staff to take several days off at a time.
Burnt-out nurses at Whangārei Hospital are being asked to provide a medical certificate if they call in sick, a nurse representative says. Photo / 123RF
Another concern was the ability to get a GP appointment within just one day, with staff likely to be forced to go to White Cross or an online doctor, she said.
But Alex Pimm, Health NZ’s group director of operations for Te Tai Tokerau, said there had been no changes to how sick leave was managed.
“We may ask for a sickness certificate for short periods of absence in line with our policy and employment agreements,” he said.
“We know that our kaimahi [employees] can be affected by winter illnesses so it is not unexpected to see more people away from work at this time of year.”
Pimm praised the ED workers, saying Health NZ was proud of their professionalism, dedication and commitment to delivering excellent care.
Health NZ group director of operations Alex Pimm says it is not unexpected to see high levels of sick leave due to winter illnesses. Photo / Denise Piper
Health NZ confirmed it would offer about 1800 roles to graduate nurses over the next year, with first job offers going out this week.
Rule ‘punitive’, professor says
AUT Social Transformation Research Institute director Professor Katherine Ravenswood acknowledged sick leave was difficult to manage, especially in a busy hospital.
But she said if staff were asked to provide a medical certificate for just a day’s sick leave, it would come across as heavy-handed and uncaring.
“Especially when we really don’t want sick staff at work in hospitals which are full of vulnerable people who are already ill.
“And, in a stressed healthcare system where it’s hard to get GP appointments, is it wise to add more stress by requiring your staff to get a medical certificate?”
Health NZ says it hasn’t changed its sick leave policy but may ask for a sickness certificate for a short absence in line with employment agreements. Photo / NZME
Ravenswood said workplace stress and fatigue were hazards under New Zealand’s health and safety legislation, meaning employers had a duty to take them seriously and prevent or mitigate their impact.
“If staff are all getting sick, and are also stressed, then these kind of messages don’t boost morale.
“Blanket, hard rules come across as not trusting staff and as quite punitive.
“It assumes that everyone is gaming the system, without taking time to find out what’s going on or – at worst – ignoring that it’s actually workplace issues that are really behind this.”
Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.