Days without a certificate.
For several months now Menzies has been requiring you to bring a certificate for all absences. Your PSS’s were instructed to advise you to bring a medical certificate even if you hadn’t used your entitlement of 3 days without a certificate.
The ASU raised its concerns with HR and advised that the custom and practice within the workplace was that you were entitled to 3 personal leave days per annum without the need to produce a certificate and that the instruction requiring you to provide a certificate needed to be withdrawn.
Company scare tactics
The ASU is also advised that individuals were counselled for failing to bring in a medical certificate, not because they didn’t have a certificate but because they “failed to follow a lawful direction” when being told to bring in a certificate. This is obviously ridiculous, should not have occurred and is absolutely unacceptable.
Please be advised that members of the Union should always take a union delegate in to any meeting with management.
Union members are entitled to be represented.
The cogs turn slowly at Melbourne Airport
After lengthy delays and the ASU continuing to raise this matter the company has finally instructed your PSS’s to advise you that you’re entitled to 3 uncertificated days and that you need to produce a certificate if you have utilised the uncertificated days. This has taken longer than it needed to however it is good to see that common sense has finally prevailed.
Commonly asked questions
Am I allowed to use a Stat Dec instead of a medical certificate?
Yes, Statutory Declarations (Stat Dec’s) as well as medical certificates are acceptable.
When do I have to notify the company that I am not attending work?
The EBA says as soon as is reasonably practicable which except in exceptional circumstances is no later than 2 hours after your shift starts. The ASU however does encourage you to make contact as soon as possible so that your shift can be covered to avoid additional pressure being placed on your workmates when there’s no time to fill a shift that you can’t do.
Do I have to disclose my illness?
Not if it’s not work related and you don’t want to, this is personal information and advising that you have a medical condition will suffice, this is all that is required on your medical certificate or Stat Dec as well.