A Woolies employee has shared their workplace quandary after their manager “snapped” at them when they requested sick leave.
The employee took to Reddit on Wednesday to explain they had tested positive for Covid and requested two days off to protect their colleagues from contracting the virus.
However, after raising the request with their manager, the employee was stunned to hear they would not be allowed the time off unless they provided a medical certificate.
“Sorry if this is not the place for this kind of discussion but I’m in dire need of advice,” the Woolies staff member began.
“I have tested positive for Covid, immediately requesting two days off to avoid getting coworkers sick.
“My boss snapped back at me that I’ve taken too much time off, but I haven’t taken time off since early January.
“When I reminded her this, she seemed flustered and then informed me that because I have been on my weekend and am now requesting two days off outside of my weekend, I need a doctor’s note because I’ve had more than two days off.
“Am I in the wrong to assume that my weekend should not count as consecutive days off?”
The employee added that they are “totally happy” to get a medical certificate, but felt their manager’s reasoning “seems off”.
“I also have a photo of my Covid test and really want to avoid having to pay out of pocket for one if I can,” they concluded.
To the employee’s surprise, people in the comments section were firmly on the manager’s side, with one person saying: “Your boss isn’t out of line.”
“My understanding is that if you are part/full-time, a manager/team leader can request a medical certificate for more than one consecutive day off, or if the day off is a Monday or Friday,” another person said.
“Your weekend has nothing to do with it, but two consecutive days of absence (which you do) does require a medical certificate,” a third added.
“I assume she screwed up explaining it properly. I believe what she is trying to convey is ‘you have just had your version of a weekend and now are requesting sick leave. Due to today technically being your Monday we require a certificate’,” a fourth explained.
In an update to the post, the Woolies employee thanked Redditors for their advice and confirmed they had obtained their medical certificate.
“All’s well that ends well,” they signed off.
According to the FairWork Ombudsman, Australian employers can ask employees to provide a medical certificate for as little as one day or less off work.
If an employee fails to provide evidence, the employer has the right to deny sick leave, it adds.