Why You Should Never Try to Backdate A Medical Certificate

Employees in Ireland will be given a minimum of 3 days of sick leave starting this year, according to the Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) legislation, which went into force on January 1, 2023.

Notwithstanding the fact that this legislation will make sick pay mandatory, many Irish firms already offer a basic sick pay programme that is maybe even more generous than the one provided by SSP.

While this gives workers a legal right to pay while off work due to illness, it also necessitates that they obtain a sick certificate for work from a general practitioner to confirm that they were too ill or unfit to report to work during the specified period. There are many instances when generous sick pay policies are violated, and employees tend to take them for granted.

One of the primary issues is backdating sick notes, where an employee rushes to obtain one at the last minute, most likely when they have recovered from their illness and are prepared to return to work rather than seeing their doctor while they are truly ill.

Why is backdating a medical certificate potentially illegal in Ireland ?

Let's keep it straightforward: if you get over a mild illness, such as a cold or fever, there is no longer any sign that you were ill. Hence, if a doctor hasn't examined you or seen you in person, they can't confirm that you were indeed unable to work because of any illness.

Medical records are accepted legal proof of a person's health and employability. They are issued by licensed healthcare professionals and must be submitted adhering to the organisation's employment standards. The date of issuance affects how long the certificate can be valid.

Consequences of Backdated Medical Certificates and Falsifications

The inability of an employer to alter the policy as they see fit can be problematic. There can be legal, ethical, as well as health- and safety-related consequences that may even lead to job termination. Below are some points to consider:

● Absenteeism: Excessive absences are possible, which may create a suspicious pattern that they might be misusing the policy.

● Breach of Contract: Employees who breach the policy and fail to notify their team or management in accordance with the relevant policy can be permanently terminated.

● Medical Law and Ethicality: A medical professional who gives a false or deceptive health certificate in Ireland may be disciplined by their governing body under Irish law. If the backdating is determined to have been intentional and done with the purpose of deceiving, they might also be charged criminally.

● Health and Safety: Backdating a medical certificate can have major health and safety repercussions for the patient, in addition to legal and professional repercussions for the healthcare provider. They may be endangering themselves and others if the certificate is backdated to a time when the patient wasn't genuinely fit to work.

All in all, backdating medical certificates is subject to suspicions of deception, and the employee will not have much ground to justify it if the employer sees it as a means of faking medical records.

A single action may have serious repercussions for all those concerned. Understanding the dangers and repercussions of this conduct is crucial for healthcare providers, patients, and employers, who should also put honesty and integrity first in everything they do.

How Online Medical Certificates Offer a Great Solution to Prevent Backdating Sick Notes

During the COVID phase, telemedicine and providers online health certificates in Ireland have found new ground and they are here to stay.

For workers looking for a sick certificate for a single or double-day absence, online sick certificate providers are a huge convenience. The facility is most helpful for minimising a number of inconveniences and causes for why employees frequently need to backdate a health certificate.

Backdating a medical certificate might occasionally be unavoidable for people and not an intentional delay. It can be challenging for those who live alone to find the time to make an urgent doctor's appointment, particularly if they have children and other commitments. GPs occasionally encounter patient backlogs, forcing them to postpone new appointments for a few days.

Online platforms like Get Sick Cert might be of tremendous help in this situation. The technology generates valid online sick certificates for work that are signed by Irish-registered doctors by taking into account the patient's medical history and a medical questionnaire session. Also, compared to seeing the GP in person, the procedure is significantly more affordable and effective. The medical form just needs to be completed briefly, and a quick phone call to the doctor will result in a 24-hour medical certificate. If you are feeling under the weather, you can get plenty of time to rest and get your medical certificate without any travelling or hassles of fixing an appointment with the GP.