07/10/2026
When can an employer ask for a sick note — and when does an absence actually qualify as sick leave?
Sick leave is something every employer manages, but misconceptions around entitlement, medical certificates and reporting procedures can quickly create unnecessary workplace conflict.
In the latest ASP Trends, Andries Koen of LabourSolve shares practical guidance drawn from more than two decades of working directly with employers. As the owner of LabourSolve for over 22 years, Andries has extensive experience across labour law, employee relations, workplace policies, performance and incapacity matters, misconduct and retrenchments.
In this article, he addresses:
• how sick-leave entitlement works
• the eight-week medical certificate rule
• when medical proof may be required
• the difference between illness and misconduct
• telemedicine and online consultations
• backdated medical certificates
• traditional health practitioners
• and when it may be reasonable to verify a sick note
One of the key takeaways: a genuine illness does not necessarily remove an employee’s obligation to follow reasonable workplace reporting procedures — but a procedural breach does not automatically mean the illness was not genuine.
For employers, the emphasis should be on a fair, consistent and evidence-based approach.
Read the full article: https://forwarddurban.com/sick-leave-what-employers-need-to-know/
Knowledge shared is opportunity multiplied.
