Belgium may reintroduce the sick note for one-day absences, as the 'Arizona' coalition of the incoming Federal Government will likely reverse the previous government's measure to abolish taking a sick day without a medical certificate.
Currently, employees in companies with more than 50 employees can take a day of sick leave up to three times a year without a medical certificate. However, the 'Arizona' coalition of Federal Government negotiators wants this to change.
"[Reversing] the measure supposedly intends to reduce absenteeism, but we are very concerned about this possible decision," said the general practitioners' association Domus Medica in a press release. "Absenteeism has not increased since the measure was introduced."
Domus Medica is calling on the negotiators to look at the broader picture of absenteeism due to illness: research by HR services provider Securex shows that the number of one-day absences has indeed increased in companies where the obligation was abolished. However, total short-term absenteeism is actually decreasing.
'A step backwards'
Domus Medica has been advocating for a complete abolition of the short-term sick certificate for some time now, partly to relieve the administrative burden on general practitioners (GPs).
"Today, up to a quarter of all consultations are only to get a sick note. These patients do not require medical attention and only come in for a sick note because their employer requires it," said Domus Medica chair Jeroen van den Brandt.
"Research shows that this measure does not lead to more absenteeism due to illness, and that it gives the GP more time for essential patient care," he said. "Reintroducing the one-day sick note is a step backwards in our fight against the administrative burden for GPs."
Credit: Belga / Anthony Dehez
Additionally, abolishing the short-term disability certificate could also effectively save around €68 million for the healthcare system. On the employee and employer side, this would save around €100 million, they added.
The doctors' association added that it regrets that the Federal Government negotiators are influenced by the positions of the employers' organisations. "We would like to invite the negotiators, the employers' and employees' organisations to sit down with us and enter into dialogue with the general practitioners."
