Request of Doctors Letter

wandererz

If one has a medical condition, does the employer have a right to ask the employee for a letter from his/her doctor stating said medical condition?

For example, if one is diagnosed with cancer (terminal or not) , does the employer have any right at all to request a letter from the employee's medical professional?

In Ireland.

rock22

no

Princess Calla

No, even if they did the Drs letter can be very vague. ....X is currently under my care, X is unfit for work etc.

They can ask you to attend the company dr though.

Your employer is not entitled to confidential medical information. However, if you are likely to be absent multiple times or for extended periods, then it may be in your best interest to provide some information related to the absences, it doesn’t have to be detailed.

dennyk

Your employer can request confirmation from your medical provider of your need for sick leave and your fitness to return to duty if you are absent from work due to your medical condition, or confirmation of your need for accommodations if you are requesting reasonable accommodations for a disability. That documentation doesn't have to disclose your diagnosis, treatment, or any other personal medical details to your employer, however, and your employer has no right to demand those details. Using your example, if you were requesting an accommodation of time off at certain dates and times for cancer treatments, your documentation from your health care provider would just need to confirm that you require X hours off Y days a week to attend medical appointments; it doesn't need to disclose the nature of those appointments.

Mrs OBumble

The above is correct in general. If an employer is asking for diagnosis details, it's worth thinking about what they are really asking - typically they want to know the likely time you will be out for, and if you will need accommodation to come back. (Yes, some are just nosy - but that's usually face to face, not wanted on paper).

However there are some illnesses which are incompatible with some jobs. One example is jobs that may require working in chaotic high stress environments with flashing lights. If you develop one of those illnesses, then the occupational health doctors know what they are required to disclose.

left_hander

The employer does have the right to ask you to bee examined by a company doctor as far as I know.

ebbsy

I think its a good thing to give your boss something in relation to your illness.

It allows them to plan accordingly and help you.

For example I have diabetic complications from time to time. My boss knows about this and is very flexible with me,

left_hander

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121362319#Comment_121362319

This - in my experience, you see the human side of even the worst most hard-nosed manager when you suffer illness or a family members illness/bereavement/etc.

The worst thing would be to keep them in the dark. There is a person in my office on sick-leave at the moment but I don't know what is wrong with him, but my manager does I'm fairly sure.

ebbsy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121362359#Comment_121362359

True.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121362319#Comment_121362319

It depends on your boss though. Some bosses are trustworthy and provide flexibility. Some bosses are untrustworthy, gossipy, and will use information in evidence against you.