hi can a hr department ask to contact your gp if you have been out sick with the same complaint twice?
Yes, they can ask.
You don't have to give permission.
But if you don't, they will likely ask you to see a doctor who they choose next time you are sick.
Ok thanks for your reply
Steady on, absolutely no employer or HR Department can contact an employee's GP seeking anything, particularly medical information. They'll be told politely NO.
The Employer if they have any concerns can request an employee attend a doctor employed directly by the company for a medical exam.
They seem to have asked for permission to make contact. That is a different scenario.
Apologies, I miss understood, I miss read and assumed OP asking if employer could contact GP.
GP will require OP to give permission officially and probably in writing, GP"s as a rule very, very reluctant to share their patients medical information and thats how it should be.
Agreed.
But depending on the situation, the OP may prefer the employer to get factual information from their GP, rather than having another assessment by a doctor they don't know.
Yes agreed, apologies for misreading OP 😏
Nevertheless the GP will only give out the information that the OP is either fit or unfit to return to work so I don't see what the advantage is.
No, they have to give some indication of the nature of the illness. For Prolonged or repeated sick leave employers can have rights to some medical records or additional medical consultation with the employee’s consent.
Being on "sick leave" does not preclude an employer dismissing an individual.
In order to remain employed the OP must be "fit" to carry out the work entailed as per their job description.
If a pattern emerges whereby by it is looking potentially to HR that the OP falls under this category then a competent HR dept will commence action sooner rather than later.
The HR dept cannot go simply asking the OP's doctor for their records but they can ask the OP to allow contact SPECIFIC to the illness.
The OP can politely refuse.
Further action will then be covered by the contract/staff handbook/policies and procedures.
