Opinion divided over cheap medical certificates on sale at local chemists
Pharmacies are now offering cheap proof of illness certificates but the Australian Medical Association isn't on board with the concept.
The certificates, which can be bought for between $20-25 from a chemist, are perfectly legal.
But there is no certainty bosses will accept them.
Shine Lawyers' Christie Toy said workers needed to check what their employer's policy is on workplace sick leave.
"What you might find is that the employer has set out when they do want to see a certificate from a doctor," she said.
"All the law says is that as an employee I need to give to my boss enough evidence to satisfy a reasonable person as to why I am sick."
Pharmacist Marcus Langman said on average two to three people come in each week to get a form, but in his experience most claims are legitimate.
"It's not a free service," Mr Langman said.
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"They have to part with $25 and I think they genuinely are sincere."
But the AMA is concerned people may not be getting proper assessment in a busy shop.
AMA's Dr Chris Moy said "we don't support this".
"The question is, could the patient deteriorate after that point?" he said.
"And for the sake of an easy-to-get sick certificate they could get into trouble afterwards."
Workers can also write sick certificates themselves.
Lawyers say a statutory declaration stating your symptoms and signed by a Justice of the Peace can be evidence enough in some cases.
