ONE OF THE BIGGEST talking points among online readers last week was Minister of Labour Senator Dr Esther Byer Suckoo’s suggestion that doctors are issuing too many sick certificates.
During a courtesy call with president of the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners, Dr Abdon DaSilva, and director of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), Ian Carrington, she said many employees were using sick leave as vacation breaks.
Byer Suckoo called for reform of sickness benefits in Barbados, cautioning that unless changes were made, the NIS benefit could be threatened.
While some online readers agreed, many felt reports of illness were usually genuine or that workers often needed breaks from workplace stress.
Antonio Cozier: When the hard-working Barbadians take sick leave, they usually have to wait eight months for the money. No one wants to wait that long to earn so people usually do not take unnecessary sick leave. I know of instances where people who were genuinely sick refused to stay home because they knew it was not coming at an appropriate time to handle bills or buy food.
Carrib Guy: Doesn’t the Minister of Labour know or realise that Government employees actually believe that their 21 sick days are seen as an entitlement regardless of if they are sick or not? Basically extra vacation days!
Ryan Williams: She didn’t say all, she said many. I agree with her to a point as well. It’s a fact that many Bajans just take sick leave when they are fed up with management or their jobs. I know people who take sick leave when they aren’t sick. This is problematic for all of us because then we are issuing NIS benefits to persons who faked sickness, thus causing a depleting of funds. She isn’t saying all but I think it would be in our best interest to see how bad a practice it is.
Anthony Chase: That’s why Bim is in trouble; noone takes responsibility – victim mentality. But in many cases she’s right.
Michael Parris: People don’t like to hear the truth. Especially coming from someone they don’t like, but we all know she telling the truth.
Donna Harewood: Stress in the workplace often is the cause of these breaks. It is not only the body that can be ill but also the mind. These breaks can often serve to preserve the sanity of the employee with an unreasonable manager. One needs to investigate the causes of these actions and address them rather than seek to legislate them out.
Ebonyeyes59: I suspect that we have lots of sick buildings, sick work practices, poor management and a host of workers generally lacking in motivation and initiative employed in workplaces throughout the world. With all of that going on, is there really any surprise that they become disengaged, depressed and stressed? Doctors are best placed to diagnose some of these low-level mental health issues in their patients and act in their best interest, including time away from the source of their stress and malaise.
• Natasha Beckles is the NATION’S Online Coordinator.
