Sick leave and rights: What you need to know

Questioner

My question is about calling in sick. Can a company require an employee to personally report sick? I understand that sick reports are regularly abused, but if an employee feels too sick to call in themselves, they should be able to have a family member do it (I think). In case of doubt, the inspector can determine whether the employee is actually sick or not. I even heard that someone was admitted to hospital acutely and that this person could not call himself. Afterwards, two days of leave were therefore (without consultation) booked off... --- Another question about absenteeism due to illness. Can a company actually ask the employee directly what is wrong with him/her when he/she is ill? I hear conflicting messages about this.

Lawyer

The employer may ask the employee to report sick himself. If the employee is really unable to come to the phone, someone else may call. The employee is not obliged to provide the employer with medical information, so he does not have to indicate what he has. However, the employer may ask for it and also ask how long the employee thinks he will be sick.