Sure, take MC - but stay home or else: Certis Cisco's new rule sparks debate
Paid medical leave is a statutory right. But if you're a Certis Cisco auxiliary police officer, there's a catch: stay home, or risk disciplinary action - even if you have a valid medical certificate (MC).
And if officers are not at home during unannounced supervisor visits, they will be required to send their live location via WhatsApp or get on a video call.
The lack of a valid reason for stepping out would lead to a warning or other disciplinary measures, including dismissal.
According to Mothership, the new policy started in March.
An employee told Mothership that the news had raised concerns among staff, and speculated that the new policy was implemented to discourage officers from taking medical leave for minor ailments, and to reduce the overall amount of medical leave taken.
Certis, however, says that's not the case. Speaking to Mothership, a spokesperson said the organisation's MC guidelines were "designed to support rest and recovery", and that managers may check in on employees who were on medical leave through home visits with "small care gestures".
The spokesperson did add that they have also implemented safeguards to ensure the medical leave system "is used appropriately".
"As a people-first organisation, we remain committed to building a culture of care, trust and accountability," added the spokesperson.
Online reactions on Mothership's Facebook page as well as on a Reddit thread were divided, with some defending the policy.
"As a former Certis employee, I can safely say that this policy is, unfortunately, likely a result of 'people spoil market'," said one Redditor, using the colloquial expression meaning the system was abused.
Most of the comments, however, were critical of the measures.
"So untrusting," said a commenter.
"Culture of care, trust and accountability? I don't know what they smoking right there," added another.
"What will they do next? Install CCTV to ensure their employees have at least seven hours of sleep each night to ensure their safety and well-being?" joked one.
The issue also touched a nerve with readers who recalled a Straits Times piece earlier this week about how employees shouldn't feel guilty for taking MC. That article encouraged better communication between bosses worried about MC abuse, and workers too scared to rest.
One commenter felt that while malingering would continue to exist, not everyone on medical leave should be placed under house arrest.
"MC abuse should always be a case by case basis and not dealt with by treating everyone like they are guilty until proven innocent," the Redditor said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Straits Times
Pokemon's Pikachu and Snorlax named Japan's ambassadors to encourage better sleeping habits
The ministry has been collaborating with the Pokemon Company. PHOTO: TAKAMARO FUKUOKA/ FACEBOOK Pokemon's Pikachu and Snorlax named Japan's ambassadors to encourage better sleeping habits TOKYO - In a charming and strategic move to encourage healthy sleeping habits, Pikachu and Snorlax — two beloved characters from the globally popular Pokemon franchise — have officially been appointed as 'sleep support ambassadors' by the government. The Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry spearheaded this initiative, which leverages the appeal of these iconic figures to encourage people, especially children, to develop better sleep habits. The characters are expected to participate in various public awareness events, adding a fun, recognisable element to the important message that everyone needs to get enough sleep. The ministry recommends nine to 12 hours of sleep for elementary students, and eight to 10 hours for junior and high school students, to maintain good health. Since last fiscal year, the ministry has been collaborating with the Pokemon Company, which publishes 'Pokemon Sleep,' a smartphone game that tracks the user's sleep. Together, they have created brochures and other materials to encourage adequate sleep. On June 26, the day of the announcement, Snorlax and a nightcapped Pikachu visited the ministry and received their letters of appointment from Health, Labour and Welfare Minister Takamaro Fukuoka. 'We hope to continue working with the health ministry to positively change sleep habits,' said Pokemon Company Representative Director Takato Utsunomiya. THE JAPAN NEWS/ASIAN NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
New Paper
12 hours ago
- New Paper
Sure, take MC - but stay home or else: Certis Cisco's new rule sparks debate
Paid medical leave is a statutory right. But if you're a Certis Cisco auxiliary police officer, there's a catch: stay home, or risk disciplinary action - even if you have a valid medical certificate (MC). And if officers are not at home during unannounced supervisor visits, they will be required to send their live location via WhatsApp or get on a video call. The lack of a valid reason for stepping out would lead to a warning or other disciplinary measures, including dismissal. According to Mothership, the new policy started in March. An employee told Mothership that the news had raised concerns among staff, and speculated that the new policy was implemented to discourage officers from taking medical leave for minor ailments, and to reduce the overall amount of medical leave taken. Certis, however, says that's not the case. Speaking to Mothership, a spokesperson said the organisation's MC guidelines were "designed to support rest and recovery", and that managers may check in on employees who were on medical leave through home visits with "small care gestures". The spokesperson did add that they have also implemented safeguards to ensure the medical leave system "is used appropriately". "As a people-first organisation, we remain committed to building a culture of care, trust and accountability," added the spokesperson. Online reactions on Mothership's Facebook page as well as on a Reddit thread were divided, with some defending the policy. "As a former Certis employee, I can safely say that this policy is, unfortunately, likely a result of 'people spoil market'," said one Redditor, using the colloquial expression meaning the system was abused. Most of the comments, however, were critical of the measures. "So untrusting," said a commenter. "Culture of care, trust and accountability? I don't know what they smoking right there," added another. "What will they do next? Install CCTV to ensure their employees have at least seven hours of sleep each night to ensure their safety and well-being?" joked one. The issue also touched a nerve with readers who recalled a Straits Times piece earlier this week about how employees shouldn't feel guilty for taking MC. That article encouraged better communication between bosses worried about MC abuse, and workers too scared to rest. One commenter felt that while malingering would continue to exist, not everyone on medical leave should be placed under house arrest. "MC abuse should always be a case by case basis and not dealt with by treating everyone like they are guilty until proven innocent," the Redditor said.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
Singapore pledges US$1m to global vaccine group Gavi
SINGAPORE - Singapore has pledged US$1 million ( S$1.3 million ) to global vaccine group Gavi as part of the country's continued commitment to global health and vaccine equity. The Ministry of Health (MOH) said on June 26 that the move reflects Singapore's support of efforts to bring life-saving vaccines to communities in need, especially in low-income countries. 'Vaccines are one of the most effective tools in preventing diseases and saving lives. However, millions of people around the world still lack access to essential vaccines,' said MOH. 'Gavi bridges these gaps by working with governments, international organisations, and private sector partners to deliver vaccines to underserved populations. It also plays a pivotal role in enhancing pandemic preparedness, improving immunisation systems and ensuring equitable access to vaccines during global health emergencies.' In June, Gavi said it was seeking new donors for its work funding childhood immunisation in the world's poorest countries. It aimed to raise US$9 billion of its total requirement of US$11.9 billion at a summit in Brussels on June 26 for its work from 2026-2030. In a Facebook post on June 26 , Gavi's chief executive Sania Nishtar said that Gavi had received more than US$9 million pledges from a record number of donors, which she said would protect 500 million children that the group aims to vaccinate over the next five years. Gavi is currently focused on combating a global measles outbreak and is responding to cholera outbreaks in Sudan, South Sudan, and Angola, where it has made special arrangements to supply vaccines from its stockpiles, and is also supporting Sierra Leone, where the spread of mpox has accelerated. In a video message to the Gavi Global Summit on June 26, Singapore's health minister Ong Ye Kung lauded Gavi's 'pivotal' role in the global response to the Covid-19 pandemic, describing it as a 'monumental achievement, demonstrating the power of solidarity and the critical importance of investing in global health infrastructure'. However, he noted that Gavi faced its share of criticism, that it could have done more and that it could not totally eradicate vaccine inequality between economies. 'Sometimes it is not easy to be on the side of good. It takes courage and a strong sense of mission and purpose. Gavi has done this, and it deserves our strong support,' said Mr Ong. Singapore first became a Gavi donor in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, contributing US$5 million to Gavi's Advance Market Commitment, which is a mechanism under the Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility ensuring access to Covid-19 vaccines and support for lower-income countries . The Trump administration has previously indicated that it planned to cut its funding for Gavi, representing around US$300 million annually, which risks causing more than a million deaths, according to Ms Nishtar. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
