The new general collective agreement for universities and the amended legislation on social insurance have led to changed policies for occupational health care and reports of absences due to illness.

Employees must report their absence to their supervisor as soon as possible. According to a new policy, the fourth and fifth day of sickness absence may be verified with a nurse’s certificate. As before, employees may be absent from work for the first three days of illness without a medical certificate, unless their unit has decided otherwise. A doctor’s certificate is always required for the sixth day of absence.

In some cases, employees may use working hours for health care-related appointments. The collective agreement and relevant University instructions give detailed instructions for such cases.  With the amendments to the Sickness Insurance Act and the Occupational Health Act, practices regarding occupational health care have changed, and employers are now obligated to report sickness absences to Kela sooner than previously. Thus employees must report their absences as soon as possible using the ‘Notice of absence’ form and enclose a nurse’s or doctor’s certificate with it. This documentation must be submitted to the campus service centre within seven days of the first day of illness. In cases of prolonged sick leaves, employees must submit a statement by the occupational health physician to Kela in good time before the deadline. The employee, the employer and the occupational health services unit will work in closer cooperation in these matters. The aim is to prevent prolonged absences from work and facilitate the return to work in accordance with the principle of early support.
Further information is available in the instructions and the Powerpoint presentation under the links below.

Related links

University of Helsinki practices concerning occupational health care and absences due to illness