When an employer requests medical substantiation they cannot make blanket requests. The request must be specific to your individual circumstances. In August 2010, our Chief Arbitrator rendered a decision about this. In his decision, Arbitrator William Kaplan noted that when the employer asks for substantiation, they must provide a reason. This reason should be “related to the behaviour or circumstances of the particular employee, such as, for example, excessive absenteeism, particular attendance patterns, or a book off after a leave request is denied, etc. These reasons, related to the individual employee, must be clearly stated in the medical substantiation request.”
Please reach out to your Local Office if you have any questions about substantiation of sick leave. Your knowledge of this process can serve to avoid the many pitfalls in it.