A Malaysian woman shares frustrations over being questioned for frequent medical leave, sparking discussions on MC abuse, workplace fairness, and health rights.
WHILE taking medical leaves (MC) is a worker’s fundamental right, some cannot seem to help questioning the number of times one calls in sick.
A Malaysian woman recently shared her frustrations on Threads about the scrutiny she faced at work for taking multiple MCs.
“If a colleague takes MC, it means the doctor has verified that they are unfit to work. As a colleague, you shouldn’t question that. Everyone’s immunity is different,” she wrote.
She revealed that she was once ranked the employee with the second-highest number of MCs, which attracted attention and questioning.
She explained the reasons behind the high number of leaves, saying she contracted an illness after her company repainted their office, which exposed her to paint fumes.
“On top of that, it was during Ramadan, and I couldn’t fast for 20 days because the infection was so severe. I was on MC for over three days in a month because of that,” she added.
The woman also noted that she often saw colleagues taking MCs frequently, usually due to flu or other illnesses.
“If someone wants to falsify an MC, that’s between them and God. But if a doctor has issued an MC, it is verified. Do you want to question the doctor’s credibility too?” she asked.
Netizens largely sided with her, while others acknowledged that companies must sometimes be strict due to employees who have abused MCs in the past.
“Many people abuse MCs. Feeling slightly unwell, and they want an MC. Favourite days? Mondays, Fridays, before and after public holidays. You can usually tell the habitual MC takers just by looking at them. Don’t pretend otherwise… We can recognise who’s genuinely on MC,” one user commented.
“It wouldn’t be an issue if you’re genuinely sick. It’s the unethical people that make others think twice,” added another.
“If you take MC but don’t inconvenience anyone, that’s fine. Imagine working in a team with shifts — if it’s your turn for inbound duties and you’re on MC that day, wouldn’t it be a burden for others to cover for you? If someone takes several days of MC in a month, don’t you think other people would get annoyed?” another user remarked.
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