Can an employer ask me to provide them with a medical certificate if I'm sick?

If you take sick leave, under employment law your employer can ask you to provide proof of your illness. This is usually shown by a medical certificate from your doctor. If your employer wants more information than what is on the medical certificate, or wants to get more information from your doctor, they will have to be able to explain why they need this information, what they intend to do with the information, and what will happen if you refuse to provide the information.

There may be some cases where it is important for your employer to be provided with more detailed information. For example, if your employer is managing your return to work after a workplace injury, they may need to be able to speak with your doctor in order to establish what work you can (or can’t) do. Employment New Zealand(external link) has more information on sick leave. 

You can also contact the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment through the Employment New Zealand site(external link) for further advice on any potential employment matters which could arise if you don’t wish to provide your employer with further information.

Updated October 2025