The recent case involving medical certificates reminded me of the many instances I was faced with such a situation. Way back in the 1980s I was the managing director of a company where 25 per cent of the 80 employees were habitual skivers. 

The worst case was that of one particular employee who had been constantly absent for more than two years, complaining of acute back pain. Together with independent witnesses I visited his bar and after taking note of the surroundings, asked for a particular beer. The man said he had to bring it from the store-room and in no time at all he came back carrying a heavy crate filled with bottles.

Another case involved claims of vertigo. Accompanied by the driver and the personnel officer I was taken to the man’s residence where we found the employee perched on a long ladder some six metres high. In a similar episode three of us found an employee decorating the façade of his house even though he was supposed to be suffering from the flu and running a high fever.

When I worked in Libya I was faced with similar examples with Maltese employees. One particular person claimed he could not travel as his mother had died – on three occasions – within a period of six months. Another had disappeared as he had wanted to be with his mistress.

In all the above cases all the employees had valid medical certificates. What really annoyed me, however, most was that their union accused me of being finicky and that I should do as other managers do and turn a blind eye.