This letter was submitted to ST Forum on 1 May 2012 and was published on 7 May 2012.
One way to make the honour system work is to allow staff to convert any unused medical leave into a bonus at the end of the year (‘Honour system won’t work, say bosses and HR experts‘; last Tuesday).
Having such a financial incentive in place will make workers think twice about abusing their medical leave. The company will also save money through reduced reimbursement of outpatient medical bills.
Removing the need for medical certificates will reduce the strain on health-care resources and allow patients needing urgent attention quicker access to doctors.
The Manpower Ministry and employers should explore ways to make such a system work.