We aren’t understaffed. It’s just the nature of the business / industry that it’s difficult to cover multiple people being ill or on holiday at the same time.
Whatever, it's still no reason to appropriate the blame to those who are off. Which is exactly what you've done, several times now.
Could you take on a temp to ease the workload?
You appear to have gone beyond what policy states from what I read by asking for photos. As an ex union rep I would love that as it makes for a great defense. Have you asked for photos from others? If not why single out this person?
That's a really good point.
Any sensible HR policy would have an employee self-certify for a short absence and require a doctor's note for longer. Demanding personal evidence of illness could readily be problematic; would you demand photographs if I were off work because I couldn't sit at a desk due to debilitating piles?
The exact nature of an absence due to sickness is, frankly, none of your ****ing business as an employer. What is relevant is questions like "is this likely to reoccur?" or "is there something we can help with?"
