Applicant for civil service who took 371 sick days lost appeal

The candidate for an executive officer job in the civil service said she was considered for selection but failed the pre-employment check on the basis of her sick leave.

A candidate failing a pre-employment check relating to 371 sick days since 2019 and another being asked “inappropriate” questions about previous maternity and carer’s leave were just two cases decided upon by the public appointments watchdog last year.

According to two separate bulletins issued by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA) outlining its case decisions approved in 2022, the code of practice governing public service appointments was at least partially breached in 40% of the recruitment cases outlined.