The Email at 7 AM
Subject: “Won’t be able to come in today”
Rajesh hit send to his manager. High fever since last night. Body ache. Throat pain. Working from his New Town apartment wasn’t an option – he could barely think straight.
He worked at a tech company in Sector V. He knew what would come next: an automatic reply from HR portal asking for medical certificate submission within 48 hours.
No certificate meant his sick leave would either be rejected or deducted from earned leave. Neither option was appealing.
If you work in Kolkata’s IT hubs – Salt Lake Sector V, New Town (Rajarhat), or even the older offices in Park Street and Camac Street – you know this situation. Sick leave requires documentation.
This guide tells you exactly what Kolkata companies need, why they need it, and how to get medical certificates without traveling to clinics when you’re unwell.
Kolkata’s IT Zones: What Companies Require
Salt Lake Sector V
Kolkata’s primary IT hub. TCS, Wipro, Cognizant, IBM, ITC Infotech, and hundreds of smaller tech companies.
Certificate requirements:
- Most companies require certificates after 2-3 consecutive sick days
- Larger MNCs have stricter documentation policies
- Digital certificates increasingly accepted
- Doctor registration number mandatory
- Upload to company HRMS systems
New Town (Rajarhat)
Newer IT development with Infosys campus, DLF IT Park, smaller tech companies, coworking spaces.
Certificate requirements:
- Certificates typically needed after 2-3 days continuous absence
- Newer companies more comfortable with telemedicine certificates
- Digital submission standard
- Quick turnaround expected
Park Street / Camac Street Area
Older corporate offices – consulting firms, banks, FMCG companies, media houses.
Certificate requirements:
- More traditional firms may prefer physical certificates
- Banks have stricter compliance requirements
- Consulting firms need quick documentation
- Digital generally accepted but check company policy
Standard Requirements Across Kolkata Companies
Despite location differences, most Kolkata employers need similar documentation:
Doctor qualifications:
- MBBS or MD degree
- Registered with West Bengal Medical Council or National Medical Commission
- Registration number clearly stated
- Full name, signature, clinic stamp
Certificate must contain:
- Your complete name (exactly as per company records)
- Employee ID (if applicable)
- Date(s) of illness
- Diagnosis or symptoms (can be general – “viral fever”, “acute respiratory infection”)
- Recommended rest period
- Certificate issue date
- Ideally addressed to your employer or HR
Format:
- Digital (PDF) or physical both work at most companies
- Must be legible and complete
- On letterhead or with official stamp
- Recent (issued during illness period)
Company-Specific Policies in Kolkata
| Company Type | Certificate Policy |
|---|---|
| Large IT (TCS, Wipro, Cognizant) | After 3 consecutive days usually |
| IBM, Accenture, Capgemini | After 2-3 days, HRMS upload required |
| Banking/Finance (Park Street) | Strict from day 1 often, compliance driven |
| Consulting Firms | Required quickly, client commitments involved |
| Startups/Smaller Firms | Variable, usually 2-3 day threshold |
The Kolkata Commute Factor
Getting a medical certificate the traditional way when you’re sick in Kolkata:
You live in Dum Dum, work in Sector V:
- You’re running fever, need certificate
- Nearest clinic with MBBS doctor is in Salt Lake
- Metro + auto: 45-60 minutes when you’re healthy, longer when sick
- Clinic waiting time: 30-60 minutes
- Consultation: 5-10 minutes
- Getting certificate: 10-15 minutes
- Travel back: 45-60 minutes
Total: 2.5-3 hours. When you should be in bed.
You live in New Town, need to go to Gariahat for good clinic:
- That’s 12-15 km
- 30-40 minutes each way minimum
- Plus clinic time
- Half your day gone
Monsoon factor: Kolkata monsoons make travel even worse. Waterlogging, traffic jams, finding transport when you’re sick – it’s unnecessarily difficult.
Under India’s Telemedicine Practice Guidelines 2020, registered doctors can issue valid medical certificates after online consultations.
This is legal, widely practiced, and accepted by Kolkata employers. Your HR team checks:
- Doctor’s qualifications (MBBS/MD)
- Valid registration number
- Complete certificate with all required elements
They don’t verify whether you physically visited a clinic. That’s irrelevant to certificate validity.
How to Get Certificate Online
Step 1: Fill online form (2-3 minutes)
- Your name and employee details
- Company name
- Current symptoms and illness duration
- Relevant medical history
Step 2: Doctor consultation (5-10 minutes)
Registered MBBS/MD doctor conducts phone or video consultation:
- Assesses your symptoms
- Asks about illness progression
- Determines medical necessity of rest
- Decides appropriate rest duration
This is actual medical consultation, not automatic approval.
Step 3: Certificate issued (within 30 minutes)
PDF via WhatsApp and email:
- Doctor’s credentials and registration number
- Your details and illness dates
- Diagnosis
- Rest recommendation
- Doctor’s signature and stamp
- On official letterhead
Step 4: Submit to HR
Email or upload to HRMS portal (SAP, Workday, Oracle, etc.)
Common Kolkata Employee Questions
My Sector V company needs certificate within 24 hours. Possible?
Yes. Online consultations deliver certificates within 30 minutes. Well within any deadline.
Can I get certificate for sick days I already took?
Doctor can issue certificate for dates when you were genuinely ill, based on medical history during consultation. However:
- Only for legitimate illness on those dates
- Ethical doctors won’t backdate fraudulently
- HR suspicious of certificates obtained after return
- Better to get documentation while actually sick
My company uses SAP. What format needed?
PDF format works with all HRMS systems. Upload directly or email HR for entry.
Will certificate be valid if doctor not in Kolkata?
Yes. Medical registration is national. Doctor registered with any State Medical Council or National Medical Commission can issue valid certificates for Kolkata employees.
Need to extend sick leave beyond original certificate?
Contact doctor for follow-up consultation. They can issue extension if still unwell, or fresh certificate for additional days.
What Happens Without Documentation
Kolkata companies typically:
Mark as unauthorized: Flagged in record, affects reviews and future opportunities.
Deduct from earned leave: Uses vacation days instead of sick leave quota.
Salary impact: Some companies deduct for undocumented absences.
Disciplinary action: After repeated instances (3-5 times), warnings or termination proceedings.
Future scrutiny: Managers more careful approving leave requests.
Mistakes That Get Certificates Rejected
Missing registration number: Most common. Certificate invalid without doctor’s medical council registration number.
Non-MBBS practitioner: BAMS, BHMS, physiotherapists, pharmacists can’t issue valid certificates. Must be MBBS/MD.
Poor quality: Blurry scans, cut-off edges, illegible text rejected.
Name mismatch: Certificate name must exactly match company records.
Date issues: Certificate says sick when work logs show you were working.
Generic template: Mass-produced certificates without specifics questioned.
Reused certificate: Can’t use old certificate for new illness.
Kolkata Sick Leave Policies
Most Kolkata IT companies provide:
- Annual sick leave: 12-15 days typically
- Separate from vacation: Doesn’t reduce earned leave
- Accumulation: Varies by company
- Certificate threshold: Usually 2-3 consecutive days
- Probation: Some companies stricter during probation
Pro Tips for Kolkata Professionals
Get it while sick: Don’t wait until back at office. More credible when obtained during illness.
Digital copies: Save in Google Drive/email. Need for insurance, visas, future reference.
Know HRMS process: Understand upload process before urgently needing it.
Communicate promptly: Message manager: “Unwell, getting certificate, will submit to HR.”
Monsoon planning: Kolkata monsoons bring viral illnesses. If genuinely sick, get proper documentation.
Check company handbook: Some Kolkata firms have specific policies. Know yours.
Industry Notes
IT Services: Usually flexible until 3 consecutive days.
Consulting: Stricter due to client commitments. Faster documentation needed.
Banking/Finance: Compliance-driven, certificates often required sooner.
BPOs: Attendance-critical, certificates may be required from day 1.
Startups: Highly variable. Check your employment terms.
Final Thoughts
Kolkata’s IT sector – whether in Sector V towers or New Town campuses – runs on deadlines and deliverables. But genuine illness requires rest.
Your company needs documentation for legitimate payroll and compliance reasons, not to make life difficult.
Modern telemedicine means you don’t need to commute from Howrah to Salt Lake when you have fever. Online consultation, registered doctor, proper certificate – done in 30 minutes.
When sick, focus on recovery. Let technology handle paperwork.
Your sprint can wait. Your health can’t.