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“With COVID-19, we have become a lot more ‘kiasu’ because we are an essential service. Our engineers and technicians have to go out to clients’ sites and they also work in teams,” he told CNA.

“We are very cautious so what we’ve done is: If you’re feeling unwell and even if you haven’t tested positive, please stay home and rest,” said Mr Koh.

The issue of MCs has been under the spotlight in recent months, following an advisory and repeated reminders from authorities that workers who have COVID-19 do not require a doctor’s certification to be excused from work. This is to ensure that the local healthcare system does not become overloaded amid rising local infections.

Employers who "wilfully" refuse to comply with the advisory will have their work pass privileges suspended, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng said this week.

Noting that “it was remarkable” that authorities have had to “explicitly” tell this to employers, experts like Singapore Human Resources Institute’s executive director Alvin Goh said sick leave policies in workplaces here must “adapt to the new normal”.