I called in sick to work the other day and they told me to bring a doctor’s note, which unfortunately I forgot to bring. Instead of just letting me bring in the note later I am sent home. :rolleyes: Before I left I was talking to another employee that called in sick last week. Not only did this girl not bring in a note but she wasn’t even asked to do so. I want to file a complaint with HR because I don’t think my manager is treating everyone fairly. I’m already looking for another job and am doing this out of spite more than anything.
I don’t know if it holds water or not, but do you have an official policy regarding sick days and doctor’s notes? That’s where I would start first. If the manager is just making up rules on a whim, that sounds like BS to me.
Could it have anything to do with the amount of sick days you’ve had? Have you had more than is allowed?
I work for a large corporation, and one of the HR commandments is that you must treat people in similar situations, well, similarly. So, if all people are required to provide doctor’s notes for their second absences in the calendar year (but not for the first), then they’re OK (assuming the person you chatted with was only out once). They don’t need to treat every absence the same. They only need to treat similar absences the same, as defined in their policies.
But if they require notes only from some people when the circumstances are the same, they’re asking for trouble.
I’m not sure if this was the other employee’s first or second sick day but I know she was not asked for a note. This was only the second time I’ve called in sick and I was asked for notes each time.
I don’t understand why you were sent home for not producing a sick note.
I can understand it if the company policy is to examine the note to see when you are cleared to return to work.
If the latter is the case, then it appears the policy was applied to you correctly and not applied to the other employee properly.
This could easily come down to differant managers following the rules differantly.
Are you the same gender? If not, I’d try to go for sexual descrimination. Otherwise, age or race might do too.
I’d also not be concerned about having a job, as they seem to want to get rid of you anyway.
Wow.
Is the thinking behind a policy like this that people are either well enough to come to work, or they’re so sick they have to see a doctor?
Seems like a nice way to drive up a company’s insurance costs.
Pretty much everything in between a hangover and cancer is something I’d stay home for, but not have to see a doctor for.
Most companies only require a doctor’s note when you’re out for a couple of days or more. I’ve never, personally, heard of one asking for a note from one day.
Even for a couple days out do you really need to see a doctor?
I’ve had colds, diarhea, cough, sore throat, etc. that last a few days and I never go to a doctor. Just stay home and sleep it out.
I’m probably sick at least 2-3 times a year yet I haven’t been to a doctor in 7 years.
[Mom hat on]
It’s time for a checkup young man!
[/Mom hat off]
Why don’t you ask HR to explain the policy before you file a complaint?
And put any excess energy into looking for another job, rather than screwing with the people who are currently paying you.
At one of my jobs, if you were out more than three days you had to bring in a doctor’s note. In addition, if you had abused sick leave in the past you could be put on doctor’s not restriction, meaning any subsequent sick days had to be accompanied with a doctor’s note.
Were there any other discipline issues that may have triggered this requirement?
No. I have worked there five months and called in sick only twice, which includes this incident, and I only missed one day each time.
Huh. Sounds to me like someone’s being a jerk.
Our new policy is that if you call in sick, you get a written verbal warning.
If you come to work and must leave sick, you must bring a doctors note.
So essentially, if you try to come to work so they aren’t short staffed, but just can’t do the entire 12 hours, you must have a doctors note before you return to work.
We call it the Crystal rule, after a former employee who would be “sick” every time she had tournament or other bad rotations.
You get warned for being sick? I don’t understand this. What are they warning you to do or not do?
I’ve had jobs that required a doctor’s note for a single day- but only under certain circumstances. Frequent use of sick leave, a a pattern of calling in sick before or after weekends or holidays, or calling in sick after a request for time off was denied.
Sound HR policy is to treat similar situations similarly. However, violating that policy is only something that would be grounds for a legal complaint if the dissimilar treatment is based on a protected class*–only female employees or older employees asked for notes, for example. And for a legal complaint to carry any weight, you’d almost certainly need to have a pattern, not just a single incident. The OP might possibly be able to get his manager chewed out by HR for not following the company’s internal policy consistently.
In jobs where attendance is important, or sick leave is likely to be abused, asking for a doctor’s note is pretty common. Remember, the company is not just letting you take time off, they are paying you for time not worked. Ensuring the truly sick do see a doctor and that faking is kept to a minimum is worth the insurance hit. Requiring a doctor’s note for unpaid sick leave is probably only cost-effective if the employee’s absence is really disruptive to overall work flow. Still, the cost-effectiveness decision is up to the employer.
The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is the law that keeps employers from firing employees for being out sick. For the employee to be protected by that law, the employee needs to demonstrate a serious health condition, and that requires a medical certification. A company that allows sick time (paid or unpaid) for something less than a serious medical condition (e.g. head cold) is actually being more generous than the law requires.
- pedantic detail: Federal law would prohibit requiring only male OR female employees to provide notes, but federal law only protects employees 40 or older on the basis of age. Protection for younger employees MIGHT be provided by state law.
They are warning you to avoid unscheduled absences. In some jobs this is an important component of job performance. In these jobs attendance is often managed by a point or incident system, and excessive absence is a common cause for termination. See my previous post on FMLA for a little on the protections employees have for absences due to serious illness.