Mini-rant about employers requiring a doctor's note

[Lyric]

ThinkBlue1966 hurt her back the other day while playing with our son. We know it's a nasty back muscle strain. We know how to treat it--ice, rest, ibuprofen. But her employer insists that she needs a doctor's note to excuse her for having to miss a day of work today.

When you know what's wrong, and it's nothing serious, and you know how to treat it, going to a doctor is a needless expense. Her employer doesn't offer health insurance. The doc is just going to tell her to go home, rest, ice it, and take 800 mgs of Motrin. We *know* this. Why should we have to rack up a $200 bill at the Emergency Room, and sit there for 7 hours waiting to be seen, just so we can get An Official Doctor's Note telling us what we already know? GRRRR.

Note: I am not saying people shouldn't see a Doc when they need to. But we all know that there are some things that don't require a physician to diagnose. A muscle strain is one of them, so long as there aren't any neurological symptoms or severe, horrific pain involved.

When did simple trust in America die? Why isn't it enough to be able to say "Look, I strained my back. I'm staying home today to rest it and lay on an ice pack." and have your employer say "Oh no! I hope you feel better. We'll see you tomorrow."

:cry:

[philosophie_en_rose]

1. a doctor's note for one day?

damn. That's ridiculous. Is there a clinic or some place you could go instead? Or maybe speak to a physician or physician's assistant over the phone?

I don't get it this at all. It's simply stupid to expect a doctor's note for a one-day absence.

[Lyric]

2. Oh thank you!

I was afraid I was the only one who thought it was ridiculous and excessive. :hug:

[Crabby Appleton]

7. I too think doctor note for a one day absence is ridiculous

I think my employer's official policy is for a note or clearance after a 3 day absence, but I think they only really ask for it if someone is suspected of abusing the system.

[Deja Q]

3. Sheesh. I like to let my bosses know what's going on medically, and they say 'no' due to HIPAA.

:crazy:

[RogueSpirit]

5. I am not sure notes are covered under HIPAA

If you are doing manual labor or service type work, the notes remove company liability. It's not necessarryly a punishment, but if for example you have a waitress that calls in with the flu, then you need a doctors note stating that that employee isn't contagious and is able to serve.

I could never fire an employee because of a lack of notification due to FMLA regulations, but we could certainly prevent them from serving customers until they are medically clear to work.

It's very sticky, but liability rules state it is a necessity.

[RogueSpirit]

4. What type of job is it?

Does she work with a lot of irresponsible co-workers or does she do shift work? There is nothing more frustrating than having to fill a slot because someone doesn't show up. It throws the whole team off and you have a choice to either call someone in (unlikely on a friday) or potentially have someone pull a double and then you have budget issues because of overtime pay.

The best defense against the Ferris Beuller employees is to simply require a blanket policy stating that if you are sick, then bring a doctors note. Honestly, though as a manager, I wouldn't really enforce this unless I had severe repeat offenders. What I mean by that is if I had an employee that was dependable and present most of the time, I would cut them some slack, and only call out that policy for the kids that don't come in because there is a party going on.

[Lyric]

8. She works at a restaurant

It's just frustrating that we have to go through this. Really--a simple back strain is not something worthy of wasting an ER doctor's time, but without health insurance, the ER is the only place where she can get a note. :(

[RogueSpirit]

9. Is there a clinic nearby?

I know there was a time or two in my earlier years I attended a clinic, once for what i thought was the flu (turned out to be systemic strep) and the other time when I blew a knee out. They took care of me pretty well. Just take a book, you will have a wait in front of you.

[Lyric]

12. We have a free clinic, but

they require an appointment, and are booked solid for the next 2 months.

[RogueSpirit]

15. well its easy then...

Tell him that you can give him a note as soon as you get an appointment...in 2 months.

[johnnie]

6. Tell the boss you are Christian Scientists

And you'll see him/her in court. LOL

[Connonym]

10. I think that's extreme

Not long ago my brother got fired for calling in with a migraine. He too didn't have insurance and couldn't afford to go to the doctor. It's really a lousy situation. So what do they do? they fire the person that they already paid to recruit and train and they start all over again. For one day of nonpaid sick leave. It's past time that the workers in the US unite and protest this kind of harassment.

[tandot]

11. This is BS. The employer doesn't offer health insurance but orders his employees to see a doctor???

I'd tell him/her that I'll gladly go see a doctor if he/she pays for it.

Our health care system is already so f*cked up...now people are being forced to go to the emergency room for stuff that just needs rest and some painkillers???

I have to bring a note after 3 days of sick leave. My boss would TELL ME to stay at home to take care of myself. Smart employers know that healthy and happy employees are more productive at work.

[chaska]

13. Capitalism must die...

painfully, if possible.

[taterguy]

14. That crap happened to me over a decade ago and I'm still pissed

I had a job at a hotel restaurant. I had been there a few months and was a model employee. I work lots of unscheduled shifts when the place was packed.

I sprained my ankle playing with my dog. I had no health insurance or benefits but knew how to treat a sprain.

They told me I needed a doctor's note. Fortunately they misread their own manual. You only needed a note to miss three days in a row and I was only out two.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[bleedingheart]

16. and this kind of stuff typically is required for jobs that don't come with good healthcare

or any insurance at all...

The more money you make...the less you have to do to document your health issues..

[Brigid]

17. And it also seems . . .

that the lower-paid and crappier the job, the more likely it is that crap like this happens. If we're so important the a one-day absence is going to threaten the company's survival :sarcasm: , the give us a raise. Sounds like a typical employer power trip to me. :grr:

[Richard Steele]

18. Fake a note from that "free clinic".

That level of trust deserves a similar level of honesty.

And if they are assholes enough to actually CALL, the clinic
will not confirm nor deny whether she was actually there.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

19. Yeah I need to go to a doctor 13 times a year.

When I have menstrual cramps. Oh boy. That's ridiculous.

Am I glad that foolishness is over, in my case!!! No more periods!!

[Inchworm]

20. It's a scam if you ask me

I'd insist it's none of the employer's business who her Doctor is. Write a bunch of illegible squiggly lines in the form of a note?

:shrug:

Edit: had to fix my "its"