'Now I'll miss three [days]': Boss demands sick note for one day off, doctor gives them three more

Sometimes your actions to prevent something can bring it into existence as if you're unknowingly fulfilling a prophecy of your own making. That's what happened to this boss, who attempted to keep their workers from taking sick days by demanding they get a doctor's note only to have the doctor recommend them to take more time off than they would have in the first place.  

This is a common experience we've all probably had ourselves or witnessed at some point in our working life. A lot of organizations and managers tend to have this obsessive idea that any time taken off work is a result of some nefarious plot by workers to screw them over, treating their absence as if a crime is being committed against the business. They'll use any and every tool in their arsenal to ensure workers don't take any time off, often including mandating a doctor's note for any absences. 

Now, anyone who has tried to get a last-minute appointment with their GP knows how unfeasible this is; at many practices, it's now impossible to get in the door to visit your doctor and get a note, especially when it's over something non-threatening. Doctors have joined in deriding the practice, often writing notes for consecutive days off that the worker might not have initially planned on taking.

Read on for this quick account of events that was shared on Reddit's r/antiwork subreddit workplace community, sharing their malicious compliance to their boss's request that they get a note from their doctor and sparking discussion in the comments.

Next, check out this boss who demanded workers call out before 6 AM and lived to regret it.