'I was called into a meeting with the big boss': Medical worker with sick child is that their days off are 'suspicious'

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  • 01
    Font - You want me to wrote an apology letter like a child? Sure, and you can lose $8000 a week in income. I work in a private medical practice. To keep it non-specific, my job is classed as a skill shortage in my country, but I am not a doctor, nurse, or assisant.
  • 02
    Font - I work alongside a different doctor each day and perform certain tests for patients that only someone with my qualification can do. It is usual that the patient sees the doctor and if the doctor thinks they require this test, they are booked to see me another day. Our practice is lucky in that I am there five days a week so the patient is able to see me on the same day, but as far as I know we are the
  • 03
    Font - only practice that is able to do this because I am there all of the time. I guess this is more a matter of convenience for patients, but they are charged an extra ~USD$500 for this pleasure. I do not earn anything extra for this. In fact, I am currently being paid 50% less than the market rate at this practice but I stay because I love the team and the environment.
  • 04
    Font - Anyone with a child at preschool knows that kids catch EVERYTHING, ALL THE TIME. The winter flu season hit my country hard this year. My husband and I take turns to take sick days off work. I understand having to take a day off is not ideal and I dont do it unless needed.
  • 05
    Font - One night I contacted my workplace to let them know that I would not be able to make it in for the following day. If the patients need the test, they are booked in to see me another day - just like any other practice. I came into work the day after and found that the doctor I missed work with (Dr X) complained about my absence and Dr X wanted me disciplined for it. I was called into a meeting with the big boss and this is what I was told:
  • 06
    Font - taking sick days is "suspicious" why is my child always sick? • why can't my husband just look after our child? • I have taken too many sick days off with Dr X. (I went through my sick leave this year and five of them happened to be when I was working with Dr X. The law in my country is you are entitled to 10 sick days a year)
  • 07
    Font - • If I take off a Monday, I need to let them know on the Friday • I am overpaid, and that he was "cajoled" into overpaying me because there was a skill shortage, but now he could easily replace me • to write a letter of apology to Dr X • this is considered a warning
  • 08
    Font - Now, Dr X is not a nice person. They have had many a complaint about them and every negative review on our website names them directly. They have no bedside manner and no patience for people. They have told me directly they do not care about the patients and is in medicine for the money and their ego. I noticed they will order these tests on every patient, even if they do not need it so really, they make bank from having me there. I have known them for 10 years and I am the last person in
  • 09
    Font - I quit working with Dr X that day. As I said, my occupation is incredibly in demand and I was able to find work somewhere else 10 minutes after I quit for two times the pay. As I work with Dr X two days a week, eight patients a day, they are effectively losing USD$8,000 a week in income while I am gaining twice my income for those two days. And no, as "easily replacable" as I was told I am, they were not able to find a replacment.
  • 10
    Human body - I sent Dr X the stupid apology letter with a one line apology: "I am sorry you feel upset that I had to look after my child".
  • 11
    Font - P.s don't feel too sorry for Dr X, they probably make close to half a million a year regardless of whether I am there or not, but at least I feel better about myself.
  • 12
    Font - Heavy MetalDallas Happy for you, no need to work with petty people if you're in demand.
  • 13
    Font - Mardanis A forced or demanded apology served no purpose other than to his ego. Good for you. 39 Reply Share Antique Candidate465 OP That was what infuriated me. I felt like I was being chastised like a child, rather than being treated as a colleague.
  • 14
    Font - savwatson13 if I take off a Monday, I need to let them know on the Friday. This was my quitting point at my last company. They told me my last minute notices were "causing chaos" and I needed to let them know the day before if I was going to be sick. I have a documented medical disorder and can't always tell when I'm going to have vertigo spells the next day. Yeah lemme just plan to get sick. I'll try to schedule it on a Tuesday when we're not so busy. (/s)
  • 15
    Font - I got a new job 2 weeks later and put in my notice immediately. I then had another major issue regarding it and quit on the spot. Hilariously enough, part of the triggers are stress and my vertigo has decreased since quitting.
  • 16
    Font - Antique Candidate465 OP Right?? How would I know three days in advance?? I am glad you got out of that place and doing much better :)
  • 17
    Font - JustLikeBettyCooper. Op you wrote a much nicer letter than I would have wrote. You showed great restraint. Good luck at your new job.
  • 18
    Font - hkusp45css Yeah. I either wouldn't have written anything or it would have been something like "Dear Dr. X, get bent. Cordially, hkusp45css" 7 Reply Share Antique Candidate46 5 OP In retrospect, that would have been the way to go
  • 19
    Font - jerseygirl1105 I don't understand why you sent the apology letter after you quit? 12 Reply Share Antique Candidate465 OP Just part of the pettiness. The point was that it was a backhanded apology, just to p off the doctor.

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