‘I wasn’t allowed to call out sick’: Employee scores a $14,000 severance after his boss denies him sick days and refuses to acknowledge a legitimate doctor's note

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Dec 25, 2023 5:00 PM EST

Big companies can get away with inhumane injustices simply because they have the sharkiest lawyers on retainer waiting to crush the opposition. Employees are only a tiny bug carcass on the windshield of massive corporations, so when the little guy attempts to stand up to them, all businesses need to do is blast the wiper fluid and brush away their problems. But some injustices in the workplace are worth fighting for, especially if you could score a $14,000 payout when you threaten to expose their ugly underbelly.

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  • Although big companies think the daily struggles of the workforce are just a nuisance, to those of us down here in the trenches, when our minuscule benefits are threatened, we're ready to go to war to preserve them. We may not have very many hours or days of PTO to use during the year, but in an emergency where we need to use all of our leave to cover a few weeks in the hospital, our personal problems are a lot bigger than the problems of the workplace. 

  • In this next story, one employee stood up to the big boss of his company after they denied him any usable sick days. At the risk of losing his job and legal action from a Goliath attorney, u/lecoqmako stood up for his rights and his own health needs– winning $14k in the process.  

  • 01
    "The president refused to accept my [doctor's] note"
    via u/canva
  • 02
    r/r/Malicious Compliance Posted by u/lecoqmako 1 day ago I can't call out sick? Ok! S OC I called out sick for the first time nine months into my new job I avoided contraction for three years and caught it from a coworker. I was told my position (HR/PR) was so essential that I wasn't allowed to call out sick. (Our
    via u/lecoqmako
  • 03
    PTO was 24hrs sick/yr as the minimum required by state law.) I received a write-up for calling out and responded with a concise detail of employee attendance records which proved myself in the 98th percentile. I was asked to wipe my response from the records. Three months later I was hospitalized for pneumonia. I missed one day of
    via u/lecoqmako
  • 04
    work and upon return was sent home until I provided a doctors note. I spent $75 copay to get a doc note that confirmed/cleared my absence. Mr. President refused to accept the note allowing my return to work until I provided another note allowing me to return to work. I could have spent the extra money but refused. Mr. President spoke with his $250/hr attorney and I received a 14K severance and a promise to not dispute unemployment.
    via u/lecoqmako
  • 05
    neophenx 1 day ago Sounds like the company saved SO much money by refusing the basic fact that people get sick sometimes. /s At least you got paid for it!
    via u/neophenx
  • 06
    lecoqmako OP. 1 day ago I actually feel like a : human for leaving the company w/o anyone else knowing how to process certified payroll or benefit administration but it's not my fault they don't cross train or treat their essential employees as... essential. 472 Reply Share SkwrlTail 1 day ago Don't feel bad. Lean Staffing is a plague upon the workforce, and making employees feel badly if they become sick is just cruel.
    via u/lecoqmako
  • 07
    SkwrlTail 1 day ago Remember folks, if your boss insists you come in while sick, aim for their shoes when you throw up. Reply Share 152 Plastic Mix8573 - 1 day ago Aim higher. 56 Reply Share Wrathwilde 1 day ago Shoes Face ...
    via u/SkwrlTail
  • 08
    not-rasta-8913. 1 day ago In what world is 14k severance better than just granting someone sick leave? 93 Reply Share... lecoqmako OP. 1 day ago I sincerely believe they thought I would capitulate and bend over thankful for the job.
    via u/not-rasta-8913
  • 09
    sci_major 22 hr. ago I'm thinking that if you took them to court you'd get way more. I'd get a free consultation with a employment lawyer before accepting anything.
    via u/sci_major
  • 10
    lecoqmako OP. 1 day ago I could sue them for a much larger sum and win if I were litigious and/or felt it would improve working conditions. It's such a clear violation of employment law in my state, with lots of email evidence, that I'm certain a lawyer would take the case on contingency.
    via u/lecoqmako
  • 11
    || fiddlerisshit 2 hr. ago Do so. Not only for yourself but all the others who are currently suffering and those whom they will continue to abuse in the future. Vote Reply Share New-Investment-5888 - 14 hr. ago I would still go apply for unemployment, he pays unemployment insurance or is supposed to. He can't fire you again.
    via u/fiddlerisshit
  • 12
    Equivalent-Salary357 - 13 hr. ago OP says in this comment: I did file for unemployment benefits; they disputed. I showed EDD the signed agreement and won my appeal. I received $425/wk for four months. Vote Reply Share New-Investment-5888 13 hr. ago Awesome
    via u/Equivalent-Salary357
  • 13
    CobBaesar 1 day ago It's insane to me that there are countries that require for regular sickness that a grown adult needs to provide a doctors note to prove their sickness. It's infantile, distrustful, and simply all round ridiculous. I'm very glad I live in a country with insane strict worker protection laws where like this doesn't fly. If you call in sick, you're sick, period. No doctors note, no , and the employer isn't even allowed to ask why you're sick, only when you expect to return.
    via u/CobBaesar
  • 14
    cero1399 1 day ago In my country you have to provide a doctors note upon return from sick leave. But doctors are free and will often provide a note just from a call. There is no information on it what your issue was, just how long and a signature from the doc.
    via u/cero1399
  • 15
    LikeABundleOfHay 22 hr. ago What country are you in where any of this is legal? Only 24 hours sick leave a year is abysmal, the minimum legal requirement here is 10 days. Vote Reply Share lecoqmako OP 22 hr. ago US, California specifically. There's a lot of variance among the states which the federal government could curtail with a minimum, but CA, USA is 24 hrs/yr. The law changes next year to 40 hrs/yr minimum, thanks Santa!, (not that I would have seen a different outcome in this scenario but
    via u/LikeABundleofHay
  • 16
    New-Investment-5888 - 14 hr. ago Call the labor board let them know you've worked any overtime that you never got paid for. Vote Reply Share ... charrcheese 15 hr. ago It sounds like you could have sued them for more than 14k
    via u/New-Investment-5888
  • 17
    Initial-Shop-8863 20 hr. ago Too bad Mr President was never sick. His lack of compassion and understanding means when karma pays him back, it's gonna be ugly. 'Tis a matter of when, not if. Vote Reply Share ... fiddlerisshit 2 hr. ago There are lots of healthy people who never seem to fall sick and get their jollies attacking those who aren't as healthy.
    via u/Initial-Shop-8863
  • 18
    Chaosmusic 17 hr. ago edited 16 hr. ago You're not allowed to call in sick. Can I get that in writing? Vote Reply Share Tight_Syllabub9423 - 10 hr. ago Only 14k? They got off lightly
    via u/Chaosmusic
  • 19
    OhifOn1y 17 hr. ago As someone with asthma and lungs, I thank you for staying home when sick. Someone who comes in and gives their illness to me usually makes me end up missing twice as much time from work because it hits me harder.
    via u/OhifOn1y

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boss sick leave worker severance employee manager payday work coworkers doctor doctors note working hospial employees PTO payout pay supervisor workplace sick leaves coworker vacation
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