Boss makes employee get doctor's note, doctor gives them even more time off: 'Now he’s paying me 4 days, 32 hours. He can’t refuse a second of it'

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Sep 10, 2024 10:00 AM EDT

The age-old workplace practice of requiring workers to go to the doctor after missing a day of work to get a sick note feels a little strange; it's infantilizing in the sense that the only other thing like it in our lives is when we had to bring a note from your mommy into grade school after missing class. If your boss wants to treat you like a child, you might as well act like one and act like you don't know a thing.

The real problem comes in the form of the fact that it's impossible to get in with your doctor on short notice these days. The last few years have put enough strain on the entire system that it's just not feasible to go to your doctor cause you twisted your wrist—and it also means that you have to bear the brunt of the cost of having the doctor tell you practically nothing of use.

Let's face it: this sort of system is intended to make you more likely to go to work when you're sick or injured in order to cover for the less-than-ideal and razor-thin margin or labor that employers like to maintain. Thankfully, since doctors also largely don't have time or patience for this nonsense anymore and are also feeling the drain of the last few years, they're increasingly more than happy to clear you from work for the maximum length of time rather than the minimum your employer was hoping for.

Advertisement
  • 01
    "[The] boss wanted a doctor's note to pay [for] one day of sick time, now he's paying a week...
    via National Cancer Institute
  • 02
    Sprained ankle, boss wanted a doctors note to pay one day of sick time now he's paying a week. M I twisted and sprained my ankle Monday morning packing up our camp from Labor Day weekend. Having done this a few times in the past I didn't want to bother to have it checked out (who wants to pay $1,000 for urgent care to tell you to rest and ice it!? Yay America) so I went to work Tuesday. I got
    via floatingawaste
  • 03
    morning stuff done and explained the situation to my boss, told him I'd need to take the day because it was swollen and painful and I needed to rest and be off of it in order for it to heal. He gets in a tizzy because god forbid anyone needs to miss work for anything at all ever, and snaps at me for not planning to go to the doctor.
    via floatingawaste
  • 04
    Wednesday I go in to work, still limping and still wearing improper foot wear (I can only fit the injured foot into a croc without unbearable pain). The first thing the boss says is "don't you think you should get that checked out? I don't understand why you don't want to just pay for it". I explain again that I've had this injury in the past, it's definitely not broken and honestly not even as swollen as it has been when I've done it before. I want to be at work to keep up on things and make ev
    via floatingawaste
  • 05
    difficult I would just need to take it easy for a couple days which isn't a problem considering I can do 90% of the job from my desk and the 10% slack is beyond easy for everyone to pick up (especially when not being there makes them pick up 100% of it). This gets met with more attitude so I ask if I'll be getting paid sick time for the day I missed yesterday. He says no, not without a doctors note (you can visibly see the injury clear as day and I'm trying here so !?).
    via floatingawaste
  • 06
    I'm fed up by this point so a little later on I say okay and leave to go to the doctors for the note he wants so badly knowing full well what they'll say to treat it and that I'll need to be off of it for 3-5 days. After and X-ray and getting the "yup it's sprained, keep doing what you've been doing" I let them know my boss asked for a note for missing a day of work to rest it. Doc asks if I want to be at work to do what I can and stay off of it as best as possible, I said that's what
    via floatingawaste
  • 07
    I've been trying to do so I'm fine with that I do have sick time if it would be more beneficial to be off of it for a couple days. She comes back with a note that I may return to work on 9/9 which would be Monday.
    via floatingawaste
  • 08
    I took a picture and shot it over to boss man, just the photo. He replys "what wrong with ankle" which I met with no response considering none is needed, he got his note. I just wanted a day of sick time, 8 hours. Now he's paying me 4 days, 32 hours. He can't refuse a second of it.
    via floatingawaste
  • 09
    TL;DR sprained my ankle, tried to work and do what I can. Boss gets snarky because he can't understand a person that makes $600 a week not wanting to pay $1000 to be told something they already know. He insists on a doctors note to pay one day of sick pay, doctor writes note to take me out of work for the week. ETA: I have an HSA and I'm on a high deductible health plan by choice, I'm not losing any "real" money in this situation and it was well worth the price either way.
    via floatingawaste
  • 10
    Familiar-Ostrich 537 • 11h ago My boss would be like, "no note needed, just come and go as you please." Actually the only note we EVER needed was a negative covid test during 2020 prior to the home tests availability. He's all about taking care of ourselves and taking personal responsibility. I love my job.
    via floatingawaste
  • 11
    • Dry-Amphibian1 11h ago OP, if you took money out of your HSA to pay for the visit, you are definitely our real money. That HSA will travel with you as long as their in money in it and can help cover medical expenses years from now. You should consider it as nothing but real money.
    via floatingawaste
  • 12
    Rubbermayd 11h ago . I would bet the cost of an x- ray in America that the boss is fuming about you taking any time off for a Healthcare professional recommendation for such an insignificant injury. Heck the boss will probably even day "you came in for a bit already anyway"
    via floatingawaste
  • 13
    Generation_WUT • 10h ago But isn't that sick leave coming off your own total allowance? America is absolutely insane for tying medical to employment.
    via floatingawaste
  • 14
    . Omega_Zarnias 11h ago Idk, man. It seemed like he was trying to convince you to take some time off. Maybe it's just your writing style and he was clearly a in person. But this reads as him covering his and your and getting you to go to the dr so they can tell you what you need.
    via floatingawaste
  • 15
    Ryugi • 9h ago "You don't have the right to ask this question. I will answer questions regarding my disability and/or illness. and/or injury when they are pertinent and lawful."
    via floatingawaste
  • 16
    Simple-1234 7h ago I had that happen. Was sick and had to stay home 2 days. HR said "you better not come back without a doctor note". I said, "no problem, doctor wants to see me anyway before I go back". Told doctor what happened. He said "here's a note for 5 days, have a good rest". Sent note to HR and enjoyed my break.
    via floatingawaste

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

workplace discussion employment issues antiwork workplace-stories jobs employee employment-discussion job work doctor employees overworked-employees Horrible Bosses employment in the workplace
Scroll Down For The Next Article