Current Events > Is it true americans need a dr's note to take sick leave?

(+) Yeah! (+)

My job doesn't require it I can just no show and that's it

every job ive had i've only needed it if i miss a certain amount of days.

I think the least was like 3 days. After the 3rd day i needed a note or i had to file for FMLA or something.

Mew posted...

Points lol where are you, Hogwarts? Which house are you in

I've never watched Harry Potter so I don't know

But a lot of hourly jobs have some point system where you accumulate points against yourself by being late, absent or leaving early. You can accumulate a certain amount before you're terminated.

Beveren_Rabbit posted...

Why do Americans only get 4-8 paid sick days a year, 15 work days of unpaid vacation, 15 work days of paid vacations a year?

It completely depends on what the company offers / what the employee negotiates, we don't have socialist mandatory vacation policies here in Capitalismland.

After 2 days of missing work I do have to show evidence and open a case with a third party worker comp benefits in order to get paid for the 3rd day on. A bit excessive, but I can see why....a friend of mine just got fired from his work after lying again and again that he was sick. When he was required to come to work he made excuses about how he broke his leg....all this while the mfer was in Colombia....

in spain too its so dumb

My job technically does, but if you're only taking like 1 or 2 days off, they don't care if you bring it in or not lol. But if you're off for more than 3 in a row, then you really need a doctor's note >_>

Definitely depends on the job

Our company is on critical manpower right now. If you call in and dont have a dr slip or ER slip, automatic write-up. Technically we have 5 points that reset after 6 months, but with write ups its 3 and terminated, period, attendance points be damned. Fun fact, weve been under critical manpower for two years now

Beveren_Rabbit posted...

Why do Americans only get 4-8 paid sick days a year, 15 work days of unpaid vacation, 15 work days of paid vacations a year?

4 to 8? I get 2. I wish I got 4 to 8. That's why I come in sick, do a terrible job and get others sick. Even the two they make a big deal out of it.

Beveren_Rabbit posted...

Why do Americans only get 4-8 paid sick days a year, 15 work days of unpaid vacation, 15 work days of paid vacations a year?

This is not my normal I usually have more than that Or maybe I just saved up more But from what I can remember, this doesnt sound like my jobs

Chadawah posted...

4 to 8? I get 2. I wish I got 4 to 8. That's why I come in sick, do a terrible job and get others sick. Even the two they make a big deal out of it.

where the fuck do you work so i can avoid applying there lol

So many stories around jobs in America just sound like the stuff a made up fantasy villain would enact, and anyone reading would consider "comically evil and cannot take serious"

Like someone's piss take of a dystopian future.

Americans

40 hours of paid time off
80 hours of unpaid time off
150 hours of vacation

+once a year can take 2 weeks off (unpaid)

I've been told to bring one in if I call out but also that I could still be subject to a write up even if I do bring one in.

Thing is none of us care. They can write us up all they want we know they ain't gonna fire us. We just had a girl who was a no call no show for 2 weeks come back and she's still got a job

I only get 10 sick days a year, but if you dont call out sick at all, you get a bonus 4 days added to it >_>

In the UK, you need a doctor's note after having a week off, so it's not that different.
However, most of the GPs around here, will produce you one after a telephone consultation, making getting one literally a paperwork exercise.
I was off for five months sick, two years ago and didn't see a Doctor, once. Spoke to a GP once on a phone.

codey posted...

I've only had that in the Air Force where they required you to go to sick call and get treated so you get back to work as soon as possible.

Sick call is hot mess Its barely worth the trouble. And it only really works for days Sometimes, swings can use it But its useless for midshift. And the rules are ridiculous. Some guy had to have an escort take him there. And they were mad about him not calling. So, he called them while standing right in front of them

Jupiter posted...

Honestly I prefer when sick and vacation time are lumped into just 1 pool. My company had them separate for the first 3 years I was here, then they switched it last year to combine them and also giving us an extra floating holiday. I don't get sick often so it's more vacation time for me.

I dont mind keeping mine separated, tbh That said, if I just needed an extra day, I could always call in sick But I dont actually have to call in. I usually just let my co-workers know I wont be there and its cool

NoxObscuras posted...

(they don't want to have to cash out huge amounts of hours if we leave).

This happened at one of my jobs It was a very good paycheck

I4NRulez posted...

where the fuck do you work so i can avoid applying there lol

I would probably get fired for saying. It's a global company.

LinkPizza posted...

Sick call is hot mess Its barely worth the trouble. And it only really works for days Sometimes, swings can use it But its useless for midshift. And the rules are ridiculous. Some guy had to have an escort take him there. And they were mad about him not calling. So, he called them while standing right in front of them

Sick call wasn't awful for me. Since I was ATC we had to go to flight med and they would DNIC you for anything. Even if I had to go back to work, is roll up with my DNIC paperwork and would get a nice cushy day of not working hard while my chief controller just got pissed lol.

Jeez, listening to all these stories about American work culture sounds awful. Makes you wonder why someone would want to move and work there if they already come from a place with good work practices.

codey posted...

Sick call wasn't awful for me. Since I was ATC we had to go to flight med and they would DNIC you for anything. Even if I had to go back to work, is roll up with my DNIC paperwork and would get a nice cushy day of not working hard while my chief controller just got pissed lol.

For us, it was horrible Not to mention, out doctors were not the best

LightningAce11 posted...

Jeez, listening to all these stories about American work culture sounds awful. Makes you wonder why someone would want to move and work there if they already come from a place with good work practices.

Like others have said, it varies company to company Just because some places suck doesnt mean everywhere else is like that Also, some people have other reasons to move here other than just for work

Not at my job, but if you use up all your sick leave and start dipping into vacation, they might start wondering what you're doing if it becomes a habit.

would Americans be okay with this?

for every full work week you work you earn 2 hours of paid time off. no cap for max hours you can have :)

Beveren_Rabbit posted...

would Americans be okay with this?

for every full work week you work you earn 2 hours of paid time off. no cap for max hours you can have :)

Personally, for me, no Thats less than what I get already And I rarely work full weeks (since I just have to get 80 every two weeks) So, Id get basically nothing

Beveren_Rabbit posted...

would Americans be okay with this?

for every full work week you work you earn 2 hours of paid time off. no cap for max hours you can have :)

CA already lets companies do PTO by accrual. Its way more than 2 hours per 40 though i think

Everywhere I worked they had it in the employment contract that they could require one, but only did when people were blatantly fucking faking it. I take sick days when I need them and I've never been asked for a doctor's note.

It is kinda fucked, but it's assholes like Garret calling out every Friday night that inspire such policies.

Chadawah posted...

I would probably get fired for saying. It's a global company.

I always thought it was the MNCs that offered more days

would you rather acquire PTO for every perfect work shift or quarterly?

Gain 30 minutes for every shift or get a drop of 20 hours ever 4 months?

Beveren_Rabbit posted...

would you rather acquire PTO for every perfect work shift or quarterly?

Gain 30 minutes for every shift or get a drop of 20 hours ever 4 months?

For me, I just like what I get Having stipulations like that would end up netting me less time off overall. Idk what you call a perfect work shift, but thats probably not most of my shifts I also dont always work all 10 shifts a pay period And 20 hours every 4 months is less than I already get Where are these suggestions coming from? Are you just asking about random amounts Most of these sound worse than most places Ive worked

I hate these blanket "Americans, this is what your work culture is like?" shit. It varies from company to company and state to state. We aren't all under one set of universal rules. I have free healthcare at my job, 5 weeks of vacation time, and a shit ton of sick days, and you don't need a doctor's note unless you've been gone over 3 days.

PesticideDream posted...

I hate these blanket "Americans, this is what your work culture is like?" shit. It varies from company to company and state to state. We aren't all under one set of universal rules. I have free healthcare at my job, 5 weeks of vacation time, and a shit ton of sick days, and you don't need a doctor's note unless you've been gone over 3 days.

Yeah but why is that? You might have 5 weeks but the next person has 0. One person with 2 weeks and the other has a few days he needs to 'earn' with shifts lol. At least that's what I'm understanding

Why not mandate it so notes aren't required for a literal day off and everyone is entitled to a certain number of sick days and 2 weeks minimum for example. For a first world country it does sound like shit tbh

Mew posted...

Yeah but why is that? You might have 5 weeks but the next person has 0. One person with 2 weeks and the other has a few days he needs to 'earn' with shifts lol. At least that's what I'm understanding

Why not mandate it so notes aren't required for a literal day off and everyone is entitled to a certain number of sick days and 2 weeks minimum for example. For a first world country it does sound like shit tbh

No one wants to tell a company what to do since different companies run differently for whatever reasons It sucks, but its probably better this way People do still get something of a choice when it comes to either working there or not And this new generation quits on a dime So, I imagine theyll still quit if they dont feel like they like the rules Once you start mandating certain things, some places might actually make things worse due to the new rules Probably And some places would still find ways around the rules

LinkPizza posted...

No one wants to tell a company what to do since different companies run differently for whatever reasons It sucks, but its probably better this way People do still get something of a choice when it comes to either working there or not And this new generation quits on a dime So, I imagine theyll still quit if they dont feel like they like the rules Once you start mandating certain things, some places might actually make things worse due to the new rules Probably And some places would still find ways around the rules

Sounds terrible af.

Here we get 2 weeks leave (by law), my workplace offers 2 weeks more - 28 days total.
+2 weeks medical days (by law? iirc)
+30 days unpaid leave

There are companies here that may give more, less, or no days at all depending on the industry but that's on top of the required days. People are still entitled to their minimum of 2 weeks and sick days regardless of what work they're in.

Mew posted...

Sounds terrible af.

Here we get 2 weeks leave (by law), my workplace offers 2 weeks more - 28 days total.
+2 weeks medical days (by law? iirc)
+30 days unpaid leave

There are companies here that may give more, less, or no days at all depending on the industry but that's on top of the required days. People are still entitled to their minimum of 2 weeks and sick days regardless of what work they're in.

Idk. Like I said, the places Ive worked (as an adult), I had lots of time off for whatever reasons Its just not all places are like that That said, Im sure if that was made a law in the US, many places would switch to just that amount Including some places that already give more But thats just a guess based on what I know about places here Which is why I said it might be better if they dont mandate it

Beveren_Rabbit posted...

Why do Americans only get 4-8 paid sick days a year, 15 work days of unpaid vacation, 15 work days of paid vacations a year?

When I was working, I didn't get any sick days, but I got 160 hrs (4 weeks) of paid time office... and all federal holidays.

Because your job wants to see proof that you are actually sick and not just skipping work.

Depends on the job and management you have. Would be shocked how many require it these days, but it's not really a thing for white collar jobs.

I'm not American, but one of my first jobs only required a sick note if you have a proclivity of calling out often, or are sick longer than 3 days.

LinkPizza posted...

Idk. Like I said, the places Ive worked (as an adult), I had lots of time off for whatever reasons Its just not all places are like that That said, Im sure if that was made a law in the US, many places would switch to just that amount Including some places that already give more But thats just a guess based on what I know about places here Which is why I said it might be better if they dont mandate it

Nope, it's not at all better this way. Even if you're only including companies that have PTO (nowhere close to most), the average is lower than in every other developed country. "Competition" fails to match the minimum that other countries have, and they have competition there too to get even more. For every company that actually does have the 25 days PTO in the US, there's a dozen in France that have 32. Like, you're happy to have 5 weeks and consider that good (it is here), but that's literally what's legally required everywhere else. It is objectively, measurably lower if it's not mandated, even at the better places to work.

Alucard188 posted...

I'm not American, but one of my first jobs only required a sick note if you have a proclivity of calling out often, or are sick longer than 3 days.

We have additional paperwork if we stay out 3 or more days. It's called a essential job functions. And it's a check list we have to get a doctor to sign off on that we can this or that relating to our job

Beveren_Rabbit posted...

would Americans be okay with this?

for every full work week you work you earn 2 hours of paid time off. no cap for max hours you can have :)

no thanks, I get 16 hours PTO every month plus 4-5(?) floating holidays I can use throughout the year. I'm good.

DarkChozoGhost posted...

Nope, it's not at all better this way. Even if you're only including companies that have PTO (nowhere close to most), the average is lower than in every other developed country. "Competition" fails to match the minimum that other countries have, and they have competition there too to get even more. For every company that actually does have the 25 days PTO in the US, there's a dozen in France that have 32. Like, you're happy to have 5 weeks and consider that good (it is here), but that's literally what's legally required everywhere else. It is objectively, measurably lower if it's not mandated, even at the better places to work.

I wasnt comparing the US to other countries, though So, having less than other countries isnt what I was talking about I just think it wouldnt make things here better because people can be spiteful If they start making laws and mandates about how much time we need off, many places will probably switch to that amount. And that might include places that already gave more than the minimum days Making it actually worse for those people And the companies who didnt give time off will switch, but it will probably come at the cost of making something worse, because people are spiteful, and dont like being forced to change how they do stuff

I work for the US government and they only require it if you're out more than 2 days. I always just telework after the two days since screw paying to see a doctor to get some piece of paper.

VampireCoyote posted...

many jobs if you cant work a scheduled shift and you cant find coverage the then you are simply fired, doesnt matter the reason

What? Its not the employees responsibility to find coverage for a shift :/

Only if you abuse calling in sick.

LinkPizza posted...

I wasnt comparing the US to other countries, though So, having less than other countries isnt what I was talking about I just think it wouldnt make things here better because people can be spiteful If they start making laws and mandates about how much time we need off, many places will probably switch to that amount. And that might include places that already gave more than the minimum days Making it actually worse for those people And the companies who didnt give time off will switch, but it will probably come at the cost of making something worse, because people are spiteful, and dont like being forced to change how they do stuff

Its funny how the US hasn't solved this yet when almost every country has been through your scenario when they first enacted stuff. Why would a company that gives ie. 30 days stop giving that amount just because people are now entitled to two weeks when they were entitled to 0 before? They'll just keep it at 30.

They want to retain people, not have them join the competition that's either offering the same or more. Now if you're in some shitty ass industry or job with no paid leave then suddenly you have some as a baseline!

Mew posted...

Its funny how the US hasn't solved this yet when almost every country has been through your scenario when they first enacted stuff. Why would a company that gives ie. 30 days stop giving that amount just because people are now entitled to two weeks when they were entitled to 0 before? They'll just keep it at 30.

They want to retain people, not have them join the competition that's either offering the same or more. Now if you're in some shitty ass industry or job with no paid leave then suddenly you have some as a baseline!

Tbh, I dont think its that the US cant solve it. But rather the US doesnt see it as an issue, so they arent trying to solve it The original issue was about mandating it so we dont need sick notes, and a set number of days off, right? But most people dont see needed a sick note as a problem Especially since in some cases, its easy to come by Not to mention, it helps to keep people who are just trying to skate out of work down Which we have a lot of at the jobs Ive had. And one job, calling in sick can essentially fuck up pretty much everything. 1 person is manageable. But anymore than that can really cause as issue, so I do understand And most places tell you how many days you get off when you decide to work there, so you can choose not to work there That said, many might choose what is their only option for a job right then while working to get a better one So, people probably dont see it as a problem

As for why a company that gives 30 days might stop giving that amount when mandated for two weeks, its because of spite If you just let people run their companies, things might be fine Once you start mandating changes, though, people can get mad. Forcing their companies to do certain things can make owners mad. You already see it with places that have to raise the minimum wage. They usually end up trying to make things worse for the employee overall But even in other companies, they get spiteful for people forcing them to change how they do stuff. Even at my job, it happens. When someone tries to tell us how to do our job and tried to change rules, well be spiteful and follow the new rule to the tee to basically show them why its a bad idea Could we work around it? Possibly But if its a rule thats not needed and could make things worse, why would we. And before you say that the new mandates wont make things worse, it depends on how the company sees it So, while you think they may keep it at 30, theres a good chance they might not Also, there are a few other reasons, though I cant say how common they actually are

And while they want to retain people, that usually happens regardless Though, it depends on the area But in many cases, many people wont just leave a job where they are getting good pay and have seniority over it Especially if they almost never use it, anyway Some will, though, for sure. But then they get replaced Because someone will take their place. Some people might not care about days off or sick days. And some will just say, They have the minimum, and thats enough for me. So, theyll still have workers regardless Theres always someone looking for a job. And many already take shitty jobs as it is As Ive seen it, the competition is in the other side And what I mean by that is the jobs will still have a ton of people trying to get them. And in the places Ive lived, its more people trying to get the job, rather than the jobs trying to find people The competition is usually between the potential employees trying to get the job. The company usually doesnt have to try as hard since people will need those jobs Even if they dont have the best benefits or sick/time off policies Especially if its not something they use as much Having a company offering more only matters if you can get a position there. If everyone else if applying, you may not get the job. But since you need money, might still work the one that doesnt offer the same benefits because, in the end, you still need money to survive

LinkPizza posted...

I wasnt comparing the US to other countries, though So, having less than other countries isnt what I was talking about I just think it wouldnt make things here better because people can be spiteful If they start making laws and mandates about how much time we need off, many places will probably switch to that amount. And that might include places that already gave more than the minimum days Making it actually worse for those people And the companies who didnt give time off will switch, but it will probably come at the cost of making something worse, because people are spiteful, and dont like being forced to change how they do stuff

If we changed it to any reasonable amount, the vast majority of companies would have to increase it. It might suck for a small portion of the the miniscule amount of people that already get more than that, and raises would probably be smaller that year. But employees would make out