Why play sick when you're about to be laid off?

Question

I'm from Europe and can't understand why somebody in America would do this. I saw it in a TV series where a woman was expecting to be laid off and this prompted her to seek expensive diagnostic attention, even though she was perfectly healthy. The doc even agreed and awrded her a totally unecessary full body scan. Why would she do this?

Answer 1

well, remember, Americans aren't exactly likes they appear on television.

I've never heard of anyone doing that, but some people, when they are about to quit or be fired/layed off, fake sick so that they can use up all their sick time.

like I said, that TV show's plot is probably A) totally made up, or B) very much exaggerated.

Answer 2

One reason is to pull of a fake insurance claim. Employers are required to carry "workers compensation" for their employees, which covers both medical bills AND lost wages. Statistics show that right before a company has a planned layoff, workers comp claims go up - some of these are FAKE injuries, because the workers comp would pay wages, while being laid off won't.

Answer 3

This could possibly be a "weak" person's attempt to avoid facing the situation. The TV series was obviously fictional.

Answer 4

Maby to use her insurance benefits before she got laid off. Also sometimes when people know they're going to be laid off they'll use they personal and vacation time so they can start looking for another job before getting laid off.

Answer 5

Take advantage of insurance and sick days while they can. They disappear when you get laid off.

Answer 6

Don't think that everything you see on a TV series is anywhere close to reality.

Answer 7

Because she still has health insurance, and she must be worried about her health. She also might be a hypochondriac.