fired from using too many doctors notes?

Question

i have been working there for about 7 months.
probationary period is 2 weeks.
point system at work until you get fired:
5 pts - unexcused absenses/tardies
15 days of Requested time off which includes doctors notes.

we are given 15 days of RTOS.
For the past 2 weeks i have used a total amount of 3 doctors notes for a personal reason. on friday i called into work saying i would be missing work and bringing in a note (note #4). All notes were from the same valid doctor.

i got a call back later saying i was fired for abusing the doctors notes and i cannot keep using it as an excuse to miss work.

the doctors notes are real but still after telling them that, they still insisted that i was fired for abusing it.

I AM ALLOWED 15 DAYS OF RTOS??? i do not understand why i was fired for using 4 days of doctors note when i have 15 days allowed to me. i have never used a doctors note before and have only been using it for the past 2 weeks.

what should i do? was this fai

Answer 1

What you can do is hire an attorney and get him to file a grievance or find out if there's an internal grievance procedure in your job or a union rep that may be able to help you. They may have also filed your RTOS days as something else and this may be a misunderstanding.

But personally, I'd find another job and suck it up and go to work when you have the sniffles. They probably just don't want you and were waiting for a reason to fire you.

Answer 2

You stated: For the past 2 weeks i have used a total amount of 3 doctors notes for a personal reason

A personal reason is not a medical reason. I work in HR and I know for a fact that many doctors, if well known by the patient, will write anything for anyone. I've been to doctors myself after surgery that ask ME when I want to go back to work, not tell me when I can go back.

Any employer can fire any employee for whatever reason they choose unless it is a Union facility. But from the sound of it, if you worked here, we would have let you go too. Employers need their workers at work, and if you can't be dedicated enough to be at work everyday, then you need to find a less demanding job. (McDonald's, Hardee's, etc.)

And your reasons stated 'personal' not medical. Therefore the notes from your doctor were basically worthless because you weren't sick. That kind of makes the medical excuses fraudulent.

You did abuse it for what ever your absences really were for. It sounds to me like you were wanting a little R&R time and used your doctor to pave the way, but it back fired and you lost your job.

Become more responsible and find a new job and learn a lesson from this. Not all employer's are idiots. If the workers don't show up for work, that cuts down on production and supply, which leads to less being sold, which means less money is being made, and then employee's start getting laid off because sales are down. It's a snowball effect. One person doesn't sound like much, but when others start following that one person........ and they do..... it makes it bad for the dedicated workers that are there to make a living and keep a job.

Grow up, become an adult and stop expecting an easy ride through life. Nothing is free..............................

Answer 3

It's depends on the facts and circumstance of your employment, along with the state you live in. Basically if they can show that you going to the doctor has a negative impact on their business they might be able too. However, if your position is not important to their bottom line and have a sufficient pool of people to take your place, they might not have such a chance. With or without a doctor's note, if they can't depend on you for your responsibilities, then that is an issue that must be addressed one way or another. Do you live a right-to-work state? Are you in a union, or bound by any type of employment contract in writing? Or are you an hourly wage earner? Whatever the case may be, it may change your circumstance one way or another. You probably waived your right to arbitration when you signed your employment application, but did not give up your unemployment rights should you be fired.

Answer 4

The fact that you have 15 days RTO doesn't mean you can call in sick 15 times. You don't say whether these doctor's visits are planned or unplanned, but realistically, your employer is entitled to expect you to be at work when you say you will be. You don't say what state you are in, but the action is probably legal.

Answer 5

well 4 dr's notes in 2 weeks is kinda excessive unless u have a serious medical condition. but a company can fire for any reason as long as they can prove and vaildate why they fire u. and it seems that it was fair that they fired u for the excessive use of dr. note. I understand that u have 15 days but they ususally expect u to use those over a years time at least not 2 weeks. sorry to hear that u got fired.

Answer 6

Well, you certainly thought you had a loophole in the system.

Employers expect you to actually show up for work when scheduled. Someone who blatantly abuses the sick policy isn't reliable or dependable.

I would have fired you too.

Answer 7

After 7 months of employment, you took off too many days.

Answer 8

You should file a complaint with the EEOC and let them investigate.