The Sickness Stigma

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Most places I've worked at require a doctor's note for more than a week. That's because anything more than a week and it's chronic and you should probably go and see a doctor. Nobody has a terrible head cold for 8 days. Nobody has a flu for 8 days. That's why they want a note.

More than a week is pushing it... anything more than 1 day should require a note imo.

[J pold]

Originally Posted by fotze

Wait until you have a kid. Work is where you go to relax.

So you’re telling me knocking up that random girl, with no money, no job, and kind of smelt like asparagus was a bad idea?

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

People that take "Sick" days to just chill out bug the hell out of me.
Last week I called in sick for probalby the 2nd or 3rd time in almost 5 years at my current job.
If I want a day to relax I take a vacation day, because that's what they are there for, and if I had my own company and i found out people were calling in sick so they could relax, they probably wouldn't be working for me for too long.

[Redline]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

Mandatory doctor's notes are offensive. A boss who shows such little trust in his employees typically doesn't engender much loyalty. Plus, it clogs up an already overburdened health care system. Bosses like that should be billed for the doctor's visit by Alberta Health. It's an abuse of the health care system.

My Doctors office charges the patient for a note. Is that normal?

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by habernac

and it's usually demanded of employees who have abused the system. I see it all to often here.

If it's demanded of employees who abuse the system that's fine, but I thought the original reference was to employers who institute it as a blanket policy. That's what I was referring to at any rate.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Redline

My Doctors office charges the patient for a note. Is that normal?

Probably.. I'd try and expense it once I'm back at work.. How can the deny you..

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by Redline

My Doctors office charges the patient for a note. Is that normal?

I couldn't say. I'm self-employed so I never have to get doctor's notes.

[Redline]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Probably.. I'd try and expense it once I'm back at work.. How can the deny you..

True enough although it seems kind of cheeky to me. It's obviously being used as some sort of deterrent but it's kickin you when you're down, really.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Redline

True enough although it seems kind of cheeky to me. It's obviously being used as some sort of deterrent but it's kickin you when you're down, really.

Personally I think charging for a doctors note is a bunch of crap.. They already get a $250 payout from alberta health just to wash their hands and take your vital signs.. But if they want you to pay I guess you have little choice, especially when your employer isnt giving you the benefit of the doubt..

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Personally I think charging for a doctors note is a bunch of crap.. They already get a $250 payout from alberta health just to wash their hands and take your vital signs..

I don't think they are doing it for the $20. I think they are doing it to make it a PITA for people who are wasting doctors' time to get a note saying they are indeed sick.

Last time somebody here at work needed a note (he had missed like 45 of the previous 60 days) it was a challenge to determine where he had to file the note to get the expense re-embursed.

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

Mandatory doctor's notes are offensive. A boss who shows such little trust in his employees typically doesn't engender much loyalty.

HA!!!!

Sounds like a man who hasn't had the misfortune of having less than stellar employees. I had one guy that used each and every sick day as a vacation day. My boss came to me and said "Hey, I went to the mall on my day off and I saw Bob there shopping with his wife. But you said he was out sick!!! What's up with that?!?!" As if it was my fault that the employee called in and lied to me.

I measure each employee and make rulings accordingly. I have one employee who has taken 1 sick day in the last three years, so damn, if she calls in sick I know for damn sure that she must be on deaths door. On the other hand I have one guy that is absent every second day, so I have gone to Staff Relations in HR and have made a letter demanding that he get a doctors note whenever he calls in sick.

Trust isn't given just because someone can fill out a resume and sweet talk an interview (I didn't hire the two losers noted above... ). Trust is earned.

Edit: I should read a whole thread first before replying. Sorry FP.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

Mandatory doctor's notes are offensive. A boss who shows such little trust in his employees typically doesn't engender much loyalty. Plus, it clogs up an already overburdened health care system. Bosses like that should be billed for the doctor's visit by Alberta Health. It's an abuse of the health care system.

The employees should go after those they know who are abusing sick days. We used to do it my former place of work as their absense increased the workload for the rest of us. Ostricising said employee was very effective.

And if the boss picked and chosed who has to get them, the ones who had to get them would cry fowl.

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by Redline

My Doctors office charges the patient for a note. Is that normal?

Yes. Very normal. However, if you are truly, truly sick AND CONTAGIOUS, doctors will likely write one "off the books".

The idea is to defer people from going there every day.... doctors are usually smart enough to know when someone should be staying home and when someone just wants to play hookey.

[troutman]

Why are 99% of "sick days" a Friday or Monday?

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I don't think they are doing it for the $20. I think they are doing it to make it a PITA for people who are wasting doctors' time to get a note saying they are indeed sick.

Last time somebody here at work needed a note (he had missed like 45 of the previous 60 days) it was a challenge to determine where he had to file the note to get the expense re-embursed.

If someone is not genuinely sick I think the doctor has every right to refuse to write a note.. I just think if buddy has already been in to see you, and he needs a little proof that he is indeed laid up for a week or so, why stiff him for $20 on his way out the door..

Doctors use every avenue possible to try and make a little extra. Why else do you need to see them every month or two to get a prescription renewed that you've required for years on end. My parents work in medicine, and they see this kind of thing going on all the time. Its no wonder that people can't find a family doctor, theres so much frivilous nonsense going on that backlogs the system. A lot of it is patients who are hypochondriacs, and a good portion is the doctors themselves.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by troutman

Why are 99% of "sick days" a Friday or Monday?

Or before long weekends?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Doctors use every avenue possible to try and make a little extra. Why else do you need to see them every month or two to get a prescription renewed that you've required for years on end. My parents work in medicine, and they see this kind of thing going on all the time. Its no wonder that people can't find a family doctor, theres so much frivilous nonsense going on that backlogs the system. A lot of it is patients who are hypochondriacs, and a good portion is the doctors themselves.

It is my understanding that GP's charge these extra fees because they feel the govt isn't paying them enough per visit.

[jroc]

Originally Posted by J pold

People who abuse the system are jerks and should have to show a note, however they are the minority.

Wasn't it you that convinced me to call in sick Sunday because i was way hung over?

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Dion

It is my understanding that GP's charge these extra fees because they feel the govt isn't paying them enough per visit.

Don't they negotiate a contract with the province? If they are so underpaid why don't they hold out for something better on the next go round..?

[GirlySports]

We had a bunch of African guys call in sick last Thursday to go watch both African Nations Cup semifinals. Is that a reasonable excuse?