Doctor's Note

HRinNH

Our handbook states that "sick pay is to be used only for times when an employee is home sick. Sick time cannot be carried over from year to year. Sick pay is a privilege that is not granted to all employees. Anyone who abuses this privilege, i.e. using it for personal time or a day off, will be dealt with on a case by case basis."

Where it doesn't state any specifics, can we require proof that someone is out with the flu such as a doctor's note etc. We do ask that if someone goes to a doctor's appointment that they provide a copy of the co-pay receipt etc to prove they went to the doctor.

Don D

Unless there is some state law prohibiting it, an employer may have a policy of requiring proof that an employee visited a practitioner. Many employers require this for an absence to be excused. Many require it if absences exceed one day. As far as I know, it's up to your company to craft its own policy on this.

marc

Agree with Don. In our case, the policy says the Company may request a Doctors note for verification. We do it when an EE uses a lot of sick time or portrays a pattern, such as every Friday or frequent Mondays, especially days before or after 3 day weekends.