pt. 1: So I work at a small, private preschool. When someone calls out, they're often bullied or guilted into coming in anyway because they 'can't find coverage'. A couple of my co workers have chronic illnesses, and have to call out often because they literally can't move out of their bed. There's nothing in our handbook or contracts saying we have to provide doctor's notes when calling out. We get 10 sick days for 12 months, and I usually end up only using 4 for fear of gettting in trouble.
Those sick days don’t roll over to the next year, and we can’t cash them out either. And, to rub salt in the wound, they started awarding small prizes to the people who have the best attendance. Do you know if there’s any legal protection for employees that says when we call out, we can’t be harassed to come in, and our employers can’t ask us why we’re calling out? I know of quite a few coworkers who have been bullied into coming in when they were feeling awful and I just want it to stop.
especially the rewarding people for being able-bodied with literal rewards
I am assuming you live in America because that’s where I live and you are asking me and it’s completely illegal to be forced to divulge medical information. Even a diagnosis is medical information. Being in the process of being diagnosed is medical information.
If you work someplace that doesn’t even specify in their roles that you need doctor approved leave they have absolutely no right to be doing that.
The harassment is also illegal. Forcing people to come out of the closet is a violent act.
