Do Everyone A Favor Next Time Just Get The Doctor’s Note

It’s so common it’s almost a parable at this point. A hardworking and eager employee pulls it together from their illness and storms into work. He or she looks rough. They have bags under their eyes, their body language is definitely lacking and they’re sweaty. They have an unproductive day in between the frequent bathroom breaks and trips to the kitchen to blow their nose. Their coworkers wish they were wearing a hazmat suit because they know that patient zero is launching millions of germs into the already stagnant office air. Other employees have to pick up the slack and now potentially might get sick as well all because one person’s pride got in the way.

We know that this is a common reality and it’s often a bragging point by many employees. These are the employees that tout: “I haven’t missed a day of work in 17 years and I had pneumonia twice!” While their dedication and commitment are to be lauded, there is certainly a better case for getting the doctor’s note and either working from home or just kicking with some Gatorade and Netflix in bed.

From the point of an employer, there are a few aspects to be considered when an employee calls out from work for an alleged illness. The first is always the credibility of the claim. An employer will nearly always automatically reflect on an employee’s track record when they call out. Has the sick employee had lots of time off this month? Did they appear ill on Friday? Do they seem to be aloof within the company? The second aspect an employer must think about is the distribution of work. When an employee calls out, the work still needs to be completed. It’s possible that the sick employee could work from home and get it done and if this is the case, there is really no cause for concern from the employer. Lastly, they have to think of their other employees. it doesn’t help the company to make money when there is a virus circulating within the office. Sure, patient zero could come into work, finish up his or her reports and go home with no change in the daily flow. However, there is also the risk that they could infect the department. One person calling out is manageable but when a whole chunk of the company is gone that’s when real problems start.

It all boils down to this: if you’re actually sick, your boss doesn’t want you to come in. They can account for one missing employee and move on knowing that there is some security in the fact that no one else should get infected. However, this all hinges on one thing: getting the doctor’s note.

Getting a doctor’s note resolves all of the aforementioned issues that run through your boss’s head when you call in on Monday and tell him that you’re not going to be making it in this morning. In the eyes of your boss, by attaining the doctor’s note it shows that you care enough about them to prove your innocence but also that you want to work. Attaining the note will solidify your credibility with your boss and even give you some wiggle room if there is a day where you need to maybe wrestle with the truth of your illness. Going through the work of getting the note also gives your boss some comfort in knowing that he or she can count on you. If you were to just take the day off willy-nilly the next time you actually needed a day off or were sick, the skepticism would be even higher. By getting the note you are also helping to cement a sense of honesty into the company culture.

We’re all familiar with that one slouch at work who always coasts along the line of what is acceptable. He or she might roll in 2 or 3 minutes late. They are technically breaking the rules, but it’s not necessarily always worth going after from a managerial perspective because many people in upper management positions want to secure their reputation when it comes to micromanaging. While often not directly written into new employee handbooks or operating procedures, ensuring that everyone has a doctor’s note to give real credence to their time off helps to establish a precedent of honesty. Company culture is often what isn’t written into the core values or mission statement. Company culture is how an organization lives, breathes and functions. It seems minor initially, but by incorporating mandatory doctor’s notes as part of an official policy, it shows that the workplace is one of honesty, hard work and mutual respect.

Ultimately, it is the small aspects of a company that really drive them to success. Doctor’s notes are just a small way to get that started.