My story is currently happending. As of February 27, 2008 I've had the Flu. It wasn't too bad, as most illnesses start, sore throat, no voice really, ect...and I went to work anyways. Around March 2, it started to get really bad, getting very weak, tired, dizzy, sore, coughing, and running nose. Eveyone was telling me with the Flu the way it is it'd be a good idea to go to the doctor and get it checked out. My next off day still 3 days away, I figured, I can make it. Bought some TheraFlu and when I got off at 4pm took it and went to bed. I didn't wake up until 8am the next morning.

March 3, Barely able to move from the soreness and feeling like I was on fire, I got up anyways and tried to start my day. Not 3 feet away from the bed I fall. I felt like I couldn't move at all like my limbs were stuck in sand and I was so dizzy I couldn't focus on anything. Still I tried to at least make it to the sink to get some water, my mouth was really dry. I didn't have to be in until 11:00am and spent the morning trying to figure out if I had enough energy to make it to work. I couldn't walk more than a few feet without getting so tired I had to sit back down, took my tempature and it being 102.9, I knew there was no way. I called up Wal-Mart to let them know I was going to get someone to take me to the doctor (too dizzy to drive) and that I wouldn't be able to make it.

Assistant Manager Mike Powers answered and very rudely argued with me about calling in. I told him of my situation and he knew because everyone at that Wal-Mart has had the Flu and have taken at least a week off. Ignoring that fact, He told me that if he were me he would come in, that he doesn't take sick days. That if I'm going to take a sick day I have to know 3 weeks in advance before they put the schedule up. He then said either come in or I'll be written up and it's one more step toward my termination, and hangs up on me.

Far too dizzy to be behind the the wheel and with a choice of my health or my job in front of me I head to work. Alot of this bothers me because with 102.9 tempature not only does he not care about my safety he cares not for the safety of customers or other assoiates because I would be considered highly contagious. I arrive at work, barely able to stand. Walk into the ad office and let him know I'm there and he says, you're in pets today. I start my way to the back room to load up a cart and start coughing so much I can't get in any breath. I cough until I gag and get to the bathroom as fast as I can. I was only at work for an hour that day and I vomited at least 7 times. With nothing on your stomach it hurts alot.

I told him I just couldn't make it and needed to leave and he said it'll count against you, then stated some of us have to work we have bills to pay and walked out. I don't even get to my car and collapse and vomit again. I get back home, sat down on the couch, and picked up the phone to see if I could find someone to take me to the doctor (I live pretty much in the middle of nowhere and any hospital/Doctor is a drive away). With the phone in hand and in my uniform, I fainted/passed out. I awoke about 2 hours later and felt like I was on fire, my entire body soaked in sweat I grabbed the thermometer. This time it read 103.1. Not really knowing what to do with a fever that high I stripped down to boxers, turned on every fan in my bedroom, and laid down...again I passed out. 3 hours later I awoke this time, still covered with sweat but now shivering. I take medicine and try to eat...I manage to get one bowl of cereal down between coughing and gagging. The medicine kicks in and I'm out again.

I wake up on the morning of March 4 still feeling the same I figure I wouldn't waste my time trying to call in sick and head on to work. I get there and I get a break, I work papergoods, not too bad, light stuff...and other than having to sit down, blow my nose, and vomit every 5 minutes it's really not too bad. That and climbing a ladder while dizzy. Every once in a while Mike would walk by and laugh but I didn't think much of it. I barely make it through the first 4 hours and take my lunch. I try to eat some subway, veggie delight and head back in. I get back and Mike Powers pages me to GM receiving. I walk back there feeling slightly better and he tells me I have to help unload the truck. He laughs and walks off.

I do as I'm told and we start. Our 2 hour marker reaches it's point and I think alright I get to drink something. About to collapse into the floor, and my chest hurting so bad from getting too hot/coughing/asthma I'm informed we will not be getting our 15 minute break because the truck isn't done yet. No one really knowing what to do they just keep going. At about 7:45 we finish the truck and my chest hurting so bad I can't do anything but hold it and stagger to the break room to get something to drink with tears in my eyes. As soon as I got some orange juice down I threw everything including lunch back up. I get off work, buy more medicine ect. and head home.

March 5 my off day, I think I'll get some rest and feel better, HA!!! After what happend on the 4th I feel like I'm going to die. I've tried everything I can to feel better and feel worse every second. With no choice left I call the doctor and ask them when's the earliest they can see me, they reply tomarrow at 11. I ask if there is anything today because I have to work tomarrow 7-4 and that I really couldn't miss any days. They said it's ok we'll write you an excuse and it'll be ok just come in and let us see if you're ok.

So now I'm faced with the dreadded task again of having to call in. Thinking maybe they'll understand...it's a doctor's excuse... I call them up. This time either Assistant Manager Valencia or LaRhonda answers, they sound alot alike. I say I have to call in the doctor wants to see me tomarrow ect, and she says "well it's going to count against you". I asked how? and explained that I would be bringing in an excuse from a doctor. She replied "it's still going to be unexcused, but I'll let them know." and hung up on me.

That's it. That was alot longer to explain than I thought it would be but I just wanted everyone to know the whole story. So...I have to go to the doctor tomarrow, I feel like I'm dying. Who knows how long the excuse will be for or anything really, I'll have to find out tomarrow. But I'm faced with termination because I have the Flu. I just don't see how I can help it. I didn't know 3 weeks ago I was going to be this sick. I didn't know yetersday I was going to be this sick. Everyone has been saying that I should tell someone about all this and get something done because it's not right for them to let other assosiates off for weeks at a time without any problems and for them to fire me over a doctor's excused day. It shouldn't even count against me let alone get me fired.

So any help would be appreciated, although you might want to wait until I get over the Flu so I don't get anyone sick. So far my tempatures have been: 102.9, 103.1, 101.8, 100.8, and 101.something. I took pictures with my cell of a few of the temps incase no one believed me. Living on a check by check budget, just moving in to my house finally, and my Wal-Mart insurance still not here...well after my 90 days. I can't really afford to get fired. So yeah, any help?

Charles

Dora, Alabama

U.S.A.

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8 Updates & Rebuttals

Dan

Phoenix,
Arizona,
U.S.A.

Sick Days & Light Duty

#2Consumer Suggestion

Mon, October 13, 2008

Each company has their own policy concerning sick days. This is to prevent people from using sick days to take an unscheduled day off as a vacation. It happens all too often. Where I worked, you had to have a doctor's statement if you were sick for three consecutive days. Period. This was a very liberal policy. Light Duty: If your company does not have a light duty position, you are out of luck. Light duty from a doctor is not a mandatory order to the employer. It is a strong medical suggestion to you, the patient. You state that your manager said you should have notified him 3 weeks in advance. Something about common sense is missing here. No one can predict an illness that way. Now, a scheduled surgery is different. I don't doubt you were ill. But you elaborate extensively on the details of your illness but comparatively little on your issue with Wal-Mart. What is their policy? We were also required to tell the employee if their absence from work was scheduled or unscheduled. It's intended to prevent abuse. If you have a dental or doctor's appointment, that would be a scheduled sick day unless I was not notified. The first day of an illness would be unscheduled. Any following, sequential days connected to the same illness would be considered scheduled. I don't know Wal-Mart's policy, you don't say. There may be something in there that you missed?

Steve

Bradenton,
Florida,
U.S.A.

Sarha should learn the law before giving advice!

#3Consumer Suggestion

Sun, October 12, 2008

Sarha, First of all, the real rip off here is on the taxpayers since you most likely went to school at taxpayer expense and came out illiterate. You should develop some better spelling and grammar skills so you do not appear to be a moron. Literacy equals credibility. Second, both AL and OK are at will employment states AND right to work states, and the EEOC and the USDOL has absolutely nothing to say about termination for absenteeism. They ONLY handle items covered under state and federal discrimination laws. In an at will employment state you can be terminated at any time without cause. That is the law. And, an employer can establish any absenteeism policy they like. If you want some rights on the job, seek union representation. >>> Submitted: 10/11/2008 12:10:32 PM Modified: 10/11/2008 11:04:24 PM Sarha Del City, Oklahoma U.S.A. call the department of labor i used to work for wal mart and i don't anymore because of men like mike powers. call the department of labor and the eeoc. that treatment is against the law!!! and tell mike powers that you are gonna turn his sorry a** in!!! then call the health department and tell them a flu epidemic (>>

Sarha

Del City,
Oklahoma,
U.S.A.

call the department of labor

#4UPDATE EX-employee responds

Sat, October 11, 2008

i used to work for wal mart and i don't anymore because of men like mike powers. call the department of labor and the eeoc. that treatment is against the law!!! and tell mike powers that you are gonna turn his sorry a** in!!! then call the health department and tell them a flu epidemic (<-- not sure if that is how its spelled) going around wal mart and the customers are in danger of getting sick. that can kill some people!!! then find a better job. there are tons of places that would hire an employee like yourself. good luck and god bless wal mart is evil !!!

Steven

Jacksonville,
Florida,
U.S.A.

Sounds like you get to take some sick days

#5Consumer Suggestion

Thu, March 06, 2008

Charles, If there is no "light duty" for your job then just stay out. The doctor specified light for a reason. You need to put your efforts into getting well. If you can't work you can't work. No need to get the note re-written unless you want to. Just be sure to document that your boss said there is no "light work" for you to do and stay out until next week or whenever you are able to handle it. Any more problems you have you need to take to Mike's boss and make him aware of the situation. Another option would be to not block your coughs or sneezes and spread the Strep germ thru the whole store. That way you can get some over time the next few weeks while everyone else gets your illness (just being flippant but you get the point).

Hermitess

Great Falls,
Montana,
U.S.A.

Chain of Command

#6Consumer Suggestion

Thu, March 06, 2008

I know that at some companies it's a moot point but having followed your chain of command to as far as you can go at your store, have you considered going further up. Most companies have the policy that if you've worked the chain of command and still have not found satisfaction, you can continue to climb. There should be a regional or something of the like supervisor or human resource manager that can be made aware of this issue. Document that you talked to each person that you have, when, where and make a copy of your Doctor's note for your records. It's the best I can suggest. Good luck!

Lambmit

Sugarhill,
Georgia,
U.S.A.

suggestion

#7Consumer Suggestion

Thu, March 06, 2008

I understand your situation. The only thing you can really do is find another job. You might have to move to a more populated area but you are not stuck there by force. You have the right to work someplace else. Retail work stinks, I did it for 10 years.

Charles

Dora,
Alabama,
U.S.A.

Update on Adamsville Wal-Mart #1158

#8Author of original report

Thu, March 06, 2008

Turns out today the doctor said I have not only the Flu but a touch of strep throat and light pneumonia. He wrote me an excuse until Friday, and it states when I return to work that I'm supposed to be on "light work" for a few days. I spent from 11:15am - 6:28pm at the doctor. When I was done I immedently took my doctor's written excuse to Mike Powers himself which threw his hands up at my doctor's excuse and said he wasn't touching it. I gave it to one of the people in personel whom took the excuse to him in his locked office. After a little while he came back out with the excuse in hand and said "light work? your job doesn't have a light option. If you can't do you job the right way don't even come here friday." He said that if I want to come to work I have to make the doctor rewrite the excuse and say I can return to regular work. So he wants me to get the doctor to lie....just so I can come to work and do things the doctor told me not to do...so when I do them, it'd be my fault not his. Once again...any help with this would be greatly appreciated. It just doesn't make any sence to me.

Destructo

Stuarts Draft,
Virginia,
U.S.A.

Charles

#9Consumer Comment

Wed, March 05, 2008

There are many jobs that, although you have a doctor excuse, it'll still count against you. My current job is like that, actually. Is it fair? Nope, sure isn't, but they run like that. However, being a full-time employee with my company, they give me two sick days per year, and you can earn vacation time aswell. Are you a full-time employee? Does Wal-Mart give sick days? Have you used them, if they do? Either way, they CAN and WILL put your job at stake, whether you're actually sick or not. Employment isn't anything how it used to be. Back in the day, the word of the doctor was like the word of God. Now, you can't even use a doctors note to take a day off, because you're dying.

Reports & Rebuttal

Complaint Review: Wal-mart - Adamsville Alabama

Wal-mart I was threatened with termination for having the Flu. Adamsville Alabama

*Consumer Comment: Charles

*Author of original report: Update on Adamsville Wal-Mart #1158

*Consumer Suggestion: suggestion

*Consumer Suggestion: Chain of Command

*Consumer Suggestion: Sounds like you get to take some sick days

*UPDATE EX-employee responds: call the department of labor

*Consumer Suggestion: Sarha should learn the law before giving advice!

*Consumer Suggestion: Sick Days & Light Duty

8 Updates & Rebuttals

Sick Days & Light Duty

Sarha should learn the law before giving advice!

call the department of labor

Sounds like you get to take some sick days

Chain of Command

suggestion

Update on Adamsville Wal-Mart #1158

Charles

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