Can't even visit the Dr

[Callie]

I've posted before about never getting a day approved off for work, but now even when I put in the request about it being a Doctor's appointment, I get denied.

One is to visit my allergist, who I desperately need to see in order to have my asthma medication refilled. I can't really live without that.

The other is for another specialist, who were barely even to squeeze me in. This one is even more important as without those medications, I could end up in the hospital. I put it in over a month out! This doctor is also 3 hours away.

Frustrated is an understatement.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Not sure of this is FMLA eligible, but if it is, it would be worth getting with Hr to activate it.

 

[DebbieB]

I've posted before about never getting a day approved off for work, but now even when I put in the request about it being a Doctor's appointment, I get denied.

One is to visit my allergist, who I desperately need to see in order to have my asthma medication refilled. I can't really live without that.

The other is for another specialist, who were barely even to squeeze me in. This one is even more important as without those medications, I could end up in the hospital. I put it in over a month out! This doctor is also 3 hours away.

Frustrated is an understatement.

Not sure of this is FMLA eligible, but if it is, it would be worth getting with Hr to activate it.

I agree, I would see HR. You wouldn't even need a full day off, I assume you could even leave and come back, depending on the time.

 

[ronandannette]

I've posted before about never getting a day approved off for work, but now even when I put in the request about it being a Doctor's appointment, I get denied.

One is to visit my allergist, who I desperately need to see in order to have my asthma medication refilled. I can't really live without that.

The other is for another specialist, who were barely even to squeeze me in. This one is even more important as without those medications, I could end up in the hospital. I put it in over a month out! This doctor is also 3 hours away.

Frustrated is an understatement.

Where do you work that is so draconian? I guess the only other choice you have is to call in sick on those days - some things simply cannot be ignored and your health is one of them. I hope HR helps you out.

 

[Callie]

I can't qualify for FMLA since I started in February. I work in retail.

It's just highly frustrating. If we call in, we get points. So many points, and you can get fired. (It's not many). I just don't know what to do anymore. HR never seems like any help.

 

[tinatark]

You're in retail - you don't come in late/leave early or have days off during the week?

Most people I know if in retail have pretty flexible hours.

 

[mom2rtk]

You said it's retail. Are you working M-F 9-5?

 

[lauradis]

You call in sick go to the dr appt and get a doctors note saying your sick and you still get points?

I don't see how they can get away with that one!!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

You call in sick go to the dr appt and get a doctors note saying your sick and you still get points?

I don't see how they can get away with that one!!!

Apparently Disney operates in a similar fashion. (Or so I have heard and I could be mistaken.)

 

[kmb584]

You call in sick go to the dr appt and get a doctors note saying your sick and you still get points?

The nursing home I used to work at operated in that fashion. They didn't care why someone called off and wouldn't accept doctor's notes. A CNA was fired for being in the hospital on New Years Day as it was his scheduled holiday and a call off on a holiday was an automatic termination. It took the union 13 months to get his job back.

 

[Callie]

The problem is I don't get my schedule far enough in advance to make appointments. I have to make them, and then hope I have the time off. The allergist appointment lasts 3 hours. Due to the shifts we get scheduled, its nearly impossible to not have to take the full day off.

The other appointment is 3 hours away, so 6 hours of travel. This one has to be made months in advance. Impossible to change.

 

[mom2rtk]

The problem is I don't get my schedule far enough in advance to make appointments. I have to make them, and then hope I have the time off. The allergist appointment lasts 3 hours. Due to the shifts we get scheduled, its nearly impossible to not have to take the full day off.

The other appointment is 3 hours away, so 6 hours of travel. This one has to be made months in advance. Impossible to change.

So not only can you not ask for a day off once you are scheduled, you cannot request a given day off ahead of time? That's awful. And sounds quite stressful.

Other retail establishments are not quite as limiting. It's probably time to start looking for something else.

 

[okeydokey]

I'd call in sick to go to the doctor. If they give you a hard time, look for another job.

 

[pixiewings71]

Well to bad for your job, I wouldn't go to work or reschedule. That's absolutely ridiculous, this is for your health, go see the Dr.

 

[tmarquez]

Can you switch with someone? When i worked in retail this was common.

Either way I would be applying for other jobs, that is insane what they are doing.

 

[Callie]

I plan on talking with my manager to see what is going on. I get two days off a week, so I don't see how its so hard to simply have them give me a day off for an appointment.

Switching is nearly impossible because there are only 3 of us in my position. One is in school full-time, and pretty much has to work set days. The other one doesn't really switch.

Its rough. The one appointment that is out of town I do plan on calling off if not given the time off. It's uber important. Plus he only visits patients twice a week.

 

[ziravan]

Go to your appt. if they fire you, so be it.

Consider working for yourself. It's liberating.

First, I assume they aren't paying your health ins. If not, then you aren't getting much in return for their draconian behavior.

Go to the library and check out the book, Guerrilla Marketing, and market yourself.

What are you good at doing? Cleaning? Then clean houses for a living.

Dog Sitting? Do you know how much kennels charge for a week? I'm paying someone $500 to come to my house once a day for 10 days while at I'm Disney to check on my animals. That's a bargain compared to the $1800 a kennel would charge for boarding.

Baby sitting? That prob requires some state credentialing but you can find out the details on the internet (at the library if no place else).

Find out what you can do, and market it at the right places.

Print a business card (cheap) and some flyers.

For example, dog sitting: see if vets that don't offer kenneling will let you leave cards or flyers. Check with travel agencies, etc.

Market yourself.

The closer you are to minimum wage, (and that describes being in a retail job less than a year), the more heft you can make picking a job you're good at doing, and marketing yourself.

You can, in fact, do both. Start marketing yourself now in your spare time, and when you "fill your pipeline" with new business and repeat customers, then quit your job.

Either way, an employer can't keep you from seeing your doctor. The only power they have over you is continued employment. For what they are paying you, you DO have other options at your disposal. Hold your head up high, don't take no for an answer, if they fire you, so be it.

You DO have other options. Take a hard look in the mirror. Trust me. You DO have other options. Believe in yourself, take care of yourself, and STAND UP for yourself.

Good luck.

 

[Tiggeroo]

My dd works in a high end retail store that uses this points system. I understand your pain. She was penalized for her honeymoon that was planned well in advance because she couldn't put in for the time off until two weeks before and during that time the days she needed off became mandatory report days.

 

[smadath]

So, the one in school full time not only requested a certain schedule, but requested it every week, and you can't get one day off. That's nice.

I suggest Temp Agencies. There are some that specialize in office type work, some manufacturing/production. Typically they're flexible, and there's always another job they can place you in if you run across one like you have now.

Good luck! Hope everything works out.

 

[descovy]

If you can swing it (and I work retail too, so I feel you!). Change your availability so that there is one day of the week that you are off or must have a late shift. Don't make it a weekend. Make it something like a Tuesday.

I have every Monday off (based on my availability). So I know for certain I can schedule anything I need on a Monday. It cut down my time off requests by a lot.

Something else, like you I work a position that only 3 of us are trained to do. Now, I've been there for a few years and probably give off a vibe that I am willing to work anywhere. But I treat my time off requests like "you should know I won't be here the 18th. Plan accordingly for your own sake."

I hate to say it, but they really screw with you when it appears you need them more than they need you. Now, I like my job. And I work hard when I am there. But I feel like I can do this retail gig "here" or down the street. Its just retail. Same stuff, different store. Since I'm not desperate to stay with my store (as much as I enjoy my job) it's really easy to say "I'm doing you a favor by letting you know I need Nov 12 off. That way you can schedule us accordingly."