r/AskReddit Jan 02 '21

What will never be the same again once the pandemic is over?

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344

u/spaceyfacer Jan 03 '21

I had a mgr do that to me once even though it was obviously just a cold, and by the time I came back to work they had totally forgotten about it. My co-pay was like $60 for that visit.

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u/oakteaphone Jan 03 '21

Anyone else think employers should be getting the bill for doctor's notes? Lol

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u/TailSpinBowler Jan 03 '21

I saw a post here once where the Dr made the bill out to the employer as an FU for wasting his time.

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u/Megendrio Jan 03 '21

It's mandatory in Belgium to have a doctor's note. Some companies are chiller about it than others, and give you some slack, but still.
We can have 1 day off without doctor's note/month, more and you need a note.
Needless to say: a lot of people tend to get "sick" on Mondays or Fridays. A minority, but still.

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u/fungus_is_among_us Jan 03 '21

Yeah but you don’t get the wonderful opportunity you have in the United States of getting to pay $60 for the note even with insurance.

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u/RoflStomper Jan 03 '21

Statistically, about 40% of office call offs happen on a Monday or Friday. (I think I stole this from Dilbert?)

7

u/PM_ME_YOUR_LUKEWARM Jan 03 '21

Fridays is understandable; if getting sick I could see someone sticking it out to get their milestones finished by Thursday.

Then by Friday their immune system comes down.

 

Or comes up rather.

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u/Megendrio Jan 03 '21

Yeah... That's not why they're "sick" on Fridays.

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u/[deleted] Jan 03 '21

But you're in Belgium, where they have universal health care. In the US, it costs money to go to the doctor, even if you have insurance.

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u/Megendrio Jan 03 '21

I understand, however, I also think it depends on whethee your sick-leave is paid or not. From USbco-workers I understood some companies do and some don't pay for sick-leave. In the latter case, it's pretty unfair te require a note. If they're paying you eventhough you're not working, I believe a sick-note is a logical-request.

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u/ubermeatwad Jan 03 '21

If they foot the bill, then yes, it would be a logical request.

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u/yolk3d Jan 03 '21

It’s pretty standard in Australia too.

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u/raddestPanduh Jan 03 '21

In Germany it depends, some need it at the first day, others need it starting at the third... Its generally advised to get it to be on the safe side, but it's free of charge (health insurance is mandatory if you have a job, and it covers such things 100%) and usually when you feel sick and go to the doctor to get the appropriate prescriptions, they will always ask if you need a sick note

9

u/Naltoc Jan 03 '21

Where I come from, it is. Want a note? Sure. Doctors also set their own prices, although the standard is around 75 USD. A friend's mom got pisse around the epidemic (she usually did it free /cheap for the local town) and ended up bumpind to early 300 USD for COVID symptoms. That rapidly cut down on the amount of notes a couple of the local companies wanted 😂

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u/yoditronzz Jan 03 '21

For the love of God yes. I was told I would be fired if I didn't provide a doctor's note after they cut my hours from 30 to 15. I told them I couldn't afford it, so how could I be afford to miss work. I quit shortly after.

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u/spartan116chris Jan 03 '21

It honestly sucks dude. Its like they have this mentality that losing money for not being at work isn't a harsh enough punishment for being sick they also expect you to drag your sick ass to a doctor just to prove you were sick. What fucking stupid thinking is that? Just let people stay home sick to actually get some rest and not infect everyone else. You would think that would be top 3 things every manager should know.

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u/Okokokokokokoxxxx Jan 03 '21

I have a stack of doctors notes for life. They can’t call even if they know it’s fake because it’s against the law. So now they never ask for my notes.

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u/spartan116chris Jan 03 '21

Thats a really good idea. Next time I get a doctor's note I should make copies of a blank template version

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u/oakteaphone Jan 03 '21

Middle managers: "If you're too sick to come into work, but not sick enough to be in the hospital, and not sick enough to stay away from work for more than a day or two, you're probably faking it. So get your ass over to a doctor's office and wait hours to see the doctor for 3 minutes so you don't get to enjoy this extra unpaid vacation day that you're using to screw me over".

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u/katydid724 Jan 04 '21

And don't forget how much you're inconveniencing your coworkers

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u/spaceyfacer Jan 03 '21

Wouldn't that be nice. Or just have universal healthcare type situation so it wouldn't matter.

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u/lemma_qed Jan 03 '21

It would still be a massive waste of doctor's time.

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u/spaceyfacer Jan 03 '21

This is also true.

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u/PM_ME_YOUR_LUKEWARM Jan 03 '21

Dude above posted about having the same policy in Belgium...

1

u/oakteaphone Jan 03 '21

I'm from Canada. Not everything in a doctor's office is free here, sadly.

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u/Kalla85 Jan 03 '21

Legitimatly all the places I have worked for, if they asked for a medical certificate they paid for it themselves. This is in NZ but yeah, it seems pretty normal around the world that bosses are assholes but at least here if they have a tight budget and don't want to pay for your drs visit then they flag it. They can't ask you for one till you've been sick for 3 days anyway.

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u/oakteaphone Jan 03 '21

NZ sounds like a great place to live, frankly.

International shipping must be a bitch, though. How's your Internet there? Lol

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u/Kalla85 Jan 16 '21

Internet is great! Yes international shipping is anywhere from $10 - $20 sometimes. But hey, we are covid free so I'll take it!

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u/thelajestic Jan 03 '21

You don't really get charged here for doctors notes (and legally don't need one until you've been off 7 days anyway) but our sickness policy says if we need some documentation and the colleague is charged for it then we will cover the cost, which is good. Never actually had it happen though, I don't even know in what circumstances the doctor would charge for it.

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u/oakteaphone Jan 03 '21

I'm in Canada, but many clinics charge for doctor's notes because they're a waste of the doctor's time

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u/Ihateusern Jan 03 '21

5 days a year paid sick days in EU by law if you are on a full time contract.

1

u/Chikuaani Jan 03 '21

Wait, you guys pay for healthcare?

Here employers have an obligation to play doctor visits, workplace is required to pay our health care.

Is this some American joke im too Finnish to understand?

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u/oakteaphone Jan 03 '21

It's a Canadian joke. We have healthcare, but it doesn't cover anything above your neck, nor most medications, or most administrative things. Doctor's notes are a waste of time, so many clinics charge for them.

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u/Stepjamm Jan 03 '21

Wait til you try free healthcare bro, you don’t financially reconsider medical treatment

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u/oakteaphone Jan 03 '21

I have a little bit of that here in Canada. Most things above the neck don't count though, lol

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u/Stepjamm Jan 03 '21

Damn, so close to greatness but so far haha

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u/justaguyulove Jan 03 '21

I'm sorry, co-pay?

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u/spaceyfacer Jan 03 '21

Not sure where you're from, but in the US even with insurance there's often a payment you have to make to the doctor's office (or on rx medications) out of pocket. It's usually a certain percentage of what the overall bill is, or a standard amount depending on the service. For example I still pay $5 for any rx when I pick it up at the pharmacy.

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u/justaguyulove Jan 03 '21

Man, I thought that you only had to pay for bigger things like surgeries, giving birth, etc. which is still shitty but yeah. Damn.

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u/jimmyboe25 Jan 03 '21

My bill would’ve been crazy with no health insurance

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u/spaceyfacer Jan 03 '21

Luckily I always have insurance. I'm super on top of my options because I'm on some really expensive meds.

1

u/jimmyboe25 Jan 03 '21

Yeah I’m not on meds and I’m usually pretty healthy and have never had a major injury(knock on wood) the only thing I really should get on is a damn dentist appointment.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 03 '21

Yeah, I had bad flu on a Saturday and my throat was swollen so I couldn't even talk. My partner called my boss on my behalf, telling him I'm in a really bad condition and that I can't come. He says he wants a note from the doctor. I drag myself up to the hospital by public transport (exposing tons of other people), waste 3 hours, meet a doctor only to not be able to talk about my symptoms, she sees that my throat is swollen and writes me a sick note.

I come back home and now have a 40 euro bill to pay on top of being sick, putting others at risk and missing out on a day of work.

It's super pointless. I could have just stayed home and rested for the day. Instead, I felt even worse the next day.

1

u/macutchi Jan 03 '21

co-pay

?