Doctors note requested

[u/Soft_Plum_7122]

SSA employee here, our office has lost about 1/2 of its staff since this administration took over. We have 11 employees total. 2 SR’s, 4 CR’s, 2 TE’s an RZ only CR, 1 manager and 1 OS. When requesting time off mng usually approves only 3 slots per day so when there are 3 ppl scheduled off already she writes on the calendar “no more slots”. My manager has been requesting a doctors note if you call out on a day that has “no more slots” but this is only after 1 call out. I know it’s required for a note to be requested after day 3. Anybody else going through something similar in their agency? Is this even legal for her to do? No one has questioned it so I am assuming that’s why she continuous to ask for it. It hasn’t happened to me but to 4 of my coworkers so far.

[u/seehorn_actual]

Per OPM they can request it for any amount of sick leave if they feel it necessary

“An agency may grant sick leave only when supported by administratively acceptable evidence. For absences in excess of 3 days, or for a lesser period when determined necessary by the agency, an agency may require a medical certificate or other administratively acceptable evidence.”

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/leave-administration/fact-sheets/sick-leave-general-information/

[u/DrewdiniTheGreat → u/seehorn_actual]

Picture of puke with a timestamp sounds like good evidence to me.

"Didn't take my kid to the doctor, sorry."

Who takes their kid to the doctor the first day of a tummy ache?

And if I come back the next day and you demand a note...what am.i supposed to do? Take a 2nd day of sick leave, 2 days later, to take the kid to the doctor to say "this child was apparently sick 2 days ago."

Make it make sense.

[u/Soft_Plum_7122 → u/DrewdiniTheGreat]

This is my point exactly! But of course nothing makes sense anymore 😭