Calling Out...

In elementary school I remember having to bring a doctor's note to the front office whenever I was sick for more than three days. Now at age 22 I find myself required to follow the same practices.

Here I sit, sick in bed with a common cold; sniffles, a cough, scratchy voice, fever; you get the picture. I call work to let them know I won't be able to make it to work in this condition, and find out that work requires a doctor's note in order to call in for any sick days. At least in elementary school you had to provide a note for an absence of three or more days, in work however; one single sick day requires a doctor's note.

I can understand this practice if one person in particular was calling off from work, sick every weekend. Or even if a single person was out sick for an extended period of time, but for one single day?!

Luckily as a college student I have access to the student wellness center and can schedule an appointment with a doctor for a free checkup, but then it got me thinking; what about those who don't have that option?

I know for a fact that if I was not a student and I got a cold, there is no way I would drop $100 on a doctor's visit for something that a couple days of rest and chicken noodle soup would cure, and in the difficult economic times we are all faced with, I believe many would agree.

A doctor's note in order to call in sick to work!? I want to hear what you think of this. As a grown adult should you be required to bring a doctor's note to work whenever you call in sick?