My boss just informed us that if we have a doctors appointment on a Monday or a Friday that it will be counted the same as if we were to call in sick that day. We are given 5 paid sick days a year, but at the 3rd occurence counseling begins and escalates from there and it is also used when calculating yearly bonuses. Can they really consider a doctors appointment, which we have to get approved before scheduling, the same as calling in sick? Many doctors have very full schedules and you have to take the appointment you can get and to be punished for that seems unfair.

Unfair does not always equate to illegal. Do these appointments cause you to miss an entire days work?

Do you end up taking the whole day off or just the time for the doctor's appointment?

Just to verify - are you an exempt or non-exempt employee?

Another thought is how many Dr. appointments are needed?

I am non-exempt, rarely go to the dr. and always try to schedule them so that only a long lunch is needed to accomodate them! I always try to come in early or stay late to complete an 8 hr day. I am asking the question because I do want to hear the answer. But why bother getting approval for an hour or so off if I can take the whole day off with the same negative consequences? And possibly lose variable pay because of dr appointments.

I suspect there has been a problem with 3 day weekends via a Doctors appt.
within the company. The icentive of yearly bonuses aparently haven't worked, so more drastic actions were called for. As far as i know an employer has the right to place restrictions on sick leave.

I think you should discuss it and mention what you did in your last post.

...always try to schedule them so that only a long lunch is needed to accomodate them! I always try to come in early or stay late to complete an 8 hr day.
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