HOW TO USE DOCTOR’S EXCUSE NOTES
There are three (3) important things to consider when using a doctor’s excuse
note for work absences:
1) Your company’s policy regarding work absences. You maybe surprised to
learn that you can be fired due to absence even with a doctor’s excuse note.
2) Your membership in a union or your employment under a contract. Be sure
to check the union rules or your employment contract regarding work absences.
3) The state in which you work. Most states employ on an ”at will” basis
which means they can fire you for any reason without cause even with a doctor’s
excuse note. However, there are exceptions depending on the state in which
you work.
Exceptions to “at-will” employment By State
Most states employ on an “at will” basis which means they can fire you for any
reason without cause even with a doctor’s excuse note. However, there are
exceptions depending on the state in which you work.
The exceptions involve:
1. Public Policy Exception - If your state has this they would have difficulty
firing you with a doctor's excuse note if it violates a state statutory right
already on the books.
2. Implied Contract Exception - If your employer has given you a contract
or implied that your hiring would be long term (even if it is not in writing)
they would have difficulty firing you with a doctor's excuse note if it violates
that implied or expressed agreement.
3. Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing - If your job performance has
as exemplified by
“good “evaluations, raises, or advancement they would have difficulty firing you
with a doctor's
excuse note if it violates that implied or expressed agreement.
State Public Implied-contract Covenant of
policy exception exception good faith and fair dealing
Total 43 38 11
Alabama no yes yes
Alaska yes yes yes
Arizona yes yes yes
Arkansas yes yes no
California yes yes yes
Colorado yes yes no
Connecticut yes yes no
Delaware yes no yes
District of Columbia yes yes no
Florida no no no
Georgia no no no
Hawaii yes yes no
Idaho yes yes yes
Illinois yes yes no
Indiana yes no no
Iowa yes yes no
Kansas yes yes no
Kentucky yes yes no
Louisiana no no no
Maine no yes no
Maryland yes yes no
Massachusetts yes no yes
Michigan yes yes no
Minnesota yes yes no
Mississippi yes yes no
Missouri yes no no
Montana yes no yes
Nebraska no yes no
Nevada yes yes yes
New Hampshire yes yes no
New Jersey yes yes no
New Mexico yes yes no
New York no yes no
North Carolina yes no no
North Dakota yes yes no
Ohio yes yes no
Oklahoma yes yes no
Oregon yes yes no
Pennsylvania yes no no
Rhode Island no no no
South Carolina yes yes no
South Dakota yes yes no
Tennessee yes yes no
Texas yes no no
Utah yes yes yes
Vermont yes yes no
Virginia yes no no
Washington yes yes no
West Virginia yes yes no
Wisconsin yes yes no
Wyoming yes yes yes
Source: Adaptation from “State Common Law Wrongful Discharge
Doctrines”
By David Walsh and Joshua Schwartz
We are not lawyers and this is not intended to be a substitute for legal
advice from lawyer.