Wal Mart's attendance Policy
By sdmoonchild
@sdmoonchild (731)
United States
October 10, 2008 1:37pm CST
A couple of days ago, my daughter was really sick.She is 20 and lives with me and also works at Wal Mart. I had to take her into the doctor and the doctor had told her under no circumstances should she go into work. He had written a dr's slip and I brought it into work that night, since I had to go in. They wouldn't even look at the slip and had said that because she called in 4 times within a 6 month period (each time being legitimately sick) that they might fire her. She is a good worker, had just gotten a car and because of this attendance policy in place, may lose everything that she has worked so hard to get. There are those that milk this attendance policy and get by with it. I had told them that she didn't plan on getting gastrointestinal infection, it just happened. I thought the doctor's note would be sufficient proof that she was sick, but Wal Mart does not acknowledge doctors slips any more. She went down there the next day to find out if she will still have her job on Saturday and they would not give her any information or a straight answer. I have talked to my boyfriend about this and he suggested that I contact the American Civil Liberties Union about this on Monday. Any other suggestions would be helpful? I don't want to see her get fired, she has been through so much in the past month, this would crush her. We live in a small town and the jobs around here are minimal. I cannot afford to pay her bills along with mine. It is a scary time right now.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
10 Oct 08
I'm not sure about WalMart's policies, but having worked in other retail stores, I know that they're all pretty strict about the time one can take off, even if you are sick. They usually explain that in orientation before you start working. And...if you're in a "right to work state" they can fire you at any time with any (or no) reason and there isn't much anyone can do.
1 person likes this
@IrishRose23 (542)
• United States
10 Oct 08
I used to work at Wal-Mart and my dad still does. How long has she been there? Some managers make look at this like "Oh, she wasn't really sick and she just didn't want to come in." Some stores acknowledge doctor's slips, and some don't. My dad had a staph infection below one of his eyelids, and he couldn't go back to work for a few days until it cleared. Well, he had a doctor's note saying he couldn't work... and they told him it was okay. I think calling in 4 times in a 6 month period is a no-no. I haven't worked there since high school (which was in 2003) and I have forgotten it all. I will ask my father and I will come back to you.
Also, does your particular Wal-Mart have the new attendance policy in affect?? They call a 800-number and all of that?
@sdmoonchild (731)
• United States
10 Oct 08
Yes we have that 800 number and new attendance policy. My daughter has been there over a year and was also employee of the month back in August. This new attendance policy seems so unfair, grant it many people call in sick just to take time off, but if you are legitimately sick, you should not be penalized. You are right about the 4 times being a big no-no. I am a customer service manager there and I know the policy, but I know many people get by with calling in more than 4 times in a 6 month period and still have their jobs.
@marcialoyd (1173)
• United States
29 Nov 08
Unfortunately in todays day and age there is nothing you can do. My Friend was fired for a bunch of bogus claims just because her boss did not like her. She tried to get a lawyer and she was told basically they can fire you for anything they want to. They can fire you for the color of your eyes or they don't like the way your hair is fixed that day. There are absolutely no protections out there for employees from being done wrong. It is sad.
@shauntell (1)
• United States
11 Jan 10
I know I'm pretty late to get in on this lol. But I was just online looking for info about the attendance policy for Walmart and happened to come across this. They are very strict, I agree. I'm currently out of work because I went to the doctor and found out I have strep throat. I was told by my doctor not to go back to work until Monday. Well when I left there, I took my note to my manager at work. They said ok, but a doctor's note doesn't excuse you frm work. Well my department manager was born with no immune system and I work with her all the time, so I couldn't just as well go in being contagious and put her at risk...she ends up hospialized fighting for her life even over a cold. Well they didn't go through the policy with me in orientation, even after asking about it. But after talking to co-workers, I found that if you call in 3 days in a row for a legitimate reason, you are only supposed to get one point docked. Well I was home from work Friday, Saturday, and Sunday because of having strep and when I went to withdraw my online w-2 request, it says that I am no longer in their system...tell me how that works! I agree, some people do take advantage of it, but if you're out for good reason you should still have your job when you are able to return as long as it's a reasonable amount of time you were gone. I'm not yet eligible for FMLA, but with a doctor's note explaining my absence and when I was able to return to work, I would think they'd understand...especially with my department manager's condition. So now I'm out of work in a town where there are a minimal amount of jobs to begin with. It's ridiculous!
