I am new to this site, but I have been a working bagger at Kroger for about a year and a half now. During that time I have been doing my best at my job, but I won't deny I have had to call out due to illness/injury/etc. I have just recently discovered that I am completely and hopelessly accident prone. I was scheduled to work today, but about three hours before my shift (which means only two before I have to start getting ready) I, like the idiot I am, fell down my stairs and twisted my ankle. Luckily it doesn't appear to be sprained or anything serious, but at the time I could not put pressure on that foot. Seeing that I was not going to be able to make it to work, I called up my store and spoke with one of the managers. I did this after I had been able to get myself off the floor and onto the couch with an ice pack on my ankle which wound up making it so I called about an hour and a half before my shift was scheduled to start. Once I got in touch with one of the managers at my store I explained my situation and attempted to make light of it so as not to worry them at work. The manager simply told me I would need a doctors note when I came in next and that she would have to sit down with me and discuss my attendance. So, this brings me to my question. Is my injury as well as my past call outs due to illness/injury/etc. grounds for me to be fired? Whenever I need to call out, I make sure I return with a doctors note, yet it seems that means nothing to them other than protocol. So, is it possible I will lose my job over a twisted ankle? If I had known that I would have found a big stick and made a makeshift crutch to get to work in time! I understand if an employee is constantly calling out and not showing up for work that they have become more trouble than they are worth; however, that is the exact reason I call out when I do. In every case where I had to call out I have been in a situation that would cause more trouble than it would be worth if I came in rather than call out. So, can I really be fired for this attendance issue? Even if I come in with doctors notes even if I am only out one day? Please let me know any opinions y'all have! I appreciate it!
P.S: Oh! My ankle is feeling much better, by the way! Hopefully I can manage my late afternoon shift tomorrow! Just thought I would let anyone who was concerned know that it is feeling better! A day with ice on and off has helped a great deal! :D
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~To understand yet be completely confused is the meaning of life~
I've heard multiple accounts on this. Our store had a situation with an employee missing a lot generally, then he called in sick WITH a doctors note, and was written up for excessive absenteeism/tardiness. If all of your absences can be accounted for with doctors notes, then you shouldn't have a problem, otherwise it's your word against theirs, and with the quantity of absences being so great, it lies in their favor.
Thanks for your reply! I cannot say for certain that all of my absences were followed with me bringing a doctors note, but I am normally pretty good about that. So, here's hoping! :D
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~To understand yet be completely confused is the meaning of life~
See what your contract says about a doctors note. If it says three days then explain you will bring a note if you are ever absent three days. If you have to, take a VERBAL warning and don't sign anything. If they give you hell you can always fall down on the job lol!
Better yet, get the frick out of Kroger! They don't care about you and never will. There's much better ways to spend your time and make much better money! LOL
