For context, my job recently went through with a merger, they’re a small local business that’s sold itself to a (small not major) company that manages my jobs’ type of business. We merged back in November.
I’ve been out sick often this past few months because I’ve injured my back. I am a receptionist and I sit pretty often and the chairs are garbage and they hurt my back; I’ve tried medication, bought a back rest, limited my driving and nothing works for my back except rest. I have been struggling trying to find the root of problem without x-rays because I cannot afford it even with being on my parents’ insurance. I’ve had to call out a few times because I’ve literally been unable to move or drive. My manager understands this but it was announced this past Tuesday that when you call out sick, it’s considered PTO and those sick days count for PTO. I wish I would’ve known that when we merged. This policy wasn’t in place when I started this job and I knew if I called out (whether I was sick (not COVID) or had an emergency, I wouldn’t get paid for that day and I was fine with that.
I’m very frustrated because as I’ve mentioned I’ve been injured and on and off and I’m unable to work. I’ve provided multiple proofs of doctor visits and this entire fucking time it’s been taking away from my PTO. I double checked the handbook and it says:
“[COMPANY NAME] reserves the right to apply unused vacation, sick time, or other paid time off to unauthorized absences when permitted by applicable law. Absences resulting from approved leave, vacation, or legal requirements
are exceptions to the policy.”
That’s all it says. I was told that to avoid this they will ask for doctors notes to authorize absences so they can be approved. (The process for approving absences is not mentioned anywhere in the book.) Either way, I shouldn’t be digging into my PTO if management tells employees to bring in doctors notes, right?
Now I’ve been told that I only have 2 days PTO “left” and my manager knows I’ve been waiting to put in a few days off in May because we’ve been moving to a new clocking system so she told me wait. I’m so upset I want to cry, the other manager in charge of time clocks chided me for calling out so often. I feel like I must’ve missed something but I have no clue because that’s all that one section says about approving PTO. Nothing about how to “approve” sick days. Now I feel really fucking stupid for calling out.
I also know that I’m not being as concerned about not being paid when I call out because I only really pay off my medical bills, and food, the rest I’m trying to save. I’m a young adult and I live with my family (high cost of living in my area, taking care of my grandmother who moved in with us, having no clue what I want to do in life, etc).