I had a knee injury and just started physical therapy today. My physical therapist gave me a note to give to my employer requesting for me to be temporarily allowed to sit at work as much as possible because standing for 6 hours a day at a cash register would hinder my recovery. When I took the note to my employer, he basically said “no” because stools were not allowed at the registers (which is B.S. because two previous cashiers were allowed stools, one was pregnant and one had a dislocated patella). My physical therapist had warned me that some employers might say no to a note from them, because it wasn’t an official “doctor’s” note. My main questions are:
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Do I need to go back to my primary doctor to get another note?
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Is it illegal for my employer to refuse these accommodations? (Illinois)
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What resources should I use/how do I fight against this if he tries to deny this again?
I would hate to spend the next four weeks in physical therapy just to turn around everyday and undo the progress I’m making, and I’m not in a position where I can just quit my job without having something else lined up already.