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Antiwork

Retaliation for Being Sick

I know, it's a tale as old as time: You take time off work to get better from an illness, and somehow suddenly after you're feeling better, your employer finds some fault in your job. So, last week I took a couple of days off with paid sick time due to being (surprise!) sick. That's what the time is supposed to be used for, so that's what I used it for. Now, today as I come in I'm receiving some paperwork to sign saying that my hair/beard are “against company policy.” I have worked for this company for five years and had fairly long hair, and a beard the entire time. The only new thing is that this is the first time I've taken off two consecutive days in a row my entire time with the company. Legally, where I live, this paid sick time is government-mandated, and includes a…


I know, it's a tale as old as time: You take time off work to get better from an illness, and somehow suddenly after you're feeling better, your employer finds some fault in your job.

So, last week I took a couple of days off with paid sick time due to being (surprise!) sick. That's what the time is supposed to be used for, so that's what I used it for. Now, today as I come in I'm receiving some paperwork to sign saying that my hair/beard are “against company policy.”

I have worked for this company for five years and had fairly long hair, and a beard the entire time. The only new thing is that this is the first time I've taken off two consecutive days in a row my entire time with the company. Legally, where I live, this paid sick time is government-mandated, and includes a clause about not allowing employers to retaliate against employees for using it. Yet, here I am with this paperwork (that I will not be signing) saying that I've done something wrong mere days after returning from illness.

I'm not sure entirely what to do. I won't cut my hair or shave my beard (for any job) for a variety of reasons, but I've also been with this company for half a decade and starting over sounds dreadful.

Any and all advice would be highly appreciated.

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