Medical release for work?

elsa1688

Has anyone else had to get a medical release from yor doctor for work? I just got an email saying they need one by Friday. They want a doctors note saying that I can lift 25-50 lbs and be on my feet for 8-12 hours, as well as when I will follow up with my dr. I have a feeling they are looking for an excuse to let me go. Anyone have experience?

colllydon

I have not had anyone ask for this but my FT job is in an office. It sounds like they are either trying to get rid of you or covering their asses incase anything happens.

bebemac

Maybe they are just trying to document your current abilities and physical requirements of the job so they can prepare for future accommodations, if necessary, as the pregnancy progresses? Or maybe they are protecting themselves with the note since it sounds a bit rigorous for a pregnant woman? Are you regularly lifting 50 pounds now?

elsa1688

@bebemac 90% of my job is a desk job but we are event company and have an event on Friday. I do lift 50 lbs at events. I don't think they are preparing for future accommodations because I will only have a few small events before I leave, none of our major events. I just don't think my midwife will sign off on being on my feet for 12 hours.

bebemac

@elsa1688 Since the deadline for the release is Friday, and the event is Friday, I would say that the medical release is 100% related to that. I don't think you need to worry that they are trying to let you go.

elsa1688

@bebemac thanks for the reassurance there have been other factors adding to my suspicions, but we shall see what happens. Is it even legal to ask when I am going to follow up with my doctor?

Luna C

a) They not only have a right, they have a duty to make sure you're medically cleared to do the physical tasks of your job. If you need accommodation, they need to know that. 

b) I don't understand what you mean by the "follow up with my doctor" question. Are they asking when you'll have the note? When your appointments are? Something else?  It could be totally appropriate or wildly inappropriate depending on what that actually means. 

elsa1688

I know that they are trying to cover their ass and do generally care and want to make sure everything is safe. I just have so muh anxiety surrounding this situation, it can be hard not to cloud it.

As far as the follow up, here is what they wrote "Have them give you a note with their feedback including when you should be checked again."

bebemac

colllydon said:

I have not had anyone ask for this but my FT job is in an office. It sounds like they are either trying to get rid of you or covering their asses incase anything happens.

I personally think it's the latter. Don't let yourself get worked up until you know the facts.

bebemac

Luna C said:

a) They not only have a right, they have a duty to make sure you're medically cleared to do the physical tasks of your job. If you need accommodation, they need to know that. 

b) I don't understand what you mean by the "follow up with my doctor" question. Are they asking when you'll have the note? When your appointments are? Something else?  It could be totally appropriate or wildly inappropriate depending on what that actually means. 

Hopefully they are just asking when you will have the note!

elsa1688

@bebemac see above

bebemac

@elsa1688 Hmm... What feedback are they referring to? This isn't very clear to me.

ETA: Hit submit too soon!

elsa1688

Feedback meaning approval to be on my feet for 8-12 hours and lift 25-50 lbs

bebemac

Oh! Me dumb. I wouldn't worry for now - easier said than done, I know.

b48kate

12 hours should not be unreasonable, assuming you are having an uncomplicated pregnancy. We have a fairly large group of nurses on this board and most of us work 12 hour shifts on our feet doing patient care.

50 pounds IS heavy. In fact, the American Nursing Association recommends that nurses only lift, push or pull up to 35 pounds, regardless of pregnancy status. Of course, we lift quite a bit more than that routinely, but our employers generally don't want that on the record!

Luna C

elsa1688 said:

 As far as the follow up, here is what they wrote "Have them give you a note with their feedback including when you should be checked again."

Yeah... there's nothing wrong with that. Basically, they want to make sure you're being adequately monitored and that if conditions change with your pregnancy that your medical clearance is updated as well. 

That protects them and you. You're getting worked up needlessly. 

elsa1688

Thanks ladies! I'm going to try to relax and not worry about it

ElTrain5

I agree with @luna c. And it's nice that they're allowing your doctor/midwives to dictate when a change to the current reccomendation may be needed instead of say, requiring you to give them an updated note every 2 weeks or what not. I work for an airline and for all of our major work groups (think bagge handlers, flight attendants, etc.) it's standard to get a dr to sign off saying you can perform your normal job requirements with no accommodations.

lscal20

At my 8wk appt my Dr gave me a work excuse saying I can only lift/pull/push up to 25lbs. I do work 12-13hr shifts and my job did not ask for Dr confirmation saying that's okay.

bebemac

@astalyons Maybe I'm just a big wimp! I can't imagine working a 12 shift, much less on my feet. Kudos to you! My desk job has me feeling like this before noon:

lscal20

astalyons said:

elsa1688 said:

@bebemac 90% of my job is a desk job but we are event company and have an event on Friday. I do lift 50 lbs at events. I don't think they are preparing for future accommodations because I will only have a few small events before I leave, none of our major events. I just don't think my midwife will sign off on being on my feet for 12 hours.

I don't think being in your feet for 12 hours is a big deal. But of coarse I'm a nurse and am usually on my feet for my 12 hour shift. I rarely get to sit down. My OB told me last time that if I felt like I couldn't handle it anymore to let her know and she would out me on bed rest.

I agree that 50 lbs is a lot to lift though. You definetly need to have someone else help you with the amount or have someone else do the lifting.

I agree, I don't think there's any way I'm lifting 50lbs now. If you're not comfortable with it, definitely have someone help you.

elsa1688

bebemac said:

@astalyons Maybe I'm just a big wimp! I can't imagine working a 12 shift, much less on my feet. Kudos to you! My desk job has me feeling like this before noon:

Ha! My coworker sent me this exact gif at work because we both felt like that.

Luna C

bebemac said:

@astalyons Maybe I'm just a big wimp! I can't imagine working a 12 shift, much less on my feet. Kudos to you! My desk job has me feeling like this before noon:

I find I actually feel more mentally tired after a day in the office than I did back when I was working in retail. Not because retail is easier (it's def. harder physically) but I think having to move around kept me more awake in general. 

Sitting on your duff in front of a screen for 8 hours is not good for your brain/body, even though it's often the kind of job that's better for one's wallet. 

bebemac

@elsa1688 Did you get any info on this? Are you making progress on the doctor's note? Time's a tickin'!

katekat8721

elsa1688 said:

Has anyone else had to get a medical release from yor doctor for work? I just got an email saying they need one by Friday. They want a doctors note saying that I can lift 25-50 lbs and be on my feet for 8-12 hours, as well as when I will follow up with my dr. I have a feeling they are looking for an excuse to let me go. Anyone have experience?

I'm a bit more jaded being in my line of work and could see how they could be 1) covering their own asses and/or 2) looking for an excuse to let you go, especially because you're not going to be working after baby's born (right?)

I would look up your actual job description. If you can't find it, HR or your boss will have a copy. You need to make sure that the lifting and standing are your actual job requirements/duties that were in place WHEN you were hired. Not just something they're enforcing right now.

If your job duties do list that these are daily responsibilities of the job, then you would need to go get the doctor's note. If not, then respectfully remind them that these were not the requirements of the job for which you were hired and that you are more than capable of completing your job tasks as you have been for X amount of time.

Now, if your doctor gives you restrictions it's up to your employer to see if they can accommodate these. If they cannot, then you'd be eligible to go on disability (if your state has this in place).

edited to not stress out the mama

elsa1688

@katekat8721 the requirements are not in my contract but were in my job posting so it's kind of a grey area. (They are in the process of changing that). And yes, I'm planning on leaving.

@bebemac I saw my midwife on Monday and she said she only felt comfortable putting 35 lbs in writing. Lifting a little more would be fine probably but felt safer with that number. She thought the note was a little ridiculous but I get where my work is coming from. We have had a lot of HR problems with our event staff lately. I do have a meeting with our HR person to come up with an "exit strategy" tomorrow so I think that will help my anxiety quite a bit.

abastian00

I'm 99% sure that, even if you can no longer fulfill your original duties, your job is protected by law. It depends on the size of your company and the state in which you live, but I would google that for sure. Check out A Better Balance - an organization that details women's rights during pregnancy and maternity/family leave by state.

Edit: words. Bumping on mobile is hard.

bebemac

elsa1688 said:

@katekat8721 the requirements are not in my contract but were in my job posting so it's kind of a grey area. (They are in the process of changing that). And yes, I'm planning on leaving. @bebemac I saw my midwife on Monday and she said she only felt comfortable putting 35 lbs in writing. Lifting a little more would be fine probably but felt safer with that number. She thought the note was a little ridiculous but I get where my work is coming from. We have had a lot of HR problems with our event staff lately. I do have a meeting with our HR person to come up with an "exit strategy" tomorrow so I think that will help my anxiety quite a bit.

Whoa whoa whoa! Like exit strategy for maternity leave or like exit strategy for see you never, bitches!?

elsa1688

Exit strategy as in I am going to be a SAHM. I'm due right in our busy season and now it wouldn't be reasonable to hire someone new to come on then. I am thinking they would rather hire someone to start in April-ish so I am trying to determine how long I will be employed. I technically already gave notice so it's legal for them to let me go early.

Puka99

Yeah so I work retail and need to lift up to 75 lbs but since I'm high risk my doc limited it to 30. Since everyone knows we lost our last pregnancy at 18 w they won't let me lift a thing. My one coworker (she's like 50) said I'll do the heavy lifting and you do the paperwork (cause she screws it up all the timeout). But they can ask me for doctors notes. And they will accommodate me so I don't worry. Bit if you are suspicious there's probably a good reason.

bebemac

elsa1688 said:

Exit strategy as in I am going to be a SAHM. I'm due right in our busy season and now it wouldn't be reasonable to hire someone new to come on then. I am thinking they would rather hire someone to start in April-ish so I am trying to determine how long I will be employed. I technically already gave notice so it's legal for them to let me go early.

Nice! I am so jealous. H will be a SAHD, and I'll be bringing home the bacon. Sad! Sounds like you have some stress of your plate now!