Manager: I got your text about calling out sick tomorrow.
Employee: Uh, mm-hmm.
Manager: But I'm going to need a doctor's note.
Employee: A doctor's note for one day?
Manager: Yes, company policy. If you're too sick to work, you should be sick enough to see a doctor.
Employee: I have the flu. I'm not going to urgent care just to get a note that says I have the flu.
Manager: Well, how do I know you're actually sick? You seemed completely fine yesterday.
Employee: You're not being serious right now, are you?
Manager: I'm just saying we've had issues with people abusing sick days, and I need to make sure yours is legitimate.
Employee: Abusing sick days? This is the first day I've taken in like eight months.
Manager: Okay, but I still need documentation. That's just how we do things here.
Employee: Actually, I have the employee handbook right here because I keep all my documents recorded. In the sick days and sickness section, it says we don't need a doctor's note for absences under three days.
Manager: Well, I mean, that's the official policy, but as your manager I have the right to request one anyway.
Employee: No, you don't. And I also have the recording from the HR meeting last week where they specifically said managers cannot request documentation for single-day illnesses.
Manager: I'm just trying to make sure you're not taking advantage.
Employee: Taking advantage? I worked through my lunch break four times last week. I stayed late on Tuesday to finish your presentation, and I covered for two people who were actually on vacation. But sure—me having the flu is taking advantage.
Manager: Look, I didn't mean it like that. I just need to verify.
Employee: You need to verify nothing. I'm using my sick day as outlined in the employee handbook, and if you keep pushing this, I will forward every recording to HR—including this conversation where you're trying to intimidate me out of using my benefits.
Manager: Okay, fine. You don't need to bring HR into this. Feel better.
Employee: I'm already feeling better knowing you can't guilt-trip me into working when I'm sick.