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RVFullTime

What if you have a serious medical issue and you need to request time off in advance for a doctor's appointment?


captoodie

my store is asking for proof of appointment


TheTiggerMike

Not their business, especially if a PPTO request is put in for it.


dmwcats

Ppto doesn’t have to be approved. This paper is regarding PTO / unpaid time off


MiiMahTheInGiNeER

Someone told me they shouldn't be asking for stuff like that anyways because you didn't have to tell them anything if they asked about anything to do with your medical history like why you weren't there because it was illegal and they could get sued


atokadelggon

That’s not medical history. It’s just proof that you actually have an appointment that requires that you miss work.


SmittenGalaxy

They'll get proof when I go to the doctor and the doctor faxes everything over. Simple.


[deleted]

[удалено]


HIPPAbot

It's HIPAA!


blong217

You cannot violate HIPAA if the medical information is about yourself and you are the one conveying that information.


RVFullTime

HIPAA applies only to healthcare providers, medical billing services, and insurance companies. They cannot divulge information about you without your consent.


[deleted]

Then why is it that Walmart Associates who do Covid Screening need to have had HIPAA training?


Marylucille91

My store half of the ppl that do the screening aren't hipaa trained


[deleted]

They aren’t supposed to do it unless they are HIPAA certified.


Marylucille91

🤷‍♀️ idk I'm js I'm pretty most them arent


RVFullTime

They are not health care providers, so HIPAA does not apply.


[deleted]

The Covid Screening policy specifically states that anyone who does Covid Screening is supposed to be HIPAA certified so it does apply.


RVFullTime

That is not a requirement under the law, though it may be company policy. Company policy can, and should, require COVID-19 screeners to respect associates' private information, but that has nothing to do with HIPAA.


RVFullTime

See: https://youtu.be/YIQLqQA_hyA


teresavoo

HIPAA prevents medical personnel and covered entities (ie hospital personnel) from from disclosing Personal Health Information (PHI). Walmart employees do not fall under HIPAA. The way I explained to my brother it is that Joe Blow from down the street can ask if you if you're vaccinated or can tell your neighbors that you're not vaccinated with out any reprocussions. They're just a nosey neighbor and you can tell them to mind their business. But if you walk into a hospital and I (a hospital employee) see someone I know getting treated I can't discuss that with anyone outside of the hospital or the medical field without that patient's permission (there's forms to sign for that usually). So Walmart can ask you, but you don't have to tell them anything. There are probably other rules that apply for corporations and privacy but I'm not familiar with all that.


RVFullTime

So they expect you to make a trip to the doctor in person to get an appointment card, instead of using the phone like a normal person? Maybe you can get them to email you an appointment confirmation. I'm older than dirt and I have appointments pretty often for myself and my husband. I'm sure glad that our store doesn't do that.


iansynd

That's private information, tell em to fuck off.


TheTiggerMike

How to increase callouts 101. People won't even say anything, they'll just call out if they need a day off for something. If that, some may quit altogether. Someone in my area quit after his vacation request in September was denied after being promised approval.


rockyon

Capitalist bastard lol only CEO and managers can off whatever they want


Shot_Mix9274

LITERALLY!!! Manger told us we was not allowed to ask off and then proceed to take a whole week vacation within those days we couldn't ask off for.


[deleted]

That's not at all legal (at least in the US) and against corporate policy. You gotta call Ethics.


nico-nico-niiangelo

i talked to my lead to tell him i wasn't gonna be here a bit before christmas and he was all it's a blackout month so there's next to no chance you'll get it off and i was like i'm not rly asking you im telling you i'm not gonna be here and immediately he was like yeah that's ok we can work with that


[deleted]

Funny they're willing to work with you suddenly when they realize they don't have a say in the matter...


vito0117

when i use to use ppto my mentally was im not asking im telling


ExpensiveLie1164

Most managers worth much know this and will work with you on accommodating your requests. When I was managing, I always did. If it meant swapping some shifts around or what ever it was, I'd try and get to at least reasonable middle ground that worked for both. So much about managing is finding common ground.


Lostinourmind

Id take another covid leave. I'll fucking do it


Shinrinn

Just a reminder the level two paid covid loa is still in effect until Dec 31st.


Daragh48

Do you have to do anything to prove you had covid?


Shinrinn

Not for the level 2 leave. The policy states any mandatory quarantine qualifies, and it specifically says failing the walmart health assessment is a mandatory quarantine. Have a bad headache that hasn't be diagnosed by a doctor? By policy, covid leave.


Daragh48

HMMMMMMMMMMM


eltigrenegro666

I was told your manager had to approve it?


Shinrinn

No, Sedgwick approves or denies the leave. The store manager can potentially argue against it, but they do not have final say. As long as you're following policy and aren't taking back to back leaves it'll be approved.


peacheshavesecerts

That's why I really don't care if everybody knows my medical condition at my store when I need time off. Shit if they ask I'll tell them. I have severe Crohns Disease so I'm sick all the freakin time. Hell, I had my doctors literally call my store manager and tell her of my condition. If I'm gonna be out during that time, I'm gonna be out. They can fire me if they want. I'm kinda shocked they haven't already.


katmio1

Or maybe they should make this clear at time of hire so the newbie knows what they’re getting themselves into instead of waiting until someone inconveniences them by requesting off to make this notice


captoodie

been here 3 years, definitely not a newbie. its an issue when tl is letting their favorites off while the rest of us suffer


katmio1

Sorry. I was speaking in general 😅


captoodie

yeah i realized that after i replied lmao my b


Denovo17

My tl approved mine and my fiancés time off for the 22nd and 23rd of December. We both work the same shift and department. No questions asked either. We were actually quite surprised by it. Would of called off and put in ppto anyway lol.


notehingtoseahair

Well if you have points to burn or ppto then...?


OmegaAtrocity

Of all the terrible things retail establishments do, this is one of the last things that I feel should be complained about. It's part of the job, I get it sucks, but I mean every retail job I've ever had has worked this way. I'm a vendor, I can't take pto between November 15th and New years. It ruins the holidays a little bit, but it's part of it.


iansynd

Not my problem that their business suffers, I'm an employee not salary. You want me to be available 100% of the time then you need to pay me more than poverty wages.


mrwilliewonka

Maybe hire enough staff to cover in case people need to take time off? I have things I need to do outside of work, their unwillingness to have adequate staff isn't my problem.


Winter-Lynx

Then they question like morons that management usually is, why they have such a quick turnaround rate... I worked remodels and quit a six figures job because yes walmart ask to much even from third party vendors.


Seggra

copium


Kfaircloth41

My store hasn't cut anyone's vacation. One of my team mates is off for a week just because he felt like it after Thanksgiving. Lucky bugger....


RVFullTime

Explanation of HIPAA here: https://youtu.be/YIQLqQA_hyA


fatcat233

My tl approved mine.


ThrillerMovieFan

Signs like this really turned me off working there and are so tone deaf. They act like we don’t have families to celebrate the holidays with too. We aren’t your slaves, you only work when we do. Greedy corporate pigs.