Mini-rant about employers requiring a doctor's note

[Lyric]

ThinkBlue1966 hurt her back the other day while playing with our son. We know it's a nasty back muscle strain. We know how to treat it--ice, rest, ibuprofen. But her employer insists that she needs a doctor's note to excuse her for having to miss a day of work today.

When you know what's wrong, and it's nothing serious, and you know how to treat it, going to a doctor is a needless expense. Her employer doesn't offer health insurance. The doc is just going to tell her to go home, rest, ice it, and take 800 mgs of Motrin. We *know* this. Why should we have to rack up a $200 bill at the Emergency Room, and sit there for 7 hours waiting to be seen, just so we can get An Official Doctor's Note telling us what we already know? GRRRR.

Note: I am not saying people shouldn't see a Doc when they need to. But we all know that there are some things that don't require a physician to diagnose. A muscle strain is one of them, so long as there aren't any neurological symptoms or severe, horrific pain involved.

When did simple trust in America die? Why isn't it enough to be able to say "Look, I strained my back. I'm staying home today to rest it and lay on an ice pack." and have your employer say "Oh no! I hope you feel better. We'll see you tomorrow."

:cry: