Can your employer call your doctor’s office to verify a doctor’s excuse?
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Can your employer call your doctor’s office to verify a doctor’s excuse?
Asked on July 5, 2012 under Employment Labor Law, Alabama
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
The employer is allowed to call, but the doctor should not divulge any medical information or doctor-patient confidences without the employee's consent or permission. However, as a more general matter, if the employer does not believe the employee or is not satisfied with why the employee took time off or requested light duty, the employer could terminate the employee; therefore, the employer is allowed to seek to verify medical/doctor's excuses, and the employee would have to satisfy the employer's concerns in some way. An employer is not required to take the employee's claims or a doctor's note at face value.
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