What do you make of this call-in situation at work?

You are very contagious until you have been on an antibiotic for 48 hours. That (and the severe pain) are the reasons not to go in. Call back and explain that you really want to work but you need to wait a few days, for everyone’s sake.

And tell them that you can document the illness and the treatment, if they need it.

No, you should not be touching hands when you are contagious. If the head cashier doesn’t understand that it’s not your fault.

If you’re legitimately sick, it is illegal for them to fire you. Don’t worry, rest, and get back to work as soon as you’re better. Just make sure you explained the situation to them.

I would ask your doctor for a note and take it in anyway.

Sadly other people who abuse the sick-call-in situation makes it tougher on the ones who are really sick.
As others have stated, get it documented, rest, get better, don’t worry.

Ask your doctor’s office to fax over something to your HR Dept. about the strep throat. Ignore the tone of voice of others, just make sure your bum is covered with your direct supervisors. One thing I’ve learned is not to trust co workers to pass along important information. Call and leave voicemails if you have to but get direct with your supervisors anytime you have to be off your schedule. I think you’ll be ok.

How would the head cashier feel if you went in and infected all the cashiers so they all had to take time off?

Passing a serious infection like that to an elderly or immune-suppressed customer, or their family members, could be very bad. Both for them and for Lowe’s legally.

Less important than infecting the other staff, you wouldn’t want to be responsible for someone being hospitalized, so you’re doing them a favour here, don’t let them tell you otherwise. I too would get a doctor’s note anyway, photocopy it and keep a copy in your files “just in case” there is a problem in the future. Make sure the note talks about the time span you’re off, and note down what specific days you did take off. Now—you sleep and get better :)

hello all, lovely to “meet” you :)

Go in and give the head cashier a great big hug and a wet kiss.
Honey…if they fire you for that, then I can tell you they’d be miserable to work for. If they do (but they probably won’t) you can count it as a blessing in disguise.

Get the doctors note regardless, give it to them anyways. They have to take it and put it in your file that way you should be covered.

@creative1 The OP probably should get or make a copy for their files too.

Since it’s legit, and it can be documented if necessary, I would not worry about it.

It’s the confronting thing that’s scary, @jca. Standing up to “authority.” It makes me tremble, no matter how right I am. Can’t imagine what it’d be like for such a young adult.

Just know you are in the right @Dutchess_III and present them with a doctors note. I know for a fact here in MA that they cannot fire an employee with a doctor’s note. Even when my sister’s son was sick they could not do anything because she always brought in a doctors note when he was sick. In this case its yourself which makes it more so an issue for any hr person to go against a dr’s opinon.

@creative1 Uh…I’m not the OP here…

oops sorry @Dutchess_III I must have selected the wrong @ person

No worries @Dutchess_III! : }~