[magnolia]

I'm a supervisor for a health system where I live, working in a busy 3 physician office. Our policy is that if you are out more than 2 days, you need to obtain an excuse from the doctor - we don't make our employees get an excuse for every 24 hour stomach bug, migraine headache (of which I also am a sufferer), and so on. IF you are too sick to come to work for 2 days straight, then you really NEED to see a doctor and therefore get an excuse. The reason we don't require an excuse for the first 2 days is for reasons stated - a stomach bug cannot be "treated" by a physician other than for him/her to tell you that's what you have and to drink plenty of fluids, rest your tummy for 24 hours, then eat bland foods for a day or two. Migraines - sufferers know what we need to do - dark room, no noise, cold rag, and meds if we are on prescription for them. The health system I work for employs over 1200 people. First 2 days out are paid for under an employees vacation days, provided there are days available, with the 3rd and subsequent days paid under sick leave. Only exception is if you are admitted to the hospital on first day out. The reason for this is there have been several cases in the past where employees abused the sick leave. So, to nip that, this is how it's paid and handled which makes those of us who don't call in suffer when we have to by using our hard earned vacation days.

The FMLA papers are a great idea but - unless I'm mistaken (and I very well could be!), those are completed if you are going to miss more than a certain amount of days and then any subsequent episodes in the future during a 12 month time frame can be claimed under the FMLA - but I'm not 100% sure! I used it when I had surgery a few years back and hubby is out on it now - we both missed over 2 shifts of work. Ask your HR department about it. If not, maybe a letter from your doctor stating you've been treated for migraine headaches for X # of years, he/she has you on ______ medication for it, and when one "hits", you are under his/her care to take meds and stay in bed. Maybe the letter in your personel file will also help to serve NOT having to get an excuse each time you suffer one. And if you're like me, it's really bad on day one - need to stay in bed, but by day 2, you can function somewhat to go to work.

Best of luck to you! Hope by now your headache is much better!