Can An Employer Verify A Doctor’s Note?
It’s imperative to note what you can ask a doctor for regarding your employees’ notes. An employee’s medical details are protected by FMLA and HIPAA laws. Employers may not request information about their medical conditions or copies of medical records. However, an employer can ask for certifications of the condition and call the doctor to confirm the information on the doctor’s note.
For example, an employer has the right to verify that the note was written by the doctor’s office, but they cannot ask for any additional information. A doctor’s office that receives a call asking for more details about the note is legally required to deny the request, but the employer could call and read the note and ask if it was legitimately provided by the office.
Can An Employer Reject A Doctor’s Note?
If the employee is providing the doctor’s note for their FMLA leaveit is illegal to reject the not. In states where there are no doctor’s notes laws, then employers may accept or deny them as per their company policy.
If the employee’s medical details are protected by FMLA and HIPAA laws, employers may not request information about their medical conditions or copies of medical records. However, an employer can ask for certifications of the condition and call the doctor to confirm the information on the doctor’s note.