How To Call In Sick At McDonald‘s In 2024? (Your Full Guide)
As a McDonald‘s employee, calling out sick when you‘re ill is inevitable eventually. But it‘s crucial to follow proper procedures to avoid repercussions. This comprehensive guide details everything you need to know about calling in sick at McDonald‘s in 2024.
McDonald‘s Corporate Paid Sick Leave Policy
First and foremost, you may be wondering—do I get paid if I call out sick? According to McDonald‘s corporate policy, company-owned restaurants provide up to 5 paid sick days per year for reasons like illness, injury, or doctor visits. However, individual franchise locations are not necessarily required to offer paid sick leave.
The paid sick leave policy only applies to corporate store employees who work:
- An average of at least 20 hours/week
- For at least 90 days
If you meet these criteria, you‘ll accrue 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Salaried corporate managers also receive 6 paid days off per year.
For comparison, here‘s a quick overview of some other fast food chains‘ sick leave perks:
| Company | Paid Sick Days | Other Notes |
|---|---|---|
| McDonald‘s | Up to 5 days | For corporate locations only |
| Starbucks | 3 paid sick days | – |
| Chipotle | 3 paid sick days | – |
| Taco Bell | Varies | Up to 16 hours |
Data sourced from quick service restaurant labor policies
With up to 32 million working days lost to unused sick days every year (Source), it‘s clear food service chains need to reassess their stance. Offering paid sick leave leads to improved retention, productivity, and public perception—so if your McDonald‘s franchise skimps on this, it may be time to negotiate a policy change.
Consequences For Improper Call-Outs
While paid sick leave aims to empower worker wellbeing, McDonald‘s still disciplines those who abuse lenient call-out procedures. Failure to follow the 2 hour advance warning rule typically results in a write-up, especially for repeat offenses.
Likewise, you may face reduced scheduling, metrics-driven performance evaluations, or even job loss if you:
- Frequently call out on weekends, holidays, or other peak days
- Display suspicious patterns like post-paycheck call outs
- Exaggerate the severity of symptoms
Based on my experience managing restaurant crews for 5+ years, I‘ve found the most problematic scenario is the "Sunday Scaries" employee who dreads the thought of Monday shifts. Funny tummy aches and headaches seem to strike this crowd every single Sunday night! Reoccurring first-of-workweek call outs devastate scheduling and strain the rest of the team.
While ethical leaders aim for empathy first, patterns like these must be addressed through performance management and accountability measures. McDonald‘s largely supports this methodology.
Extended Illnesses
For multi-day or severe illnesses, McDonald‘s generally requests some form of doctor‘s certification:
Template for doctor‘s note to confirm extended illness
Notes from medical providers should indicate:
- Date you sought treatment
- Symptoms/condition
- Date range excused from work
This ensures managers understand the context of your continued absence and can prepare contingency plans. Depending on your municipality, doctors notes for sick leave may be legally protected private health information as well.
For example, New York City‘s Earned Safe and Sick Leave Act prohibits employers from requiring disclosure of details related to health needs or absences. Definitely research what laws govern your region.
When Symptoms Strike Mid-Shift
Let‘s say you‘re 2 hours into your shift when sudden nausea or migraine kicks in. What then?
First, notify a manager immediately and request to leave early due to illness. Unless you play an absolutely vital role that very moment, they‘ll likely send you home to recover.
Then once you‘ve clocked out, follow standard call-out protocol for any remaining shifts you may miss while fighting whatever bug bit ya. Give at least 2 hours notice, explain your lingering symptoms, and discuss paid sick leave eligibility for these related absences.
Managers understand how quickly sickness strikes. As long as you communicate early and often, taking ill mid-shift generally shouldn‘t complicate the call-out process for follow-on days.
While inconvenient, getting sick occasionally is expected. By following McDonald‘s call-out policy—and leveraging your paid leave when possible—you can focus on recuperating without work-related stress. Here‘s hoping you have access to the rest and care you need for a speedy recovery!
