I work as a para in an elementary school. My hand was injured during an attack by a student. I filled out all the paperwork and since it was an early dismissal day, I went to the occupational medicine doctor my employer recommended at 3:00.After they checked me out, classified it as a thumb sprain, and gave me a brace, they asked me to return a week later at 2:30. I used sick time for that 2:30 appointment. When they scheduled yet another appointment for the following week at 3:00 (still during the school day), I asked HR if I could just go to the appointment and not take a half sick day off since were so short staffed.
I got an email from HR that said I was not to go to any more appointments unless they were on my own time. I said that the recommended clinic has the exact same hours as my school and they were scheduling appointments for me during the afternoon. HR told me that they’ve never had any problems with other claimants going on their own time.
Perhaps other claimants weren’t working at all due to their injury and therefore they could go during the work day. I haven’t missed a minute of work from this injury.
I’ve looked over all the paperwork I received from Work Partners, my school district, and the PA Department of Labor and I don’t see anything about having to seek medical care on my own time.
Can anyone shed any light on this for me? Thanks.