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How to Call In Sick at Walmart (You Need To Know)

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Have you just secured a job at Walmart

This is one of the largest employers in the world, and there are numerous jobs to choose from. Working at Walmart is a great way to gain work experience while you are in high school or college.

No matter how careful you are, you are likely to get sick from time to time and need to take some time off to recover. And the last thing you want is to lose your job because you failed to report your illness in the right way. 

So, let’s take an in-depth look at how to call in sick at work and ensure there are no issues.

How To Call In Sick At Walmart

How To Call In Sick At Walmart

There are a few different options if you need to miss your shift due to illness. The most direct way is to call your supervisor or manager and tell them why you need to miss your shift. It is usually only possible to call the Walmart hotline to report illness between 08:00 and 17:00. 

Registering Illness Online 

Registering Illness Online 

If you suddenly get sick in the middle of the night, it is best to head on over to the OneWalmart website. You simply need to log into your OneWalmart employee account and select ‘report absence.’ You need to make sure that your selected Walmart Identification Number, store number, and date of birth are correct. 

Then select the day or time you will be absent from work. After this, you will be prompted to explain the reason for missing your shift. This involves a brief overview of your symptoms and what you think your illness is. 

Tips On Calling In Sick For Work

Tips On Calling In Sick For Work

Calling in sick can be nerve-wracking, especially if you are relatively new to the job. Many people tend to ramble when they are nervous and provide too much information. It is important to make the call as concise as possible so that you don’t waste your supervisor’s time. Here are some other tips for making the call as smooth as possible. 

Timing

You usually need to call your supervisor or manager at least three hours before your shift is due to start. This gives them enough time to arrange for another employee to cover your shift. However, you also need to avoid waking up your manager or supervisor by calling too late at night. 

Preparation

Preparation

Before you make the call, you need to make sure you have your Walmart Identification Number close to hand. You also need to know the number of the store where you work and your shift start time. You will also be prompted to enter your date of birth before your call is transferred to your supervisor. 

Be polite

Even though you are feeling ill, it is important to be polite when making work calls. You need to answer any questions in full and be as helpful as possible. You also need to listen patiently while your information is confirmed. 

Be honest

Give your supervisor an honest assessment of your symptoms. While it is tempting to make it sound like you are sicker than you are, this can get you in trouble. Exaggerating your symptoms is likely to make your supervisor think that you’re not really sick.

Wait for confirmation

Wait for confirmation

You need to ask your supervisor what they think about your absence and if they need extra information. In some cases, they may insist that you still need to come to work. If you fail to comply, you are likely to receive a penalty and could even lose your job. 

Be realistic

Tell the supervisor when you honestly think you will be able to return to work. If you believe your illness will last for three days, it is best to be direct about this. Trying to ask for an additional day or two later could be quite tricky. 

Keep track of your call

It is important to remember exactly what you told your supervisor. Write out what you plan to say in advance and make a note of what your supervisor tells you. If they give you any additional instructions, make sure you follow those instructions to the letter. 

What Happens If You Call In Sick Late?

What Happens If You Call In Sick Late?

It is important to make the call as soon as you know you are too sick to go to work. Ideally, this should be at least three hours before your shift starts. However, you may suddenly come down with a case of food poisoning or another illness.

As a matter of policy, all Walmart employees are actively encouraged to achieve a 100% attendance record. This is especially important during busy periods such as public holidays and weekends. If you miss a shift during a busy period, the penalty could be severe. 

Collecting points isn’t good this time!

If you miss your shift without calling in sick or call in sick too late, you will receive a penalty. This penalty is given in the form of points, which are a strike against you. The number of points you receive will depend on when you are absent from work and the reason. 

If you miss a shift between Thursday and Sunday, you will usually receive one point. Three points are likely to be awarded if you miss a shift on a public holiday. Once you have received five to nine points, you will lose your Myshare bonus and may be terminated. 

Not a great way to start…

However, you will not receive points if you follow the correct procedure for calling in sick. The penalty may also be avoided if you have a genuine emergency. This includes a death in the family or another type of emergency that can be proved. 

Walmart employees are usually permitted to call in sick up to five times in six months without receiving a penalty. However, this rule does not apply to new employees. If you have worked at Walmart for less than six months, repeated illness is likely to earn you points. 

How To Call In Sick At Walmart – Receiving Sick Pay 

Receiving Sick Pay 

The amount of sick leave you will be eligible to receive depends on how long you have worked at Walmart. If you have worked there for less than a year, you can receive up to sixteen hours of paid sick leave per year. This rises to 24 hours of paid sick leave per year after you have worked at Walmart for over a year. 

While Walmart follows the Paid Sick Leave Law, this law varies slightly in different parts of the country. It applies to employees who work both full-time and part-time hours. You can find full details of the Paid Sick Leave Law in the careers section of the Walmart website

Intermittent Leave 

If you suffer from an ongoing medical condition, you may need to miss work fairly often. You might need to visit the doctor regularly for medical treatment or injury. In this case, you may need to apply for intermittent leave

It is necessary to report intermittent leave at least two days in advance to avoid penalties. When reporting intermittent leave, you need to report how often you will need to miss work. You also have to specify the duration of leave. If this changes for any reason, you need to report any changes to intermittent leave as soon as possible. 

Documents from your doctor…

Documents from your doctor...

When you first apply for intermittent leave, it is necessary to go into details about your medical condition. You will be asked to produce documents to support your ongoing medical condition. This will include a certificate from your family doctor. 

Recertifying your health condition

If your medical condition changes in any way. You may need to file a recertification. This is likely to be requested if you exceed the duration and frequency outlined in your medical certification. If you are asked to produce a new medical certification, you must do so within twenty days.

Reduced hours leave

If you are diagnosed with a particular health condition, your doctor may instruct you to work reduced hours. In this case, you will need to apply for reduced hours of leave. This will specify the number of shifts you can work within a single day or each week. 

You need to produce a medical certificate to support your need for reduced working hours. If you receive reduced hours of leave, you must stick to the shift patterns that have been assigned to you. If you fail to work the full number of reduced shifts, you are liable to receive a penalty. 

Looking For Books About Walmart?

Firstly, you might also be interested in checking out our Good Excuses To Miss Work On Short Notice, in case you need it!

There are definitely some peculiar books on Walmart! So far, I’ve found How to Not Have Your Car Explode in a Walmart Parking Lot: A Car Care Pocket-Guide, which already has you wondering, as well as Hola Papi: How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons, and even To Serve God and Wal-Mart – The Making of Christian Free Enterprise, all available online in 2023.

Of course, there are also helpful books such as The Wal-Mart Effect: How the World’s Most Powerful Company Really Works–and How It’s Transforming the American Economy, and how about The People’s Republic of Walmart: How the World’s Biggest Corporations are Laying the Foundation for Socialism, which we found economically insightful.

Lastly, why not read the story of a previous employer and what it’s like working at Walmart with the book Walmart: Behind Closed Doors, also available online today.

How To Call In Sick At Walmart – Final Thoughts 

Walmart staff are expected to work as part of a team and share responsibilities to keep the store running smoothly. Calling in sick can cause a real issue, especially if you call in at the last moment. Therefore, it is important to make sure you are actually sick and unable to work rather than simply tired or hungover.

You need to be prepared to prove that you were sick when you return to work. In some cases, you may be asked to take on extra shifts to make up for the shifts you missed. 

While calling in sick may be unavoidable occasionally, people who do it too often are likely to get fired.

Good luck, and I hope you feel better soon!

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