Employer sick-note rules · logistics
Does FedEx accept an online doctor’s note?
FedEx Ground's handbook does not set a note rule. Secondary sources say managers may ask for a doctor's note or other documentation after an illness; nothing published by FedEx Ground says a note removes a point. Medical leave or FMLA through HR is the protected path.
What FedEx (Ground package handlers) workers are told
Absences tracked
Occurrence/points system administered under FedEx Ground procedure 'Package Handler Attendance, HMR-057' (not published in the handbook). One unsourced secondary article describes a verbal warning at 4 points, written at 6, final warning or suspension at 8, termination at 10 on a rolling 12 months; FedEx Express/Freight/Office differ.
Note required
The handbook does not set a note rule; it says habitual unscheduled absence is disciplinable 'unless covered by law.' Secondary sources say managers may request a doctor's note or other documentation; the handbook itself says nothing about notes or point removal. Medical LOA / FMLA is the protected path.
Where to submit
Notify your manager before shift start; request HMR-057 from your manager/HR for the exact rules; leave of absence via FedEx Ground's Leave of Absence procedure (HR).
Paid sick time
PTO for eligible package handlers (1 hour per 20 hours worked after 90 days; up to 40 hours part-time / 80 hours full-time per fiscal year, unless law provides otherwise).
From published reporting on the policy · 2026-09-23
What a SickSlip note shows FedEx HR
The physician’s name and NPI number, the dates you are excused, a document ID, and a verification link HR can open without calling anyone. It does not include your diagnosis. Whether FedEx accepts it depends on the rule above, not on where the physician saw you: no US state law limits a sick note to in-person visits, and the federal telehealth rules are on telehealth.hhs.gov.
Your state may limit what FedEx can demand
Twenty states and the District of Columbia have a paid-sick-leave law, and most of them only let an employer ask for a note after three consecutive days. Company policy cannot override that. Check yours in the state-by-state doctor’s note law index.
Sources, read 2026-09-23
The rules that sit above FedEx’s policy
- Federal leave (FMLA). An employer may require medical certification for a serious health condition, and must give you at least 15 calendar days to return it. 29 CFR 825.305 and U.S. Department of Labor Fact Sheet 28G.
- Disability (ADA). Points systems applied to disability-related absences have been challenged; medical inquiries must be job-related and consistent with business necessity. EEOC enforcement guidance.
- State paid-sick-leave law. Twenty states and D.C. limit when any employer, FedEx included, may demand a note. Every state’s rule, with the statute.
- Telehealth. Federal guidance treats secure messaging with a licensed provider as telehealth; no state law limits a sick note to in-person visits. telehealth.hhs.gov.
Other logistics employers
UPS · USPS
All employers
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SickSlip is not affiliated with FedEx (Ground package handlers). Employer names are used to describe their published policies. Reviewed by Adam Z. Kawalek, MD (NPI 1326223306). Facts checked 2026-09-23.