Employer sick-note rules · retail
Does Lowe's accept an online doctor’s note?
Lowe's does not publish its occurrence policy; employees report that a note alone does not excuse an occurrence. What Lowe's does publish is the leave route: Sedgwick administers leaves and accommodations, and FMLA medical certification is due within 20 calendar days of the eligibility letter or first day of absence, whichever is later.
What Lowe's workers are told
Absences tracked
Occurrence system (employee-reported): absence, tardy or early departure without approved PTO = an occurrence, tracked on a rolling basis (12 months commonly cited). Not published by Lowe's.
Note required
Employee-reported: a note alone does not excuse an occurrence; covering the shift with accrued sick time or an approved Sedgwick leave or accommodation does. For FMLA requests, Sedgwick requires medical certification within 20 calendar days of the eligibility letter date or first day of absence, whichever is later.
Where to submit
Lowe's does not publish a call-out procedure. Leaves, accommodations and intermittent FMLA go through Sedgwick: mySedgwick via www.MyLowesBenefits.com, phone 1-855-286-8980, fax 1-859-280-4983, or mail PO Box 14671, Lexington, KY 40512; include your name and claim number on every page.
Leave administrator
Sedgwick
Paid sick time
Lowe's says it offers paid time off for vacation, holidays, sick leave and volunteer time, varying by role, tenure and locality; state paid sick leave applies where required.
From published reporting on the policy · 2026-09-23
What a SickSlip note shows Lowe's 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 Lowe's 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 Lowe's 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 Lowe's’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, Lowe's 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 retail employers
Walmart · Target · Costco · Kroger · Best Buy · H-E-B · Whole Foods Market · AutoZone
All employers
Amazon · Walmart · Target · UPS · FedEx · Starbucks · Costco · Kroger · Chipotle · USPS · Tesla · Disney parks · Southwest Airlines · United Airlines · Best Buy · H-E-B · Whole Foods Market · Taco Bell · Wendy's · Panera Bread · HCA Healthcare · Kaiser Permanente · Verizon · Tyson Foods · JBS USA · General Motors · Stellantis · Boeing · Uber · DoorDash · AutoZone
SickSlip is not affiliated with Lowe's. Employer names are used to describe their published policies. Reviewed by Adam Z. Kawalek, MD (NPI 1326223306). Facts checked 2026-09-23.