Employer sick-note rules · manufacturing

Does Tesla accept an online doctor’s note?

Tesla's hourly attendance policy (introduced July 2018) counts 'occurrences' and terminates workers who reach a set number. There is no verified rule that a note removes a point. Point thresholds reported in the press date from 2018-2019 and may have changed.

What a SickSlip note shows Tesla 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 Tesla 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 Tesla 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

Tesla (factory hourly) has not published its hourly attendance policy on a public page we could find. What is above comes from the sources below. If you work at Tesla (factory hourly) and your handbook says otherwise, tell us at support@sickslip.co and we will correct this page.

• Tesla rolled out a new attendance policy for hourly workers this month , read it here (CNBC, Jul 13 2018) (news, read 2026-09-23) “If employees rack up a certain number of these demerits, called 'occurrences' internally, their employment will be terminated.”
• Tesla employees claim they were penalized for using paid time off (The Hill, 2019) (news, read 2026-09-23) “Tesla employees claim they were penalized for using paid time off”

The rules that sit above Tesla’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, Tesla 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 manufacturing employers

Tyson Foods · JBS USA · General Motors · Stellantis · Boeing

All employers

Amazon · Walmart · Target · UPS · FedEx · Starbucks · Lowe's · Costco · Kroger · Chipotle · USPS · 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 Tesla (factory hourly). Employer names are used to describe their published policies. Reviewed by Adam Z. Kawalek, MD (NPI 1326223306). Facts checked 2026-09-23.