I know when ever I was off work, more than 3 days, I had to have a Dr. release to go back. I think you should ask for one, to cover your company.
Leslie

This is why your company has a lawyer. He is the one who should be consulted.

Would any of the boys in this company be required to submit a Dr's release in a similar situation?

All our health issues are private, why would this be different to your boss? Either you are required to get a release or your not. In fact, I would think this would require a release even more so since she is on new medications and quite possibly could have more side affects than the already mental instabilities she already shows. I'm not sorry to say, but when other people could be affected by an employee, the buck doesn't stop at mental illness. This is my opinion. If it were my company I would want all my bases covered.

her condition is medical (and is considered a disease) i don't see why not..if she'd had a contagious condition you would have...

I don't think a general release to work affects privacy issues. You are not asking for a medical history or private info. A simple yes or no is not invasion of privacy.

Working might actually be the best thing for her right now. It allows her to focus on something "normal" in her life. Since it's no secret she is Bipolar I don't see the danger to other employees unless she is in a state of Psychosis. She may not be running at full throttle but if she's taking her meds and making an effort, give her a break.

When I worked, it was common place to be required to show a Dr release if one was off 3 or more days. What has been required in the past? No set rules? I'd say ask for it. It will only say that she is released and won't delve into detail just what she was off sick with.

Sue

Bi-polarism is a disease.
It is not contagious but debilitating as say, a broken arm or leg. Let's say your co worker had some broken ribs. You would want a doctor's release on her, if only to protect her and the company that she is not going to injure herself by going back to work so soon. If she'd had pnoumonia, a heart attack, or a stroke, you'd want the same release; to protect HER and the company. Coming back to work too soon after her bi-polar treatment could set her back and you certainly don't want that.

Lori

Requesting the release is, like WildChild said, not a privacy issue at all. And, it's commonplace for employers to ask for one. To ask for a doctor's release is not an invasion of any privacy act, nor does it ask her to divulge anything about her condition or anything that is in her medical record. I understand you wanting to ask and also think you should, but whether or not to ask is laid out in your company policy. You cannot ask for one if the company has not set forward for all to know they are required to have one. Sorry Trin, but we cannot answer you here. Ya gotta look there.

If it's standard practice for your company to ask for one, then I would, otherwise, I think you are trending on thin ice. I don't think it's as much of a privacy issues as it is treating her differently because of her condition. You can't ask one person for one thing for their condition and not do it for everyone for their other conditions. I too would check with you company policy or company lawyer.

But she can probably get a doctor's release no problem anyway, so that's probably not going to solve your problem if you really think the girl is unstable for the work environment. Not sure what to do if you think there is really a safety issue and/or that the girl may snap at work. I would be sure to let all your bosses know the situation if that is the case and the real problem at hand. They may need to suggest some time off for her with pay or something just to keep her out of the office.

I vote for checking in with the company attorney, if you have any questions about the legality of asking for the note. Much better resource, for something like this than a bunch of internet strangers who may or may not know what they're talking about, and who may or may not know what the laws and practices in your jurisdiction are--and who certainly don't know much about your place of business and the risks involved for this woman and others. Not meaning to offend anyone here--I just think that this sort of question is one where you want to get the appropriate, expert advice.

My doctor always said that where I worked could ask for a letter saying I was okay to go back to work but he didn't have to give them a reason why I was away.

I suggest that if your company does ask her for a release that perhaps you should make it a standard policy for everyone. Three days away was the standard for a doctors letter where I worked.

"What I do have a problem with is my boss does not think I can ask her for a doctors release to be sure she is able to be at work this week.
He thinks it is crossing the line on the privacy of medical issues."

Since he's the boss and you're not, he's the one who will make the decision whether or not to ask for a note.

"I, however am worried about her well being, and the well being of the other gals in the office.
Does anybody know what the rights are regarding this?"

Whose rights? Yours and the others working with this young lady? If that's your concern I would suggest that you ask to speak with the company attorney about this. If there is no one you can speak with, then a call to your local employment office might be a place to start. There are defining criteria when it comes to workplace "rights" and I'm sure if none are outlined in your company's manual, then someone in local government could assist you.

All you are asking is a Dr. release for work. There is nothing private about that. We are required to supply a Dr.'s release if we are out for 3 days. If you allow her to work and the Dr. hasn't released her your company could be liable for any problems that could arise.

Trin, you cannot make it ex post facto. If there is no such policy already in existence, you cannot create one and then ask for hers.

Anywhere I have ever worked, if you were off work for a medical condition, regardless of what that condition was, you had to have a release from the doctor stating when you were able to return to work. If a person comes back to work without a medical release and something happens where does that leave the company. It very deep, very hot, water.

I wanted to update this post, and also to thank everyone for your input.
Today was worse than yesterday, and Monday.
I guess I better say that she attempted to take her life, and that was the reason for the medical attention. Today very innapropriate behavior was noted. Unable to keep on task for more than a couple of minutes. Let me stop and say, this is a very hard situation for me. I am old enough to be this gals mother. I feel sad for her. She normally keeps a fun young spirit in the office, and we all really love and care for her.
We did find that she checked herself out of the hospital without the approval of the doctors. She also has no release to be at work. We convinced her to go to the doctor today, and call us before she came back to work. She called, and we then told her we loved her, cared about her, and wanted her to get well, and to please not come back to work until she is well and has a release to do so. She sounded like she was going to cry.
Please keep her in your thoughts and hope that no bad will come to her because of this.
My heart hurts, but I keep telling myself it is for her own good. I find this type of thing is so hard to deal with.
Thanks everyone.
Trin

How sad! I feel so bad for her. Hopefully once she is on the right medications and continues in treatment, she will stabilize.

you have to protect her, but your #1 concern has to the company and other workers...i hope she realizes just how much your intervention may have saved her life...

Does your company have a policy manual? Everywhere I worked there was a policy manual stating how much time you earned sick leave, vacation, etc. and how you take it. They would state that a Dr's release needed if off work more than 2 days, or 3 days, whatever the company deemed appropriate for their company. Most of places I worked wanted one if off for more than two days.
They had policies and procedures for everything you did nearly.

In the company I work for, only management can ask for a doctor's release to return to work. Also, where I work, they can require you to sign a release of information regarding your medical issues providing there are proven work performance issues. If management does have any health information, they cannot, under any circumstances, talk about it with the co-workers. If the employee talks about it, that's fine but management cannot talk about it, even out of concern for the employee and even when the employee gave the go ahead. For example, I had surgery last year and was out 3 to 6 weeks - it ended up being 3 weeks. While everyone knew about it, the manager only sent out an email that I would return to work on such & such a date. I know it sounds a bit impersonal but I think it's a good policy. There's some things I just don't want people to know about.