Can an Indiana employer require a doctor's note? Generally yes. Indiana has no statewide paid-sick-leave law and no state rule barring employers from asking for a doctor's note, so documentation policies are set by your employer. Federal laws such as the ADA and FMLA can apply in specific cases, but they do not prohibit a reasonable note requirement.
Indiana does not require private employers to provide paid or unpaid sick leave, so sick time is governed by employer policy. State law (Indiana Code 22-2-16-3) prohibits cities, towns, and counties from requiring employers to provide leave or benefits beyond state or federal law, so no Indiana locality has a paid-sick-leave ordinance. Nothing in Indiana law stops an employer from requesting a doctor's note, which makes a clear, verifiable note useful for documenting an absence.
How sick leave works in Indiana
Indiana has no statewide law requiring private employers to provide paid or unpaid sick leave. Whether you accrue sick time and how you can use it depend on your employer’s policy or contract. If an employer offers paid time off, it generally must follow the written terms it has established.
When a doctor’s note can be required
No Indiana law prevents an employer from asking for a doctor’s note, even for a short absence. Documentation rules are set by the employer and usually appear in an employee handbook. A note from a physician licensed in Indiana — clear, dated, and verifiable — meets most such requests. Federal laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act can apply in specific situations and require consistent treatment, but they do not ban a reasonable note policy.
Local ordinances
Indiana Code 22-2-16-3 prohibits a city, town, or county from requiring an employer to provide a benefit, term of employment, working condition, or attendance or leave policy that exceeds state or federal law. As a result, no Indiana locality has a paid-sick-leave ordinance in effect.
The summary above is general information, not legal advice. Indiana law can change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with the Indiana Department of Labor or an employment attorney before relying on it.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Does Indiana require paid sick leave?
Can an Indiana city pass its own sick-leave law?
Can my Indiana employer require a note for one sick day?
This is general information about Indiana rules, not legal advice. Laws change; verify current requirements with the linked primary sources or an employment attorney.