FabSwingers.com forum: Sickness at work

By *ikeC81 OP Man
over a year ago

harrow

Currently I am not fit enough to go to work as of with depression. My work sent me a rather rude and abrupt letter saying that I should not have informed them by text that my sickness has been extended by my doctor.

Also they are querying that I told them a day later than I should have regarding my sickness. This is stupid as my doctor informed me on the Wednesday that my original certificate covered me for that day, now work are claiming that I wasn't covered.

Overall my 2 certificates cover consecutively so I am not missing any days, and I have sent both certificates to my work. I think they are claiming that I should have notified them on Wednesday rather than Thursday that I wasn't coming back. Though my boss never contacted me nor did hr on Wednesday

Due to my illness I have decided to call my union for help as I think this is taking a liberty as I feel that I am being persecuted for a mental illness.....

Wonder what people's thoughts are. I am calling work at 9am to discuss but I am nervous as hell.....

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

They're playing silly buggers, and should not be seen to be harrassing you or causing distress ...

Politely tell them that you are seeking representation by the union and will discuss the matter at a later date after having done so

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

personally id not have sent a text to work and would have spoken to someone.. and if i knew in myelf i wasnt going to return to work id have let work know my intentions in advanced to allow adequate cover rather than on the day with a new sick note.

unless ive mis read things

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It is up to you to keep your employer informed of your situation

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Are you a Civil Servant by any chance?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

You should have called them on the phone and spoken to them directly, a text message could have come from someone who found your phone after you dropped it in the street.

If you were issued a sicknote from work on a Wednesday surely the first thing you should have done is tell work about it, the same day. Waiting an extra day just seems a little lazy in my opinion. It would have been the first thing I'd have done after leaving the doctors, afteral you made the effort to go there to get the sicknote for time off work.

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By *he devil wears pradaWoman
over a year ago

gosport ish

"Currently I am not fit enough to go to work as of with depression. My work sent me a rather rude and abrupt letter saying that I should not have informed them by text that my sickness has been extended by my doctor.

Due to my illness I have decided to call my union for help as I think this is taking a liberty as I feel that I am being persecuted for a mental illness.....

Wonder what people's thoughts are. I am calling work at 9am to discuss but I am nervous as hell....."
We have standard process for those calling in unwell and they must not email or text it is not accepted by HR. it is also the person who is unwell to keep in touch e.g. to contact the day before they are due back, or not. HR only contact if it is a prolonged illness.

I'm an advocate of the union so do seek their advice. Good luck

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By *ittle_brat_evie!!Woman
over a year ago

evesham

Depends what your sickness policy says. Ultimately at most places it is the employees responsibility to notify of sickness in line withthe llocal policy.

If your certificates run consecutively you should be fine once they receive them.

Personally I would be updating my employer at all stages to ensure everything was ok. Although it does sound like your employer is not being sensitive to the reason you are off Work.

I would get your contract out and look at the sickness policy before you ring them. As my dad says don't go into a shit fight without some shit in your pocket

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By *attykitWoman
over a year ago

leeds

I wouldn't ring them. They have communicated by letter. If you ring there will beno record of what was or wasn't said. If it's in writing its indisputable. Wait for union advice. Did you copy you sick notes before you handed them in.??

I agree that you shouldn't text. Whilst you are off sick your manager may want to have a conversation with you. Ask how you are discuss what your doctor has said aboutyour prognosis ask if there is anything they can do to facilitate your return to work. Our handbook at work specifically says you must ring and talk to a manager.

However. As you are off with depression you are covered by the disability discrimination act so if their accusations are unfounded toy should be supported. Don't do anything rash. Wait for the union. Good luck. Xx

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By *ikeC81 OP Man
over a year ago

harrow

Well I have scanned both certificates so that I can email them to my hr team just in case they haven't received the second letter which sounds like they hadn't.

I probably should have called them the same day but the contract of employment states I have to just contact my work place. My doctor told me I was covered for the Wednesday it appears that I wasn't......

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Tell then it was an error in judgement and you will improve lines of communication in future. Nonetheless given that you're not well, this situation isn't helping improve matters.

I wouldn't rush in with a union threat before appealing to their human side...

Hopefully you'll both reach an amicable resolution.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Within your contract it will state how & when you should contact your employee notifying them of absence, it is normally a phone call and if so they are in the right.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Do you have a copy of your companies Sickness Policy?

Would also check the keeping in touch procedures and if they have a policy on staff who have mental health illness.

Ultimately it is down to you to keep your company informed of your sickness. My organisation has the 'call by 9am on the day of the absence' rule and if you did that on the first day you weren't covered you should be fine. As long as your fit notes cover your time off you should be ok.

If you don't have all those policies then make sure you read them.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Well I have scanned both certificates so that I can email them to my hr team just in case they haven't received the second letter which sounds like they hadn't.

Ah didn't see this but normally the method is a phone call.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Within your contract it will state how & when you should contact your employee notifying them of absence, it is normally a phone call and if so they are in the right."

Agree you should call in to notify of absences. But in-between phone calls a text to advice and keep a manager up-to-date should be fine.

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By *ikeC81 OP Man
over a year ago

harrow

Called my boss, and he was very helpful....he said wad there anything he could do to help.

I think it's just hr's standard letter that they sent and that is what has upset me

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Good luck with it all and i sugest you use your union as much as possible as thats what they are there for. I have problems with my work since i got injured there and spent some time off sick waiting for an operation to soprt out the injury, sadly the op didnt help so am awaiting another op ... i think my work are not treating me well at all and all i get is hassle and crap from them even thou im back at work but in enormous pain !

Good luck xx

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I would be cautious about coming on here and talking about it. They might conclude that you are fit for work after all if they found out.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Glad it's worked out..hope you overcome your personal difficulties and feel better soon

"Called my boss, and he was very helpful....he said wad there anything he could do to help.

I think it's just hr's standard letter that they sent and that is what has upset me "

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By *icketysplitsWoman
over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"I would be cautious about coming on here and talking about it. They might conclude that you are fit for work after all if they found out. "

Indeed. Removing your face avatar at least.

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By *tirling DarkCouple
over a year ago

Stirling

I think HR are right to inform you that sending a text is not acceptable. It will most likely state in your employees handbook that you must call in. This can be backed up in writing.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Glad it's worked out..hope you overcome your personal difficulties and feel better soon

Called my boss, and he was very helpful....he said wad there anything he could do to help.

I think it's just hr's standard letter that they sent and that is what has upset me "

hope you'll be feelin better soon

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I (W) suffered from clinical depression for several years and in one of my darkest moments sent my boss an email "may The Lord forgive you for what you have done" I was on the brink of asking my GP to hospitalise me, but my boss didn't react fast enough, eventually I left the company on a "compromise agreement".

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By *unky monkeyMan
over a year ago

in the night garden

Glad it was sorted for you OP!

But sending a txt is very bad form. Always speak to a manager person to person if at all physically possible. From a manager's perspective texts or emails will always come across as malingering.

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By *atisfy janeWoman
over a year ago

Torquay

"Glad it was sorted for you OP!

But sending a txt is very bad form. Always speak to a manager person to person if at all physically possible. From a manager's perspective texts or emails will always come across as malingering."

This.....

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By *ranny-CrumpetWoman
over a year ago

The Town by The Cross

Hi,

I hope your depression eases and life gets better.

Bosses, Team Leaders, Business Owners, call them what you will have rights too.

They tend to work within guidelines and law.

It's generally employees who - instead of reading the bumpf available - make up their own moral code of what is right and wrong and how to let a boss know when their workforce will be short and they will have to ensure it's done by others and then take the hump when somene reminds them they have an obligation to the place that pays them.

Read the sickness and absence policy for the place you work at.

If you think they have gone against it discuss it with them and invite your union to support you if need be.

HOWEVER - unions stick to the rules too ... there is shit all they can do to help anyone that hasn't followed protocol.

I can't help laughing when I hear people say ..... They told me off ....... Im tellin the union!

I am in a union and i'm very union minded. I do realise that they are not their to help bend the rules but to see that rules are adhered to.

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By *nnyMan
over a year ago

Glasgow

Whilst not forgetting an employer may only have a few employees or even just a few dozen, whilst a union might have many thousand members.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'm sure you've got the general message of don't text but speak by now.

As an employer, my main thing is communication. I can't guess what's going on and as a general rule, if the job that needs doing is a key role, the more notice you have the better.

As a business we've lost work because a member of staff who was supposed to be somewhere was genuinely unwell didn't show up, but never thought to phone in time so we could warn the client (who had 12 staff waiting for him from all over the midlands). If this is unavoidable (accident/weather/car breakdown and no mobile reception) then everyone is far more forgiving. However, if people don't pass on information and they could have (and texts don't count as they aren't always received in good time) then we all look bad. What's worse, is that his job relied on that contract and we then had to make him redundant. The feedback from the client was, if they'd had a couple of hours warning, they'd have been fine.

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By *isscheekychopsWoman
over a year ago

The land of grey peas and bacon

I know you are asking for advice but can I give you a friendly bit of advice keep anything like this off the internet. I know first hand how a simple Facebook status got me into no end of shit at work which was resolved after it was deemed to be a personal attack by an ex employee...Just be cautious about what you post as you don't know who is lurking about...

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By *ikeC81 OP Man
over a year ago

harrow

Thanks all for advice.

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By *iewMan
Forum Mod
over a year ago

Angus & Findhorn

"I know you are asking for advice but can I give you a friendly bit of advice keep anything like this off the internet. I know first hand how a simple Facebook status got me into no end of shit at work which was resolved after it was deemed to be a personal attack by an ex employee...Just be cautious about what you post as you don't know who is lurking about..."

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Thanks all for advice.

Not looking too depressed in your profile pic!!

We get guys with depression all the time. My main gripe with people who go sick is others have to carry the burden of the extra work load. But don't post it on here. There are systems and places you can get proper, qualified advice. Not here.

Good luck!!

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