All these absence management policies are a load of tosh. At my old place we were only allowed 10 days sick per year so one of my colleagues got a formal warning because she had a broken ankle and couldn't get to work! What a farce!!
Elizabeth - I hope your IP can help and maybe Julie will pick up on this. She's a bit of an HR guru xx
I'm afraid that where I work they are not a load of tosh - I know of at least one person who has gone because of excess sick leave.
I can have up to six months fully paid sick but there is a 'score' in place and I would have to answer for it as I have done in the past.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
Thanks for everything - I will try and move things forward. I will try for disability and I now if my salary stops i will still get ESA but unfortunately all things together will not even meet my essential expenditure.
Good luck Elizabeth, I hope you can get this sorted out as you don't need the added stress.
I agree Jan, the sickness policy is necessary where I work as we had someone who took advantage, and this unfortunately makes the rest of us suffer - I would imagine it's the same in most workplaces.
The malingerers can be captured under mis-conduct whereas absence management policies more often penalise people who are legitimately ill and fly in the face of legislation such as DDA and often the advice of the firm's own occupational health consultants. How can someone not medically qualified decide that 1 week is sufficient time to deal with Crohn's over the course of the year? They are based on quite arbitrary assumptions.
You have to prove that someone is a malingerer. I have had a lot of time off sick for one reason or another but I don't take the P**s.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
My company visit everyone who is off long term sick, you also have to visit their doctor and if you have too much time off in dribs and drabs then they will investigate.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
If you are long term sick or have frequent sickness then my company can ask you to see their doctor. If we have more than 6 short term absences in a year they will do this.
I think this is quite reasonable - it happened to me, but I discovered (purely by chance) that my problems were due to a food intolerance and they gave me time to put it right.
In my company it was four absences or 10 days and there was no leeway on disciplinary. People were disciplined on returning from hospital, after breaking bones, returning from long-term sickness when they submitted doctors reports every day and had occ health visits - I just can't see the sense in that.
No sense at all. In the past year I have had four periods of sickness, one of which was for four weeks and I've not been seen by anyone other than my team leader even though I've triggered their scoring off. When I had my big op done at the end of 2008 I was off for four months. My bosses and some of the girls came out twice to see me and I had to visit the firms doctor once other than that I was left alone.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
hi people - been resting all day and now sat in bed with a cup of tea and laptop on. Exhausted because I have had a bath!!!
We have to keep in touch and my manager rings everyweek to see how I am and I feel from the conversation he doesn't believe I can be off 4 months and no better. I appreciate and agree that you have to have procedures in place but I haven't got much to say in the way of update to him and am finding it quite stressful - I just want to relax and get better.
Message for Melanie - I sent the email to Laura which is who I thought my contact was for emails rather than direct to you and I also posted the information you needed re reduced hours and house valuation. That was over a week ago. I emailed Laura yesterday to try for update becuase I am getting anxious.
That's not good from the manager if he doesn't believe you're not feeling better. Some conditions mean that you will be ill for a long time.
I hope you feel better soon Elizabeth.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
Hi Elizabeth - sorry to hear you're still unwell and its causing you more stress trying to update your Manager - can your HR department not help with this - might be wroth having a chat with them.
I have emailed Melanie and Laura on your behalf just in case Melanie is tied up and not seen your forum post - I am sure Laura will be in touch asap.
Take care,
Regards, Tina Shortland, Debt Advisory Manager for Melanie Giles at Debt Advice TV.
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