boss phones when i'm off sick

GrammarGirl

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

But if someone else is having to cover your work, if they get stuck on something crucial what else are they meant to do?

Where I worked we had a "buddy" system, where each of us knew inside out our counterpart's job so holidays weren't a problem, except that one person was effectively doing two people's work, but there were parts that could be left as well as things that had to be done.

Anyway I digress - I always told my opposite number to ring me whatever the problem, as our jobs were quite involved and it was always possible that something might crop up that was unforeseen.

She was excellent and rarely did so, but on one occasion my boss couldn't remember what he had done with some airline tickets, so my colleague rang me to see if I knew. Luckily I remembered him putting them into a particular file, and the panic was resolved. If I'd told her to on no account ring me, there would have been a major problem.

It took me half a minute of my holiday to settle that query - what's the big deal?

Like I said, if it was an emergency I'd be more than happy to help. If it was for something trivial, or an 'informal question about work' as the OP stated, I would be mad.

GrammarGirl

As for ringing an employee when they're off sick to see if they will be returning to work, I would find that annoying but then again I would always let me employer know how I was feeling in the afternoon of my sick day and tell them if I thought I'd be off again the next day.

I'd also always ensure I did a full and thorough hand over before taking any holiday. So I guess that's exactly why I'd get angry at a phone call from work in either situation!

liney

surreysaver wrote: »

You ring in to say you are sick. You give an indication of how long you expect to be off for. If that changes, you ring again to advise your employer. You then ring back before you come back - day before, whatever. Is that not courteus enough? Why bother an employee while they're off?

OK, i'll give you an example.

Employee: I won't be in today because i have had "the trotts" all night.
Me: Oh dear, Is it easing off now? Do you think you will be back tommorrow?
Employee: I dont know.
Me: Ok, can you let me know by the end of the day how likely it is you will be back in the morning so i can arrange cover if you are still ill please?
Employee: Yes, no problem, i'll let you know.

I'm talking of minor illness's which do just require abit of common sense. If someone called in with say, Meningitis (first serious illness i thought of) then I obviously would not be asking the same question!

Timmne

Jesus christ why can't people just be reasonable? Employees' "rights" are an absolute pain in the @rse. Usually, only the people who aim to use them to their limit, know their rights.

I take massive exception to any of my staff being awkward when these things happen. If I were to be accused of harassment from just wanting to know whether I'd still need to arrange cover for someone, they'd find themselves on my list of people I'll sack if I get the chance. If they throw the rule book at me, I'll make sure that they get treated with the same level of correctness.

It's all down to being reasonable. If one of my people were off with a migraine or something which using the telephone would be made worse, obviously I wouldn't call. If on the other hand they had a stomach bug, I can't see a reason why they couldn't pick up the phone and speak reasonably to their manager!

Gets me so mad.

liney

GrammarGirl wrote: »

Like I said, if it was an emergency I'd be more than happy to help. If it was for something trivial, or an 'informal question about work' as the OP stated, I would be mad.

Do read all of it: I have also been know to call someone on a day's holiday to ask them an informal question regarding work. The alternative would be to wait until they return, and have a formal meeting about the whereabouts of XYZ and not doing a proper hand over before their leave.

Specifically referring to people not hadning over properly prior to leave.

annie_d

When my staff call in sick for minor issue i do phone them each day to ask if they are coming back. I need to know so that i can cover their shift if they are not going to come in.
I would much prefer it if they phoned me to let me know thus saving me a job but they rarely do.
We used to have the policy that the sick-staff should phone and speak to the Manager each day they were sick to let them know if they were coming back and if they didn't, their shifts were covered and they were sent home if they turned up for work without informing the Manager they were returning. I cant see how it can be deemed as harrassment to ask if someone is returning to work when shifts need to be covered.

alison999

surreysaver wrote: »

Exactly the reason my employer does not have my phone number. They know not to write to me at my home address either - I also class that as harrassment.

Is there a prize for the dumbest post of the month too?!:beer:

Timmne

alison999 wrote: »

Is there a prize for the dumbest post of the month too?!:beer:

They've got my vote!

surreysaver

liney wrote: »

OK, i'll give you an example.

Employee: I won't be in today because i have had "the trotts" all night.
Me: Oh dear, Is it easing off now? Do you think you will be back tommorrow?
Employee: I dont know.
Me: Ok, can you let me know by the end of the day how likely it is you will be back in the morning so i can arrange cover if you are still ill please?
Employee: Yes, no problem, i'll let you know.

I'm talking of minor illness's which do just require abit of common sense. If someone called in with say, Meningitis (first serious illness i thought of) then I obviously would not be asking the same question!

That's fine.

surreysaver

annie_d wrote: »

I cant see how it can be deemed as harrassment to ask if someone is returning to work when shifts need to be covered.

You need to have a policy in place and enforce it. Sending staff home for not telling you they were coming back is fine. Ringing me at home when I've told you I am not coming in and keeping you updated is not fine. But I would follow whatever policy and ring back the day before or whatever to let you know I was coming back.