Off sick for 4 weeks boss insisting on visiting me at home.

PaulusCliftus

kurgon wrote: »

As a mental health worker I have dealt with this issue on two occasions. ACAS are not giving you the correct advise possibly. I do not know what your mental health problems are but if it is possible that they may continue for 1 year then you would be covered ny the DDA (disability discrimination act) and under this auspice, it would be considered harrassment for your employer to visit you at home while you are sick. It is also considered harrassment if they are contacting you at home while you have a signed sick cerificate. The only step that can be taken is for you to be referred and seen by an occupational health doctor. ACAS ar really good, but it is always worth phoning a couple fo times, as the advice can often differ, depending on who you get, and their area of expertise.

I think I shall give CAB and my doctor a visit if possible tomorrow. For the time being I've responded to my boss again very politely telling him no and explaining why.

Mupette

You can ask them to meet you on neutral ground.

I requested this last year when i went long term sick, my house was a mess and i felt embarrassed about it.

DCFC79

How can a back to work strategy be done when your not fit enough to return to work,

Fire_Fox

PaulusCliftus wrote: »

That is something I've been considering as it would be good for me as I can concentrate on getting better and if my mental health issues are as potentially bad as my doctor has hinted then I really need to get it sorted and that won't be an overnight fix. I'm just quite angry at what I think is being bullied into making a choice by a boss who is not as caring as he is trying to make out.

There is a complete lack of understanding over even the more common mental health issues such as stress, never mind more significant diagnoses. It is very hard when you are feeling vulnerable to deal with ignorance and lack of support, but the best advice I can give is get as much help from professionals and voluntary organisations as you can. Ask for help and keep asking. Don't waste energy being angry at someone who is inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.

Your GP surgery will be able to point you in the direction of some organisations, others you will find through research on the internet. If one does not suit try another! It was a relief for me when I was dismissed on the grounds of ill health, as I found it stressful with only getting two to four weeks sicknote in case I suddenly had to go back to work and not cope! Obviously financially things were tight but there are benefits if you need them and MSE to help you manage your outgoings. :cool:

Vader123

"It is common practice today for employers to meet with employees
who have been away from work for an extended period to try and work out
a "back-to-work" strategy.
We have your best interests at heart and would like to see you back with us as soon as possible."

This is a fantastic policy and very employee friendly.

When someone is off "sick" for whatever reason, it is vitally important to both the employer and employee that both parties keep in touch of whats happening.

Its important that you are kept up to date with whats happening at work, but also important that your employer knows about the progress of your illness.

Grievances have been places by employees off sick because things have changed at work and they have not been informed.

According to your post, you represent 33% (1 of 3) of the workforce, its vitally important and probably mission critical to the business to keep in touch with 33% of your workforce.

Regarding interviewing to replace (or cover) your role, this is to be expected, I can't see it as a valid part of a complaint. If you had a "end date" for your absence then they can plan better. As it stands there is no end date so they need to cover you.

The issue about the holiday pay in lieu of sickness is moot at this point. That should have been covered at the time (or perhaps there is still time).

It's only 3 of us in the company. The boss is away 4 days a week working elsewhere while I have a totally stupid workload not made any easier by him not doing his side of the job which is to write up specifications for the software I'm meant to be developing. The specs are usually incomplete or non existent.

Again, why is this a issue right now whilst you are off sick? What steps did you follow at the time to address it.

It sounds like you have a lot to talk about, I can't see why its a issue to talk to your employer about them. If its a issue him being at your home, suggest a neutral venue.

Regards.
Vader

Fire_Fox

Vader123 wrote: »

This is a fantastic policy and very employee friendly.

When someone is off "sick" for whatever reason, it is vitally important to both the employer and employee that both parties keep in touch of whats happening.

It's only employee friendly if the employee feels it is friendly rather than stressful and pressurising!

Weirdlittleman

At some point you will have to meet and co-operate with them or you will make them going down dismissal grounds far easier as they can't make or adjust if you don't give them a chance.

Personally I would allow the meeting and see where the ground lies. I suspect that they will be asking you to give a rough timescale so they can decide whether they need to consider Occupation Health, DDA and possible incapacity dismissal.

PaulusCliftus

Vader123 wrote: »

Again, why is this a issue right now whilst you are off sick? What steps did you follow at the time to address it.

I've often aired my grievances with the person stated in my contract as being who I report too.

It's hard when you work in a small company with no HR department and a boss that seems to think he can just order me to do things such as give up holidays. The guy really thinks that employees have no rights whatsoever. Also I did bring up the holiday issue with both him and the person I'm meant to report to as stated in my contract.

I don't actually know of any formal grievance procedure, its probably in the non existent employee handbook, I do not think a lack of knowledge of it gives him any rights to just think he can get away with treating me badly.

Vader123

Fire_Fox wrote: »

It's only employee friendly if the employee feels it is friendly rather than stressful and pressurising!

How can it be stressful and pressurising to have the employees best interest at heart and work out a "return to work" strategy?

Whats the alternative? No comms?

Vader

PaulusCliftus

Vader123 wrote: »

How can it be stressful and pressurising to have the employees best interest at heart and work out a "return to work" strategy?

Whats the alternative? No comms?

Vader

It's not even a policy, he does not have any policy's. It's something he quite likely googled. He is quite good at trying to be seen to be doing the right thing to cover his back.

With all due respect, I've worked for the guy for several years. I know he does not think employees have rights. He wont even employ young females in case they get pregnant.

If he had respect for employee's he would not of fraudulently sent out quotes in my name with my address on to make sure he could get more business by making out he was undercutting a rival. This is something I've only recently found out about though, and am still trying to decide what to do about it.

All the above is why I'm 100% certain he does not have my best interests at heart. And it will be nothing more than an exercise in bullying me into doing what he wants.

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Anyway, I did not really intend for it to turn into a debate on if I'm doing the correct thing or not, simply if I could refuse this meeting if I felt that it was not in my best interests. And thanks for the helpful answers.