Can I be dismissed on sick leave?

dmg24

eschaton wrote: »

More detail required - I have known plenty of people on sick leave - it didn't mean they were actually sick.

That is a tad rude eschaton. Perhaps the OP does not feel the need to validate her illness with you?

Love2run

It's definitely a genuine illness, I am very hardworking and hate being off.

Love2run

dmg24 wrote: »

That is a tad rude eschaton. Perhaps the OP does not feel the need to validate her illness with you?

Thanks, I missed your post, I felt that way too.

teabelly

If they do something with Occy Health then think of work you can do. The more that you can think of doing the less able they will be to get rid of you on capability grounds. If work has caused the ill health itself then that point has to be made and they need to make reasonable adjustments. When do you think you could return?

Love2run

teabelly wrote: »

If they do something with Occy Health then think of work you can do. The more that you can think of doing the less able they will be to get rid of you on capability grounds. If work has caused the ill health itself then that point has to be made and they need to make reasonable adjustments. When do you think you could return?

My GP has advised I have treatment first before I go back, HR and Occ Health also agreed with this too, so perhaps in a month at the most. I had already spoken to HR regarding a staged return.

[Deleted User]

Love2run
I am in a similar situation and I hear you on the frustration of being off!! I echo really what the others have said (and am trying to accept this into my own brain as have been pretty stressed out about the possibilities of being dismissed due to being off sick!) - yes they can dismiss you but must follow proper procedure, Id agree too that showing willingness to go back , staged return, complying with occy health etc has got to be seen in your favour

you mention they havent been particularly good to you or other employees before this - feel free not to answer but does the stress of this have anything to do with being off sick? if so then I dont know whether it would help or hinder the case with occy health! but Im sure employers also dont want to be seen as "liable" for contributing to employee sickness etc..

anyway, good luck with whatever happens! I think this has certainly made me think more proactively about both my health and lifestyle/finances- ie what would I do if I was out of work for any reason- so not all bad, though pretty stressful I agree!

Uncertain

An important point that often gets overlooked in these debates is what approach is my employer likely to take in practice?

As I've said before on here there are some employers who's unwritten HR policy is employ who we like and sack who we don't like and, if all else fails, pay up! Some will settle quickly because they don't want the hassle whereas others will tough it out as long as possible as a matter of policy to "keep other staff in line"!

Obviously if they get it wrong and the employee is determined enough they will end up having to pay some compensation. However, keep in mind that the average ET award is only around £5K and most disputes don't get that far. The odd headline grabbing amount is not the norm.

Righty or wrongly employers are not normally subject to significant penalties for treating an employee unfairly.

eschaton

Love2run wrote: »

It's definitely a genuine illness, I am very hardworking and hate being off.

No problem, not all are the same as you - seen plenty.

No offence intended.

Love2run

eschaton wrote: »

No problem, not all are the same as you - seen plenty.

No offence intended.

That's ok, I know plenty of people who have had time off when there is nothing wrong with them, even up to six months :eek:

Love2run

Deleted_User wrote: »

Love2run
I am in a similar situation and I hear you on the frustration of being off!! I echo really what the others have said (and am trying to accept this into my own brain as have been pretty stressed out about the possibilities of being dismissed due to being off sick!) - yes they can dismiss you but must follow proper procedure, Id agree too that showing willingness to go back , staged return, complying with occy health etc has got to be seen in your favour

you mention they havent been particularly good to you or other employees before this - feel free not to answer but does the stress of this have anything to do with being off sick? if so then I dont know whether it would help or hinder the case with occy health! but Im sure employers also dont want to be seen as "liable" for contributing to employee sickness etc..

anyway, good luck with whatever happens! I think this has certainly made me think more proactively about both my health and lifestyle/finances- ie what would I do if I was out of work for any reason- so not all bad, though pretty stressful I agree!

Hi Deleted_User,

I'd say that work hasn't actually helped, I've worked with some not so great companies in my time but this one is truly awful! :rotfl:

I am also trying to sort out what will happen if I get sacked, it has definitely made me look at life differently and made me realise what I want and what I don't! So I'm looking at this situation, whether I get sacked or not, as a positive thing.

I hope everything is ok with you, feel free to pm me if you fancy a chat, I know how stressful being off sick is :beer: