Calling employer to inform them a sick note is to be extended.

BarrelScraper

I know that a doctors note informs them & i could post this off, but to "be nice" and to be seen as making some effort, i will call my employer (a mistake i made last time by not doing this - & thanks to the MSE members for pointing this out).

I've been off for some time now (couple months or so) after an op. There were complications post op which seriously hindered my recovery, putting me back at least 4 weeks.

I'm over the complications now & am able to get into some sort of recovery program. Since all the swelling went down & i was able to begin exercising & getting motion in the limb again, my recovery/condition has sped up a fantastic amount.

Unfortunately, i can't change the fact that i've still had about 10 weeks off work. Well, 9 if you count a holiday i'd booked on the initial week.

I had a welfare meeting where i explained i feel i am 4-6 weeks away from being fit enough to return. This meeting was 2 weeks ago. I remain confident of what i said - which would mean a return in 2-4 weeks time.

My sick note runs out this week.

I feel i'm well on the way to being fit enough. Not quite there yet, but now i've been able to hit the gym (no, i've not been olympic powerlifting) & do some light work to help regain the muscle/strength/stability i lost, the progress has picked up even more speed than doing the exercises without weights.

So i remain confident.

I was looking at getting a sick note extension of a further 2-3 weeks (so within the 6 weeks tops that i stated).

My employer have requested permission for a docs report, which i've not yet seen - so i don't know if they've put in for it yet or are waiting to see what happens with this current note expiry (this week).

If i got a 3 week extension, i'd ideally be hoping to be ready before that. A 1 week extension may be optimistic, but i think 2 weeks from now is possible (which would meet the 4 weeks out of the 4-6 weeks i predicted).


Anyway, to bring it back a little (hope i'm not losing anyone) - i'll be calling up this week to inform them of the new note before i post it in.

Now i know what the reception is going to be. They will answer the phone in a weary tone & then i'll give them the news. Then the flat response will come & probably a bit of an attitude - as though i've misbehaved or something. It makes me feel guilty ... when i've got nothing to feel guilty for. I'm sorry that i can't return yet, but it's costing ME money also.


You can say that i'm jumping the gun, but i know the person i'm speaking to & know how they'll react.
My question is how do you deal with it. My reaction is to get defensive by getting on the offensive, which i know is wrong. I've not done anything wrong, i'd like to have returned by now. Yes i'll be getting an extension, but i still feel i'm only 2-3 weeks from returning, which to me is a big improvement on i don't know when i'll return.

Just makes me feel a bit sick with worry over their reaction. And YES, i do understand their position. I wish i could do more, but i physically can't.


So, how do you deal with such a reaction?

blossomhill_2

Who do you contact? Ask to speak to your manager or HR, make sure you aren't telling a secretary or a colleague

BarrelScraper

Aye it's HR I speak to.

Are HR supposed to be impartial? I really don't know. If not then this next bit is irrelevant, but our HR person is so biased towards the bosses it's untrue. The HR person is good friends with the bosses & as a result of their friendship, they can be quite confrontational towards employees. Countless employees have complained to me about this persons manner/attitude. One worker even told me that this HR person was saying they "enjoy getting people told".

Thanks for the replies anyway guys.

Emmzi

the HR pperson is employed to keep the bosses right, so no, they don't have to be impartial.

Sambucus_Nigra

BarrelScraper wrote: »

Aye it's HR I speak to.

Are HR supposed to be impartial? I really don't know. If not then this next bit is irrelevant, but our HR person is so biased towards the bosses it's untrue.

No, of course they are not 'supposed' to be impartial. They are there primarily to keep the employer out of court on personnel issues. Some might be friendly [like our Kiki on here is] but the essence is that they are there to make sure the employer doesn't cross the line.

Is your boss a better bet to speak to? I'd only ever call HR is my boss wasn't around as it's them I report to and report sickness to.

nightingalesgarden

Why not get your fit note (prev. sick note) for 4 weeks but ask your Doctor in your appointment if they will need to see you if you feel better in two weeks or if you can just ring reception when you feel better and they will arrange a fit note that signs you back to work (then there's no delay in arranging appointments). Also at the time ask if they will extend for a couple more weeks if there is a set back using the same - call/doctors reception method. Most Doc's will do this.

When you call your HR contact make it a positive call. Make it about coming back.

Explain that you are eager to come back to work and that you are signed off for four weeks but you have arranged to review in two weeks if things go well.

Suggest a call a few days before the 2 weeks are up to discuss your return again.

Explain that you have a few questions - you want to come back full time - but you are worried about the exhaustion of a full days work due to the fact that you are still recovering. What do they suggest - you don't want to get knocked back. You know how you feel - not an Occupational Health or Doctors note/report so don't wait for this - it's not going to tell you or your HR contact much. You need to decide if you need to work short hours for a few weeks - is this an option? or about taking breaks. Ask in the call or suggest how you want it to work.

And at the end of the call say something like - "Thank you, this has been a really positive call, I really am looking forward to getting back to work - thank you for your help" Sounds silly but if you tell the person at the end of the line that it's a positive call - they'll remember that!

BarrelScraper

Not really - the procedure is to call HR so that's what I do.

The boss's mentality is if you're not dying then you can work. If you call the boss to say you can't make it in you get a load of abuse on the phone.
One time I called in because I had terrible flu (no, not just a bad cold). On top of this, due to the shivering I hurt my back & could barely stand straight too.
I don't take days off work easily but i has to give in. When I returned I was immediately called in for a meeting & grilled. Accused of taking a sick day & the exact words were "you weren't dying so you could've come to work". The meeting mustve gone on for 20mins or so with them repeating their questions time after time trying to trip me up into saying I'd taken a sicky.

As for HR making sure the boss stays out of bother & does everything right - HR only does what the boss tells them to do & the boss often gives orders in anger. Such as deducting someone's wage just because the boss didn't quite like them today.
This person is supposed to be informed when and why and how much is being deducted but HR actions it anyway (HR/Payroll in one).
When you question HR they just say see he boss. When you point out they can't do what they did - as they claimed to let people know beforehand which they clearly haven't done, they just say they're doing as they're told, see the boss. The boss says its not getting discussed so get back to work.
So HR might supposed to keep the boss out of trouble, but in this case HR is just an extension of the boss & does whatever the boss says. Even if It's wrong.

Emmzi

sounds like HR admin to me, not proper HR. don't expect much.