Text from Boss!

geministar2008

1 I have always had anxiety and depression but have been ok for some time, i now have problems with my liver/kidney and bladder. Been on going since last October, i have not had any time off work because of this.

2 I have already spoken to my boss about the up coming appointments and had said to me if no one else can cover they would. At no point was i told the rota/shift cover is my responsibility. In fact i was always told time off has to be passed by the boss first and so on.
i do not know anything about the Equalities Act??
Also my medical appointment that has recently came up only came through the post a week before the appointment, i didnt know the date a long time in advance.

3 In terms of it being a small business i merely mean, that the others employees come to me with issues and so on, but if i have an issue surely he is the one to turn to being my boss?

4 I have spoken to a family solicitor who said to keep correspondence in writing for the moment, particularly as face to face or other means is not showing any understanding to my needs as an employee. Regardless of my job title i should still have the same relationship as the other members of staff to my boss. Also I mean face to face there is no evidence of what has been said between each other.

5 My anxiety has been around again for the last 3/4 months and i had already seen my doctor about this, but tried to get on with it. But in a nutshell my bosses attitude towards me has not helped.
Its time like this i wish i worked within a larger organisation.
My medical note covers anxiety and depression/kidney infections. And the doctor has not stated that i am fit for work in any way, even with any changes made. Not for the moment anyway.

6 I have told my boss in writing as recommended about my absence and my medical certificate has gone to the accountant as requested.
the response was that whilst me being off is ok in short term, but cannot expect the others to cover me long term. Needs to enquire into the business statutory rights and so on.

I agree others cant cover for me forever, but i would think that as i have literally only just been signed off that really cover should be arranged and i should be given a reasonable time to get better, and i should be then able to return to work and the temporary cover dismissed?

geministar2008

Marybelle01 i find your comments a little hard and insensitive. i have hardly just signed myself off work because of a slight disagreement, there is alot more to it than that. Do you know anything about anxiety and depression? Trying to commit suicide and so on? If you do i apologise, but have some tact.
I am entitled to seek advice and i have done so.... also you didnt read my post properly as i did say i did speak to my boss about my up coming appointments! I had even wrote it down for him. Was hard to give definite appointment dates as i hadnt had them. I received one letter to confirm an appointment the following week. So not sure how much pre organisation i can do.
I came here for advice not to be spoken to like i have done something wrong or havent a clue. I do have a law and business degree so know more than most.
Also If my bosses preferred method of communication is text then thats what i do.... but i most certainly keep things professional and to the point, i dont expect dam right rudeness and so on in return.

geministar2008

thank you for your support systematic. Its support people need not hard faced people who dont know everything or have not even fully read what you posted!

Tiddlywinks

I've read your posts - it's a small business having financial difficulties; they will struggle to cover any lengthy absence. Small businesses don't have the resources to employ agency staff to cover such circumstances and probably also don't want the expense or hassle of directly employing a temp.

Your boss is human and is bound to feel stressed too when his 'right hand woman' needs time off and then reacts unpredictably to a text which may or may not have been reasonable.

If you feel you really cannot cope with work (and some of your other posts / threads suggest that you have been feeling overwhelmed for sometime) then why not be honest with your employer?

These are tough times for everyone running their own businesses - I am sorry that your stress / anxiety has returned but you must understand that your employer will also suffer as a result of the uncertainty of your condition.

KiKi

OP, look up the Equality Act at the very least. No-one's disputing you're unwell, or that you should have time to get better. But communicating by text, having problems and 'soldiering on' (without telling your boss you were getting ill) really doesn't help your cause. You will have to have a conversation with him at some point, but do it on the phone at least, and follow up with an email.

KiKi

wapow

I think the key thing here is that -

Youre not getting paid as your pay has been put on hold.

This came AFTER you mentioned youre ill. This made you unhappy.

You NEED to communicate with your manager that you wish ALL MONEY owed to you, to be paid.

You dont need to sound miffed or angry. However your manager should expect this from you. Do NOT act whiny or beggiish.

Chat with him and tell him you wouold like the money owed. Simple.

If he denies you money that is already OWED, then you have something to work with. I personally think that this is your number one concern.

Also realise that youve become his right hand woman, the lacky, but not officially unfortunately. This is his way of having control. Its a mental, control issue to be honest. But we wont get into that.

geministar2008

Thank you for your comments wapow. I just feel rather used which doesnt help my mental state.

Thank you Kiki too.

Ada_Plum

The thing with time off (if you want to be paid) is that you should request it and only take it if the boss grants permission.
It can be frustrating for a manager to be told that someone needs time off, rather than being asked - perhaps it is the manner in which you asked or the wording of your text that has annoyed your boss.

I run a small business and try to accomodate it when my staff need to take leave, however it is not always convenient to the business & sometimes I do have to say no if we are not covered. We all try & work together on this, if 2 out of 3 people in a team are off, the 3rd person knows not to ask! Just common sense & good manners really.

Sometimes it is completely unavoidable, but appointments can be changed and I think it is your sentence "At the end of the day it is his business and primarily his concern to arrange cover if required, not mine" which gave me some sympathy with your boss. In a small business I would expect everyone to co-operate & discuss things like this sensibly, to ask politely eg "would it be OK if..." not just send a curt text saying you won't be in on whenever.

Don't over-react & I hope you & your boss can work this out.

geministar2008

i dont think people are fully understanding what i am saying, i had already sat down with my boss face to face and told them about being referred to a hospital for treatment and so on and that i would need some time off for these appointments, which had been okayed not many weeks before the letter came through from the hospital. My boss was also aware that i have waited some months for these appointments and had been ill, i havent taken any time off with my health issues, until now. I politely asked for the day off and may i add not a paid day off, i only get paid for the hours i do. When i had my boss complaining about wages and the financial situation then i thought that he would like to cover rather than pay one of the others.... as he had the others for less important reasons.
Also i have always been told time off must be ran past the boss first not just between each other, but this seems to have changed and does not want to play part in "playing piggy in the middle" as quoted. Its not about playing piggy in the middle i thought i was merely doing what was asked of me/all of us?

nlj1520

I have suffered with anxiety and depression and (luckily for me) work was a huge help in stopping me going under completely.
From what I have read it sounds to me as though your boss may also be suffering from acute stress (and possibly does not have the option of taking time off sick?). sorting out cover for your perfectly legitimate hospital appointments may have seemed like a last straw to him/her.
Try to mend the communication break down would be my advice. Tell him/her again that you only had short notice from the hospital about the appointment and ask politely and calmly for the money you are owed.
All the very, very best for a speedy imptovement in your health.