New job:Sick leave dilemma

marybelle01

EasyItalian wrote: »

I appreciate that I am unfit to work at my current job, but I would not be unfit to work were I anywhere else, with a manager who does not constantly intimidate me.

No you don't appreciate it at all. You employed by your current employer to work certain hours, and so you had to ask for time off to go to this event. In other words, if you are too sick to work for your employer from 9am to 5pm, you are too sick to work. Period. That doesn't mean you can go off and do a bit of plumbing, or tarmac roads or whatever whilst you are signed off sick. Sick leave is not "personal time" for you do with as you wish. If it was outside your work time, then fine - you can do what you wish. But you canot tell your employer that you are too sick to work and then "go to work" somewhere else at the same time.

MissSarah1972

EasyItalian wrote: »

I emailed them to tell them I wouldn't be in. I then went to the GP who diagnosed stress. Before they knew this the 'HR Team' (one person) had contacted me by email.

How do I know my sickness won't be present when I start my new job? Because in 30 years of employment it has never happened before. It is totally caused, as I believe I said, by my current bullying manager.

But you are not the doctor so if it took a doctor to diagnose this I am sure that you can not say it will not be present.

If you have been working for 30 years I assume you are old enough to work out what will happen if they find out you have attended when you are off sick.

You can not be sick not matter what the 'illness' is in work hours then better when you are not needing to attend work.

Untill you start the new job they own you really.

micflair_2

EasyItalian wrote: »

I emailed them to tell them I wouldn't be in. I then went to the GP who diagnosed stress. Before they knew this the 'HR Team' (one person) had contacted me by email.

How do I know my sickness won't be present when I start my new job? Because in 30 years of employment it has never happened before. It is totally caused, as I believe I said, by my current bullying manager.

Its caused by your current bullying manager? But yet its so bad your `illness' will vanish when you go working elsewhere? If your so sure this is the case then your not `stressed' at all. Get back to work.

Im sick of people using `stress' as an excuse because they have been given stick by there boss. When your working in iraq as our brave armed forces boys and girls are, not knowing if your going to be alive after the next `shift'... now thats stress.

Tiddlywinks

Your employer may well have already provided a reference but what's to stop them sending an additional comment based on more up to date and relevant information?

What about networks? If the new job is in the same area of business then there is a chance that word might get back of your stress illness and that won't look good if you are then seen at the function.

gozaimasu

OP, I suggest that you don't attend the function, but tell them you are sick and to reschedule for a few weeks' time, say for example, the last day of your sick leave.

That way you can be off sick, and still attend near the end, the last day you are supposed to be better before you go back to work on the Monday.

Sounds like a horrible place to work if it's causing you all this stress. Clearly not a nice employer to work for given that you are being threatened from turning up at the new employer's function. I bet you are over the moon to have a new job.

You've already accepted the job though, so whether or not you go to a function, you still have to work there!

Macca83_2

As someone who has worked in a work place where bullying and intimidation was rife, I watched many of my colleagues leave in tears night after night. It was caused by one person and one person alone. Once it was addressed the whole atmosphere improved.
So yes, by working somewhere else that stress can disappear because at the end of the day its being caused by one person or a set of circumstances.

As the function is outside work hours i don't see how they can dictate what you can and can't go to.

browneyedbazzi

I disagree with some of the posters above who seem to think if you're sick then you have to sit at home the whole time as there are many reasons why it might be appropriate and necessary for you to be out whether during your regular working times or at other times of the day (indeed there are some mental health conditions that would be made worse by just sitting home like this and there are times when people are unfit to do their job and signed off but can still carry on with a lot of other activities). I also disagree with those who don't think you can'd possibly suffer with stress unless you're being shot at, but I do agree that if you're signed off sick because you are unfit to work due to stress, then you are unfit to attend work anywhere.

If the function is a social function (ie a meal out to meet the new team) then I can't see how your employer can demand that you not attend or what recourse they would have if you do attend. If it is a 'working' function (ie something you'll be paid to do in the new job) then I can see it being classed as dual working while off sick and that could be problematic (I've known someone dismissed for gross misconduct for doing this, which although you have a job offer on the table at the moment it might not work out and then your CV will be trashed).

Uncertain

micflair wrote: »

Im sick of people using `stress' as an excuse because they have been given stick by there boss. When your working in iraq as our brave armed forces boys and girls are, not knowing if your going to be alive after the next `shift'... now thats stress.

Well I hope you feel better for that ignorant rant!

SueC_2

micflair wrote: »

What a load of rubbish.

If your sick - YOUR SICK. Doesn't matter where you are, or what work your are doing. You cant be unfit at one job but not the next.

MissSarah1972 wrote: »

It's like saying you are off sick but can I go to see a west end show at night time. No, not if you are sick.

MissSarah1972 wrote: »

Also if you are sick you can't just be sick between the hours or 9-5pm and then ok when work time has ended and not actually be 'sick'

These are very black and white views, and I believe completely incorrect.

Micflair - If I have a broken leg I am still fully able to do my job sitting at a desk in an office. If I were a postman however, expected to walk miles a day lugging a bag of mail around, it would be a different story.

MissSarah1972 - Are you seriously saying that someone who is off sick should be, what, bed bound, 24 hours a day? Regardless of the illness? So someone who is undertaking a course of chemotherapy cannot meet a friend for lunch, or take a trip to the cinema, or go for a walk in the sunshine? Really?

The whole purpose of the new fit note system is for the patient and doctor to establish which, if any, of the elements of their job (ie. it IS job specific) they are able to undertake. Clearly this will vary according to the nature of the illness and the nature of the job itself.

Having got all that off my chest, OP - I'm sorry to say I still think you'd be on decidedly dodgy ground if you decided to attend this function.

MissSarah1972

SueC wrote: »

These are very black and white views, and I believe completely incorrect.

Micflair - If I have a broken leg I am still fully able to do my job sitting at a desk in an office. If I were a postman however, expected to walk miles a day lugging a bag of mail around, it would be a different story.

MissSarah1972 - Are you seriously saying that someone who is off sick should be, what, bed bound, 24 hours a day? Regardless of the illness? So someone who is undertaking a course of chemotherapy cannot meet a friend for lunch, or take a trip to the cinema, or go for a walk in the sunshine? Really?

The whole purpose of the new fit note system is for the patient and doctor to establish which, if any, of the elements of their job (ie. it IS job specific) they are able to undertake. Clearly this will vary according to the nature of the illness and the nature of the job itself.

Having got all that off my chest, OP - I'm sorry to say I still think you'd be on decidedly dodgy ground if you decided to attend this function.

I don't think chemotherapy is going to leave you in a good enough mood or condition to go to the cinema or out to lunch to be fair. I am not sure if you have had chemotherapy or not but I can say it makes you very ill.