Absence because of pet death

Mojoworking

Wow your really generous, I got 3 days for my brother and as the funeral was on the fourth I was told I could take it as annual leave or unpaid.

dizzyrascal

I lost a much loved pet in a very tragic episode and I was so shocked I was unable to speak for a week. I have also had old or sick pets put down in the past and I think you have time to prepare for that and sometimes pick the day too which helps your frame of mind.
I think any bereavement brings other (sometimes buried) grief to the surface. Well it does for me anyway. As others have said, there may be a lot more to this then
just the death of a much loved cat.
However, I always think that a phased return is only an option for those who have had a serious or long term illness. Seems a lot to ask in these circumstances but she may feel differently in a few days.

Uncertain

Mojoworking wrote: »

Wow your really generous, I got 3 days for my brother and as the funeral was on the fourth I was told I could take it as annual leave or unpaid.

Read the thread!

She has not been give leave by the firm, she has been signed off sick for two weeks by her doctor because she is ill.

dseventy

Uncertain wrote: »

Read the thread!

She has not been give leave by the firm, she has been signed off sick for two weeks by her doctor because she is ill.

Not strictly true. She would have had paid leave until Monday.

As the sick note start froms today, she is covered by it and still gets paid.

D70

Mojoworking

Uncertain wrote: »

Read the thread!

She has not been give leave by the firm, she has been signed off sick for two weeks by her doctor because she is ill.

I was on about the manager sending her home on full pay. I was put on 3 days compassionate leave plus one day annual leave.

The sick note - I don't know what to say about that - I know it's horrible but when you look at what most companies offer i.e. what I got - I don't know, glad I'm not the boss!

marybelle01

dseventy wrote: »

Opinions?

D70

For what it is worth, you have had your opinions and I think it may be time to ask the Forum Team to pull this thread. I don't doubt your good intentions in asking for the opinions of others, but the amount of detail on this thread could identify the person, either if they read it or others who know then (or work with them) happen to read it. Some of the comments now being posted are deliberately hurtful and spiteful. If this person is indeed suffering from some sort of mental breakdown, whatever the cause, some of the comments on this thread will certainly not help them - nor help you as their employer.

The person being spoken about here isn't in a position to defend themselves and hasn't asked for an opinion from strangers about their mental capacity, nor for jibes in dubious taste about their loss. It has passed from opinion into spineless bullying. It is time to put it to a stop.

Savvy_Sue

elsien wrote: »

And a phased return - with the info you've given, no. If there's a bit more going on, possibly, but you do need to know what in case it's work related and needs sorting.

dseventy wrote: »

I don't employ any HR people, I outsource it. I spoke to them today and they have reccomended a Occupational Health referral for the employee and they will sort it.

I think that's the only possible response.

elsien wrote: »

But would you do a 4 week phased return for a member of staff who'd only been off for 2 weeks?

because I agree that this would be unusual.

However, I know that if I had NOT had my first phased return I would never have been able to go back to work: the thought of going in first thing Monday and working a full week was just impossible to conceive. So I suppose it could be possible to feel that way after even a short period of illness.

Welshwoofs

My dog is my family and the day he goes I will be devastated...but...two weeks off and a phased return over 4 weeks???? She's taking the pi$$.

When my childhood cat died at the age of 19 I had a day off work paid and was back to work the next day...yes I did have the odd weep and I was pretty sad for a week or two, but I coped.

ILW

Does make you wonder what would happen if this country had to face a real crisis. Would half the population need to take a year off?

Uncertain

ILW wrote: »

Does make you wonder what would happen if this country had to face a real crisis.

I would imagine that, as long as you were not involved, we would cope fine!