Work problems since boss went sick

annah1212

Hi everyone,

Really badly need some advice about what to do about my very messy work situation. It's a long story but will try and keep it short.

I work in the public sector, in a small team where me and one other person report to a director, who reports to the chief executive. Our director has been on long-term sick leave due to work-related stress and depression since May. We were promised when he first went sick that if it continued for any period of time, they would find someone to replace him temporarily. However, after about two months, we were told the chief executive was concerned our boss would feel "replaced" if they backfilled his post, so now nothing was to be done about it. Myself and my colleague have picked up all his work since he's been away, and we're both working around 60 hours a week instead of our normal 37 to get it all done. We insisted we wanted some support to be brought in, and the HR department eventually agreed a month ago that they would look into it - but nothing has happened since despite us chasing it.

In addition, we were promised we would be giving acting-up allowances for taking on additional work. We have now been waiting six months but keep being told the HR department has not had time to look into it so we have no idea if there will be money, if so how much, or when it would be paid. So we're basically being told no support and no money for doing the job of someone who is on the sick due to work stress. (I should add that we both earn around £36k a year and my boss is on £92k).

As if that wasn't all bad enough, the chief executive agreed last month that the boss could start coming in one day a week for "keeping in touch" time even though he remains signed off. We have been told he isn't there to do any work, but all he does when he comes in is interfere in our work and undermine us. He has also requested a one to one meeting with everyone in the team to talk about why he is off sick, what his flaws are, and what we think he needs to do to recover and "be a success". I took some advice from ACAS (I'm not in the union) and they said this was entirely inappropriate given that he is off sick, and I should not take part. I politely told the HR department I would rather not take part. They agreed it's not appropriate to meet one to one to basically give criticism to a colleague who is off sick, but said it's "awkward" for them to explain that to my boss as he's vulnerable, and I should just keep cancelling and hope he forgets about it. I keep cancelling the meetings, he keeps rearranging them. My latest meeting was meant to be today and I emailed the HR director on Thursday to ask her to intervene. She replied saying I shouldn't have to go, but she didn't have time to do anything about it. So I have ended up ringing in sick today to avoid it, which is the first time I've thrown a sickie ever And of course the meeting has been rearranged.

The whole situation is really starting to stress me out - not only doing so much extra work for no thanks and no pay, but also the fact that the boss is technically off sick but seems to be allowed to come into the office and interfere and cause awkward situations whenever he feels like it. ACAS told me they obviously didn't know the ins and outs of this situation but that usually someone who is signed off cannot be in the office due to lack of insurance for them, and a lot of colleagues outside of the immediate team are raising an eyebrow about why he is sitting at his desk while still signed off. It's also giving the impression to some colleagues that it's business as usual and me and my colleague are getting a lot of grief from people who think we're using his absence as an excuse for falling behind, as they believe he is back at work.

I can't sleep for worrying about having to have this one to one with him, not to mention lying awake making lists of all the work I haven't done yet! My colleague has applied for several jobs on half our salary just to get out - and it will only get worse if she leaves as I will be doing the lot on my own then. I'm looking for other jobs but really need at least what I earn now as I have a mortgage to pay on my own. A lot of friends are telling me to go and get signed off on stress myself, but I really don't want that on my record. I don't know what to do Can anyone offer any thoughts? Thanks in advance

Takeaway_Addict

Why are you doing the extra work? If you and your colleague just did the contracted hours or say maybe 5 extra a week which really is more than reasonable what would happen?

This is exactly the problem with long term sick when not dealt with properly, it causes other problems down the line

annah1212

I did ask a fortnight ago if I could resign from the extra work and was told they were unsure why I would want to do that given that they've said they will get some support for us and they've said they will pay us eventually. That made me feel as though I was being petty and unhelpful - but after waiting six months I don't really believe any of this is going to happen. I forgot to say I had a stress risk assessment at the suggestion of HR last week. It flagged that my stress levels are of "serious concern" - but then I was told the only action will be to meet again in three weeks and see if I feel better?!

Daedalus

Are you and the other worker in agreement? Stick together and demand tomorrow that you are given it in writing that you will be back paid for the additional work and that you will be given support. If you work to rule they are pretty stuffed, they would lose any tribunal.

annah1212

Tried that already - sent a strongly worded email on 30 October to chief executive and head of HR. They both ignored it! I was then told by my interim line manager that it had been perceived as us "throwing teddies out of the pram." Honestly you have to work there to believe how poor it is! Have since asked to meet with them in person but keep being told they're too busy. I wondered whether our next move should be to send another email not asking for a discussion but saying we resign from acting up and are going back to our previous job descriptions? There is nothing in writing to say we will act up, and we're not being paid, so I'm not sure how we can be held to it?

Annisele

You've said you're not in a union - but is your colleague? If so, can they get any help from the union?

I'm not sure you have tried the "stick together and demand" option. You say you sent a strongly worded email, but you didn't then follow through with the work to rule. I think I might just start on the work-to-rule, and then when questioned say "but I did tell you on 30 October this is what I'd do". However, I'm far from an expert on employment law.

jobseeking_help

annah1212 wrote: »

Tried that already - sent a strongly worded email on 30 October to chief executive and head of HR. They both ignored it! I was then told by my interim line manager that it had been perceived as us "throwing teddies out of the pram." Honestly you have to work there to believe how poor it is! Have since asked to meet with them in person but keep being told they're too busy. I wondered whether our next move should be to send another email not asking for a discussion but saying we resign from acting up and are going back to our previous job descriptions? There is nothing in writing to say we will act up, and we're not being paid, so I'm not sure how we can be held to it?

Annah

Yes, I think that's exactly what you should do. You and your colleague have got to start taking action to protect your health as it would seem to me that the combined stress of the excessive workloads and the meeting with the exec are taking its toll.

I am constantly shocked at how little care organisations actually take. They profess to do so but then only pay lip service if not actually ignore it as seems to be your case.

As for the meeting with the exec I'm not sure. Has anyone had such a meeting ? HR are useless and should have tactfully told him not to attend work in any capacity until a back to work plan had been agreed.

You can refuse to meet with him - what repercussions do you think that may have upon his return ? Or meet and in effect say nothing - be entirely neutral to his questions.

Very difficult all round, exponentially compounded by HR's total ineffectiveness.

Sambucus_Nigra

annah1212 wrote: »

I did ask a fortnight ago if I could resign from the extra work and was told they were unsure why I would want to do that given that they've said they will get some support for us and they've said they will pay us eventually. That made me feel as though I was being petty and unhelpful - but after waiting six months I don't really believe any of this is going to happen. I forgot to say I had a stress risk assessment at the suggestion of HR last week. It flagged that my stress levels are of "serious concern" - but then I was told the only action will be to meet again in three weeks and see if I feel better?!

Stop using 'resign' as terminology for a start!

Just start doing your own job, your usual hours and tell them they need to sort out the extra duties. They aren't going to pay you, that's just a lie. If they were, they would have done it.

ellies_angel

join a union, it's never too late

ILW

Typical PS. Pay someone £90k PA for staying at home.
Work related stress = Not up to the job.
Really annoys me.

Wyndham

OK, look at it from their point of view. The work is still being done, for less pay. This is a good situation for them (even though it's bad for you). You then say you don't want to do it anymore, they panic and say 'you're making a fuss' etc. - again, because it is in their interests for you to continue. And you then let them have their way, mumble 'okay then...' and get on with it.

They were never going to roll over easily and give in. The only way this will change is if you take a stand. You need to work out what you want, so if you don't want to do the extra work, you need to be clear on that. If you don't mind the extra work if you get extra pay, be clear on that. And all the way through they will call you a troublemaker, and say you are making a fuss etc. - but that's part of their game play. You need to remember that you are being more than reasonable.

I would write an email (or maybe even a letter) to the director of HR, and state that you wish to discuss the situtation and set up a meeting. Then be strong, firm and stand your ground - remember, they are in the wrong here, not you. Remind them that you've been doing this for six months, so it's not as if you are unwilling to try and help, but that after this amount of time you feel that there should either be some changes or some recognition (depending on what you've decided you want).

In terms of the meeting with your boss, I'd just refuse and tell him that you don't want to meet, nothing else, no reasons or anything. It's not your problem, but it is being made into your problem by HR.

And finally, it may be time to think about another job. If this is how they treat you, why would you want to stay there?