Do you think its unfair for employers looking at just the past 12 months of sickness?

AP007

skintandscared wrote: »

Some people (like me) will drag themselves into work unless we are totally bedridden because our Christmas bonus is totally dependent on our sickness absence!

What's a bonus? :O

fionajbanana

Wyndham wrote: »

Personally, I have an eye condition which flares up now and then, a couple of times a year. I keep it in check with medication, and it's mostly fine, but it's not something I can do anything about and it will never be 'better'. My employer has a '3 strikes, we're having a chat, 4 strikes is more serious' policy, so I just think I'm doomed!

If you have any medical condition which could affect your health then the employer will take that into consideration. Another colleague has lupus and any time off sick because of this is treated differently if she phoned in sick with something unrelated - a cold, broken foot etc.

That is why if you have been diagnosed with any medical condition which will affect you the long term, you need to tell your employer or ask your GP or hospital consultant to write to them.

skintandscared_2

AP007 wrote: »

What's a bonus? :O

LOL, it's hardly "bankers" standards, but a week's extra money at Christmas is a god-send. If you take a few days off sick in the year, the bonus is reduced pro-rata. It has definitely cut down on the odd days off, but the downside is that everyone brings their germs into the office.

Takeaway_Addict

fionajbanana wrote: »

If you have any medical condition which could affect your health then the employer will take that into consideration. Another colleague has lupus and any time off sick because of this is treated differently if she phoned in sick with something unrelated - a cold, broken foot etc.

That is why if you have been diagnosed with any medical condition which will affect you the long term, you need to tell your employer or ask your GP or hospital consultant to write to them.

Not quite, it needs to be defined as a disability under the equality act 2010 and then the employer has to make reasonable adjustments. One of these is to not count illness due to disability or to allow more sickness due to the disability.

Jules2012

My manager had a total of 28 days (about 8 instances) off sick last year!!

If I am ever off sick and he dares says anything he will get whats for.

blckbrd

Apols OP. Wasn't trying to make you out to be Typhoid Mary just trying to highlight the 'culture of fear' I mentioned that Wyndahm's post confirms.

coinxoperated

I've noticed a massive difference in the tolerance of sickness between public and private sectors.

I've always worked in the private sector where sickness seems to be very much poo poo'd and you feel you HAVE to go to work otherwise you'll your job. There smaller with more people trying to gain more power and stomping there feet about.

My ex worked for a public college, which stated in his contract that he was entitled!!! to '11 instances of sickness before an investigation or improvement plan would take place'. Instances, not days. A lady who worked in his office had 11 separate weeks off with flu. I was gob smacked. All self certified because of being just 4 or 5 days at a time.

My ex became quite used to having all this extra time off and it was never caused him any issues! He called in with a 'sore throat and flu like symptoms' once and told them he would need a week to recover. he didn't have to call in each morning and was told not to worry and to come in the following Monday. No mention of it other than a brief note he had to fill out to confirm he felt ok to work.

Ironically his lack of ambition and focus on anything for the future is why he is my ex...

Tenyearstogo

coinxoperated wrote: »

I've noticed a massive difference in the tolerance of sickness between public and private sectors.

I've always worked in the private sector where sickness seems to be very much poo poo'd and you feel you HAVE to go to work otherwise you'll your job. There smaller with more people trying to gain more power and stomping there feet about.

My ex worked for a public college, which stated in his contract that he was entitled!!! to '11 instances of sickness before an investigation or improvement plan would take place'. Instances, not days. A lady who worked in his office had 11 separate weeks off with flu. I was gob smacked. All self certified because of being just 4 or 5 days at a time.

My ex became quite used to having all this extra time off and it was never caused him any issues! He called in with a 'sore throat and flu like symptoms' once and told them he would need a week to recover. he didn't have to call in each morning and was told not to worry and to come in the following Monday. No mention of it other than a brief note he had to fill out to confirm he felt ok to work.

Ironically his lack of ambition and focus on anything for the future is why he is my ex...

It's not like that in the NHS. 3 instances in any 12 month rolling period is a verbal warning, 4 instances is a written warning. We do have to call in everyday.

the sickness culture is certainly not encouraged. I'm always amazed when I hear or read about this. I've worked in both the public and private sector, there was no difference in attitude.

Wyndham

fionajbanana wrote: »

If you have any medical condition which could affect your health then the employer will take that into consideration. Another colleague has lupus and any time off sick because of this is treated differently if she phoned in sick with something unrelated - a cold, broken foot etc.

That is why if you have been diagnosed with any medical condition which will affect you the long term, you need to tell your employer or ask your GP or hospital consultant to write to them.

Thanks for this, and yes, I know. But, for me it's one of those very grey areas, where I've got an occassional thing, but I don't feel I'm disabled. My understanding is that the definition of disability has three parts to it - the severity of the condition (I can't see out of one eye, and that counts), the length of time the condition lasts for (in my case, permanent) but the final bit is around how it affect your day to day life - and mostly I just get on with it. So, I don't think my employer has to make any reasonable adjustments to accommodate me.

However, if they decide to take action over sickness absence, I may then bring it all into play

I did see Occupational Health before I started the job (I had to fill in a medical questionaire and was then referred). They were supportive, but also didn't feel I needed any adjustments.

FBaby

I think it is absolutely right that three instances of sickness a year should trigger a review, but that's what it should be. Looking into the reasons, seeing if it can be prevented, assessing any trends etc... Disciplining systematically is only going to alienate the employee and make much less likely to work hard and show dedication.