Sick Note No Longer needed?

pickle81

Hi All

I am off work at the moment, my absence has been for the past 2 weeks and my manager has just called me to see how I am. I said I am at the doctors again today and will be getting a sick note, apologised to him etc for not being in and was told that they no longer take sick notes, they manage it themselves?

I am confused, I thought sick notes were mandatory.

He was asking me personal questions about my illness etc which I also didn't think they could do.

Where do I stand with this? What can/can't they ask me? and Do I need a Sick Note?

Thanks

DCFC79

what does your works policy on sickness say whats needed ?

pickle81

I have been there since 2007 and never had a new contract/signed etc so the one I have states:

Providing you comply with the relevant notice requirements and conditions of the company's sick pay scheme and absence monitoring process as apply from time to time, copies of which will be made available from the human resources department, you will receive the following payments during sickness periods:....then states payments.

That is it, there is nothing else regarding sickness.

Our HR are none facing you can only contact them by phone, I work for a large telecommunications company and our HR team are in another country.

Thanks

Kayalana99

'conidtions of the companys sick pay scheme' could be anything.

You need to get a hand of those copies really for answars.

pickle81

Thank you, I appreciate your responses.

Kayalana99

FYI I'd still get those sick notes nd give them in regardless of what the manager says...its almost like he is saying they will make thier own assesment if you are sick or not by what you said? I wouldn't take the risk tho as a doctors note is pratically law..they can't say oh we think your ok if you have a sick note...but if you don't get one because they say you don't need it, you might shoot yourself in the foot if they stop paying you.

I don't know the law on it as well about how much they can ask you but they generally are allowed to ask you to come to a meeting to discuss how your doing and when you will feel ready to come back to work (or as they put it how to make it easier for you to come back) is normal...

pickle81

Thank you Kayalana99 I appreciate your response, I am definitely going to get a sick note today as I am concerned by his response.

I have also contacted our HR department to get a copy of our sick note policy and was advised 'a document of that nature does not exist, sickness policies depend on which department you work within and where in the country your office is based!' this all seems very strange to me especially with such a HUGE recognized company.