Signed off work, should you be doing other things?

LE3

If somebody is signed off (eg they broke their arm & can't do their normal job), how would you feel about them doing stuff outside work - eg going to local WI meeting, wandering round town etc

Should the fact that they can't do their job for a couple of weeks mean they have to glue themselves to sofa & Jeremy Kyle?

ILW

Depends what they are signed off for.
If it's a twisted ankle meaning they cannot do a desk job, I would be pretty peeved if they were out dancing.

jackieblack

Well you can't go to Australia and wrestle a shark 'cos you'll get the sack!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/9924612/Holidaymaker-who-wrestled-shark-sacked-by-charity.html

duchy

Seems like common sense.

Not capable of executing work tasks doesn't mean turning into a hermit. Going to a festival would not be appropriate in most cases but going to the shops would be.

Unless you are the person concerned - what they are off with isn't any of your business though so it's impossible to say.

Cycrow

i wouldn't see a problem with someone with a broken arm off work walking aorund doing stuff, especially as its temporary.

would be abit annoying if they were of work for years with a broken arm but playing tennis or something on the weekends

mollusk

I would consider it a good idea for the person to get out and about. He's not going to get better breathing in stale air and generally feeling sorry for himself.

ohreally

Would a relaxing beach holiday in the sun aid recovery and rehabilitation?

anamenottaken

LE3 wrote: »

If somebody is signed off (eg they broke their arm & can't do their normal job), how would you feel about them doing stuff outside work - eg going to local WI meeting, wandering round town etc

Should the fact that they can't do their job for a couple of weeks mean they have to glue themselves to sofa & Jeremy Kyle?

I would feel sorry for them for having a broken arm (or whatever the reason was for being signed off as sick).

As long as the activities included as "stuff outside work" were not indicative of their being able to do their regular job and, as an employer, I could not offer them alternative suitable work, then I would not be worried by those other activities.

theoretica

If the broken arm meant the could not do their job - a violinist for instance - and no suitable one armed alternative duties were available then being confined to the sofa would be plain silly.

Jinx

I would think, shame about their broken arm, but at least they're not watching Jeremy Kyle lol

Seriously though, if there are no suitable duties then what else can the person do.....? Life goes on regardless.

Savvy_Sue

LE3 wrote: »

If somebody is signed off (eg they broke their arm & can't do their normal job), how would you feel about them doing stuff outside work - eg going to local WI meeting, wandering round town etc

Should the fact that they can't do their job for a couple of weeks mean they have to glue themselves to sofa & Jeremy Kyle?

I'd think it was very sensible to get out and about as much as possible, TBH.

I've had two extended periods of sick leave, one for brain surgery and one for a spectacularly broken shoulder which required major surgery and having my arm tied to my body for 6 weeks. If you'd glued me to the sofa watching Jeremy Kyle, I don't suppose I'd ever have returned to work: I'd have lost what few brain cells survived childbirth, brain surgery and shoulder surgery. (You'd be surprised how many memories were stored in that part of my arm!!!)

I'm not sure if you're thinking the person SHOULD be confined to barracks, from the way your post is worded I think not. To those who think that 'sick' = 'at home can't leave the house', please don't judge how well the person is by how they look when they are out. During both those periods, I was taking strong painkillers which tended to wear off before I could take more. If I was out, I'd probably just dosed myself up.

ohreally wrote: »

Would a relaxing beach holiday in the sun aid recovery and rehabilitation?

It might very well: the shattered shoulder meant we had to cancel one holiday, so we re-booked and went at the end of my sick leave. It did me the world of good!

But I suspect you know that if you're signed off sick, you really need to clear any holidays with your employer beforehand. You can ask to be paid your holiday during a period of sick leave, of course.