How many 'safe' sick days in a year?

aileth

Hi all,

Asking on behalf of my OH. He's been working at a VERY large company for over a year now and has had seven days off sick for the whole year and a bit. These are 90% due to migraines (he gets really terrible ones). Now, he's starting to get headaches this week which normally means migraine incoming. He's really worried that if he takes another one off, eight days in a year is a lot. They have some sort of sickness register, where there's Levels 1, 2 and 3, 3 is monitoring/interviews. As far as he can remember, he's Level 1, possibly Level 2.

He said that a colleague of his recently had two weeks off, however that was all in one go, so what I'd assume is one 'period' of sickness. Of the 7 days he has had off so far, I'd say there's maybe 4-5 'periods' of sickness in that.

What about people say is the normal in a year to take off sick? Do people think if he took a day to be the eighth this year he'll be in bother?

Thanks.

AP007

At my last co I think it was 5 days in a year but not sure. I know I got called in for a 'chat' when I hit 10 when 7 of them were for Kidney Stones!

makeyourdaddyproud

There is no 'normal' tolerance of sick length in most companies. If you're thinking in terms of what you can get away with you are playing a very dangerous game: you don't know how long his migraine spell can last or if there will be other spells later in the year.

The best advice I can give is to find the right medication and try to put up with the minor headaches whilst working, because it would be unpleasant to lose a job in the current market.

Having said that he might qualify for SSP, but the rates will not compete with his regular pay. I hope you find the right combination of meds and I wish him a fast recovery.

p00hsticks

aileth wrote: »

What about people say is the normal in a year to take off sick? Do people think if he took a day to be the eighth this year he'll be in bother?

Thanks.

According to this recent article in the Independent the UK average is about 4.5 days a year although it depends to a certain extent on your profession - IT workers generally take less, but public sector workers more, and NHS workers in particular are quite high (presumably at least in part because they have to be particularly careful with colds etc so as not to infect patients)

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/95-sick-days--the-yearly-average-for-nhs-workers-5-more-than-for-the-average-worker-8728772.html

Denning.

Normally it is how many individual periods one has been off.

1 x 7 days is better than 7 x 1 days.

Then it depends if the company is aware of the issue?

aileth

Denning. wrote: »

Normally it is how many individual periods one has been off.

1 x 7 days is better than 7 x 1 days.

Then it depends if the company is aware of the issue?

I thought that was the case. I need to get proper clarification from him. The company is aware when he gets migraines it's very bad, and they're also aware he suffers from quite bad depression.

Denning.

aileth wrote: »

I thought that was the case. I need to get proper clarification from him. The company is aware when he gets migraines it's very bad, and they're also aware he suffers from quite bad depression.

Well by having 'levels' it seems there is a formal sick policy so shouldn't too hard to find it. It might be the case the despite the employer knowing the reason and believing he is genuinely ill they still need to follow the procedures and move him up the levels, generally means they just won't sack him like they would someone they didn't believe.

aileth

Denning. wrote: »

Well by having 'levels' it seems there is a formal sick policy so shouldn't too hard to find it. It might be the case the despite the employer knowing the reason and believing he is genuinely ill they still need to follow the procedures and move him up the levels, generally means they just won't sack him like they would someone they didn't believe.

Yes, I asked him about the sickness policy and he said it's basically wholly designed to catch out 'chancers' and people trying to skive off all the time, but he really doesn't want to go to Level 3 even though they've all been legitimate as it's extra stress of being 'interviewed.'

One of the days I know is when he went in with a migraine and they sent him straight home just as he was about to be sick in the bin!

Denning.

aileth wrote: »

Yes, I asked him about the sickness policy and he said it's basically wholly designed to catch out 'chancers' and people trying to skive off all the time, but he really doesn't want to go to Level 3 even though they've all been legitimate as it's extra stress of being 'interviewed.'

One of the days I know is when he went in with a migraine and they sent him straight home just as he was about to be sick in the bin!

That would make sense. my work has 3 strikes within a year and after that if they didn't believe you they could sack you. It covers their back from any claims of unfair treatment.

As for the interview, it really depends on the company as mine was with my team leader who was a friend and overly supportive, but remember he can always ask for someone to come with him.

AFAIK being sent home from work can't be deemed as a sick day as the employer has deemed you unfit for work despite you turning up, might be wrong, not my area.

aileth

Denning. wrote: »

AFAIK being sent home from work can't be deemed as a sick day as the employer has deemed you unfit for work despite you turning up, might be wrong, not my area.

You'd think so wouldn't you? Unfortunately they do and have been counted on his sick days. I think about two of them are from them sending him home.

He's just told me it's 7.5 days, so that 0.5 is definitely being sent home, and I'm pretty sure another two or so is.

Denning.

aileth wrote: »

You'd think so wouldn't you? Unfortunately they do and have been counted on his sick days. I think about two of them are from them sending him home.

He's just told me it's 7.5 days, so that 0.5 is definitely being sent home, and I'm pretty sure another two or so is.

Quick google appears that it is up to the company how they count sick days (within reason), but if it ever came to it the law deems once someone has started work for the day then if they are sent home at 9:05 then it won't be deemed a sick day.