How many 'safe' sick days in a year?

makeyourdaddyproud

aileth wrote: »

I'm not sure whether he gets paid or not, sorry I'm really naive about all this! He'd quite happily take the day unpaid to avoid being reprimanded for something he couldn't avoid.

Perhaps your OH could broach the possibility of going freelance? You're not then subject to the vagaries of the HR points system and you might even get a better rate!

Freelancing in general gives you more control over your time and destiny - I think you hinted earlier the flexibility of days off instead of the pay?

aileth

makeyourdaddyproud wrote: »

Perhaps your OH could broach the possibility of going freelance? You're not then subject to the vagaries of the HR points system and you might even get a better rate!

Freelancing in general gives you more control over your time and destiny - I think you hinted earlier the flexibility of days off instead of the pay?

No definitely not, he's only a lowly call centre operator :rotfl:

marybelle01

aileth wrote: »

I'm not sure whether he gets paid or not, sorry I'm really naive about all this! He'd quite happily take the day unpaid to avoid being reprimanded for something he couldn't avoid.

Some companies allow you to substitute holiday for sickness, i.e. allow you to take a days holiday at short notice rather than be off sick. But this has to be a matter of choice for the employee - it isn't up to the employer to choose. Technically it may not be "right", but if both parties are happy to go along with it there isn't a problem. I know of a couple of friends with similar "low level disabilities" (things that are disabling a day or so at a time, but don't meet the legal requirement for adjustments) who have arrangements of this kind.

aileth

marybelle01 wrote: »

Some companies allow you to substitute holiday for sickness, i.e. allow you to take a days holiday at short notice rather than be off sick. But this has to be a matter of choice for the employee - it isn't up to the employer to choose. Technically it may not be "right", but if both parties are happy to go along with it there isn't a problem. I know of a couple of friends with similar "low level disabilities" (things that are disabling a day or so at a time, but don't meet the legal requirement for adjustments) who have arrangements of this kind.

Fantastically helpful, thank you. I'll ask him about this. The company has been very supportive of him regarding his depression, so I would imagine they have something in place to help people. I personally do think the two are linked, as when he seems to be in lower moods he gets more migraines, but I'm not a Doctor of course.

sulkisu

aileth wrote: »

He has been to the Doctors a lot for depression, but once years ago for the migraines. To him they're just 'headaches', regardless of the fact they completely incapacitate him and he has to lay in a dark room vomiting for 6-7 hours, and won't listen regardless of my coercion, so if they wanetd to check the medical records they'd see the depression for sure.

He is one of the top of his team and has hit his target maybe 11 out of 12 months. He is also the one they come to for various other things and is seen as one of the better staff, so I'd like to think he's got this on his side.

Unfortunately as far as illnesses are concerned, migraines are similar to back ache and stress - easy to claim but difficult to prove. Speaking as a manager, I would say that your friend can't have it both ways. If they are serious enough to cause several days absence each year, then he can't simply regard them as 'just headaches' and therefore not take serious steps to address the problem. I would be less sympathetic if a team member had several days off with migraines but had not at least seen a doctor about it. I have suffered from migraines for over 20 years, severe debilitating attacks including tunnel vision, nausea etc, and still manage to find medication (some over the counter) which alleviates the symptoms sufficiently to be able to function. Not seeing a doctor for years about the problem, makes no sense.

aileth

sulkisu wrote: »

Unfortunately as far as illnesses are concerned, migraines are similar to back ache and stress - easy to claim but difficult to prove. Speaking as a manager, I would say that your friend can't have it both ways. If they are serious enough to cause several days absence each year, then he can't simply regard them as 'just headaches' and therefore not take serious steps to address the problem. I would be less sympathetic if a team member had several days off with migraines but had not at least seen a doctor about it. I have suffered from migraines for over 20 years, severe debilitating attacks including tunnel vision, nausea etc, and still manage to find medication (some over the counter) which alleviates the symptoms sufficiently to be able to function. Not seeing a doctor for years about the problem, makes no sense.

It's my husband, and I know it makes no sense. He is literally a teenager when it comes to seeing the Doctor and will dig his heels in not to go. He will conveniently keep 'forgetting' to book appointments, and then when I book one for him he says he's gone when he really hasn't. I can't force him unfortunately, and it's rather distressing with how bad the migraines are that he does nothing to help it.

poet123

I work in education and 3 days (separated)in any12 months triggers the sickness policy. I was sent home with a contagious disease once and it still counted as i went home before noon which is the cut off point for us. And the sick days counted even though I was contagious!!

aileth

poet123 wrote: »

I work in education and 3 days (separated)in any12 months triggers the sickness policy. I was sent home with a contagious disease once and it still counted as i went home before noon which is the cut off point for us. And the sick days counted even though I was contagious!!

I hope you got payback by infecting them all :whistle:

AP007

Denning. wrote: »

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.

At my company you were lucky to be sent home and still if you did it was still 'sick'

dori2o

It is possible that this condition your husband has would qualify as a disability under the Equality Act 2010

A person (P) has a disability if—
(a)P has a physical or mental impairment, and
(b)the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on P's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

Is his employer fully aware of the facts of the condition. they may be able to offer help/support/adjustments to help when his condition is at its worst.

Has he ever been referred by the GP to the hospital for his migraines. Sometimes they are a sympton to another underlying condition.

As for not seeing the doctor, if he has tried all medications and nothing works I can fully understand the reluctance to see them. I very rarely see my GP as I get the feeling he doesn't care, or simnply doesn't know what to do, so i just get my repeat scripts every month online.