Sick pay while suspended

paulineb_2

I think when you aren't in the middle of something like the OP is, its easy to sit and look at things from a rational perspective. All I can say is, having had several jobs where my health was affected, to the point where I changed career (the job Im talking about last year was in a totally different industry, I was just unlucky to meet a boss I can only describe as a psycho), Im now at the point where I really am adamant that my health comes first.

And I can absolutely identify with the OP about how you feel sore, an understatement about how much work you have put in and how badly you have been treated. These feelings take time to work through.

The absolute worst job Ive ever been in, when I was sacked, for complaining about my working conditions. It took me a year to get over all sorts of emotions, upset, anger, grief even. I missed the client group I was working with, I had put so much effort into the job, they even advertised my job when I was off sick.

But you get through it. And I was ill with stress probably for a long time before I left (I had made up my mind before they sacked me that I was never going back) and probably for the year leading up to tribunal as well.

But I woke up one day and I thought, Im over it. I moved on, I went back to university, I did some jobs in the same line of work for minimum pay and just on a sessional basis and it was great. And the biggest thing for me was to be able to look them in the eye when I faced them at tribunal and say, you haven't ruined my life.

A year ago I wasn't in a good place, but after I got away from that boss again, had a bit of counselling where I talked about stuff that had happened in previous jobs as well, I just got back on with it and decided to start up again on my own.

Some things scar you. You don't always truly get over the bad times in the workplace, but you learn from it. And Ive always fought everything that's ever happened to me, even if I were too unwell to go into a disciplinary hearing, I made written submissions and I fought it.

But if the OP doesn't want to, its her call. All Im really trying to say is that I think people have the capacity to go through really tough stuff that affects them and they think, I'll never get over this, I'll never get another job, I'll never feel well again.

But you do. And looking back on every single job Ive ever been in where I wasn't treated well, I now look back and think, lucky escape.

Its really important for you to look after yourself OP, even if the last thing you want to do is eat, try.

Things pass. In a years time you will look back on this and your life will be different.

I bet you for the better as well.

monty-doggy

I do want to face it, I need to make sure I feel strong and try and make myself and my family as secure as possible first. I can't let myself crumble, which is how I feel right now. I still maintain I made a mistake, a stupid one yes but it wasn't malicious or intentional,
It's obvious I'm going to be dismissed, and I'm terrified it will prevent me getting another job. I've worked very hard all my life and never been unemployed.
I have no problem going for other jobs, I'm confident I will get one, I'm just worried my current employer could ruin it for me. How doi get out of that cycle? I can't not have a job, i just can't.
I feel like my working life could be over, for something so stupid.

paulineb_2

monty-doggy wrote: »

Pauline, did you say you have been dismissed from a job? How did you explain it to a new employer? That's my biggest fear.

Two actually. One ten years ago and one last year.

I explained it by being honest. I was dismissed for putting in a grievance complaining about my working conditions. Which were horrible. I had two junior staff working for me, as senior support workers. One wanted the job I had but wasn't qualified to do it and from day one he made my life hell. He was joined by the other senior worker, who was a complete bampot (idiot)

I used to go into work on a day to find her sitting in my office (she was a BIG woman and very intimidating). I also used to get what I can only describe as hate mail, typed from her to me on the organisations headed notepaper.

The organisation didn't keep her on after her probationary period as she was a total loose cannon. But the campaign against me gathered speed. Tenants were involved, I managed a project for addicts. One tried to assault me. He then started making funny phone calls to me, I had BT police traces on my phone line at one point

And when I eventually cracked and put in a grievance, a member of the management committee who I had never met in my life, decided to investigate and discipline me. I was off sick by that point, having walked out one day, vowing Id never go back.

I could have resigned, I just wasn't going to give them the satisfaction.

I was honest with new employers. I was honest about being sacked. I was happy to tell them the story of what happened to me (theres no way you could make that saga up)

And I felt better for it. I also made it very clear I didn't want them to be a reference for me. I wouldn't have asked them anyway, I didn't want one from them.

It didn't hinder me getting other work. I had work within weeks of being sacked.

And I did go through all the things that you are going through, thinking they had ruined my life, worrying about how I was going to pay bills, plus I was ill with stress as well, was a horrible time.

But people do go through tough times in work, the number of tribunals every year suggest that a lot of people aren't very happily employed.

Ive actually not had a job since that incident last year, Im now of the view that having had so much stuff happen to me in the last 15 years or so, Im much happier self employed

But when I was working full time and I was sacked, I spoke to prospective employers. I put something about what happened to me in with an application form and I was more than happy to talk things over as well, my view was that I had nothing to hide.

monty-doggy

I'm sorry you went through all that.

In all my years as a manager I've never had a bad word raised or a conduct issue.

I'd never treat anyone like that, and this is why I'm finding this all so hard.
Regardless of what anyone thinks, I know I'm honest, hard working and a good person. I give give give and I don't deserve all this.

People make mistakes, but mitigating circumstances, and track record etc should most certainly come into play.

anamenottaken

monty-doggy wrote: »

I'm can't speak to the hr dept as the hr manager is on holiday this week so they couldn't hear the grievance even if I wanted them to. My colleague told me when they receive my sick not they are writing to tell me I'm not being paid.
I feel like they've decided this before even receiving my sick note!

On this aspect, wait for the letter. Your colleague may have misunderstood.

paulineb_2

monty-doggy wrote: »

I'm sorry you went through all that.

In all my years as a manager I've never had a bad word raised or a conduct issue.

I'd never treat anyone like that, and this is why I'm finding this all so hard.
Regardless of what anyone thinks, I know I'm honest, hard working and a good person. I give give give and I don't deserve all this.

People make mistakes, but mitigating circumstances, and track record etc should most certainly come into play.

Well, it can be hard when you think of yourself as a decent person who wouldn't put the boot into anyone and then you come up against people who want to get you sacked. My goodness, the lies Ive seen written about me over the years.

It still affects me to the point where opening post can be an issue, not that I let my post hit the ceiling, but if I get a letter and I don't know who its from, I automatically go back to those times, where I was under siege from parcel after parcel of statements and lies about me.

When I was getting the letters last year from my employer and her area manager I knew Id never be back anyway, so I didn't open them. Knew they would just be full of insults and reading them would have set me back, so they ended up down the bin chute.

All I can say is, sometimes you meet people and they turn out different to your perception of them.

But you cant change who you are and you cant change them either.

And when you get a massive kick in the teeth its awful, but all I can say is, the next few weeks or months might be testing, but you will get through this one way or another.

Part of the problem can be, you think it only happened to you, there are millions of people all over the world who go through hard times in work, day in day out. But you don't see that when you are at the sharp end.

Do your employer have an occupational health scheme? I don't mean employee counselling, I mean occupational health, or is there a local occupational health scheme you can tap into.

Ive seen occupational health a couple of times, but the first time I was linked into an OH project, all I can say is, he was the first person apart from my family who believed what was happening to me and it was really valuable for me to be able to speak to people who understood what stress in the workplace was like and who weren't judgemental.

I gave up managing staff after the first job I spoke about there, much as I believe I am a good manager and good at what I do, I just met too many difficult people and it really wasn't worth going on with it, for me anyway.

There are other options out there for you career wise, you just need to take some time out after all this is over and sit down and think what you want to do next.

And that could be swiping beans through a till in a supermarket as long as you were treated well, its the most important thing.

monty-doggy

I think you are right. I've always worked at places because it was a nice shop or I liked the product, but most of these places have idiots like my deputy ready to trample on you to get where they want to be.

It's been a huge eye opener. I've heard so many good things about places I'd previously never want to work for but there is so much to be said for a down to earth honest employer, rather than a snooty pretentious and unfair one.

monty-doggy

I've rung acas. Talked it all through with them.

If they don't pay me they will be in breach of contract.
They can't refuse my resignation.
I've been advised to raise a grievance on the basis they won't give me a fair disciplinary hearing and are refusing to accept the witness is lying.
I've already been told they are going to dismiss me so I've nothing to lose.

Southend1

monty-doggy wrote: »

I've rung acas. Talked it all through with them.

If they don't pay me they will be in breach of contract.
They can't refuse my resignation.
I've been advised to raise a grievance on the basis they won't give me a fair disciplinary hearing and are refusing to accept the witness is lying.
I've already been told they are going to dismiss me so I've nothing to lose.

Hmmm. Be careful, ACAS are not there to represent and advise on your interests in the same way a union is.

Have you been told in writing you are being dismissed?

Wouldn't the disciplinary hearing be the place to raise the issue of credibility of witnesses, in the first instance?

On what are you basing your judgement that the hearing won't be fair?

Sounds like by sitting at home overthinking the issues you are just making things seem a whole lot worse than they are. The best way to tackle this IMO is to attend disciplinary hearing as soon as you are well enough to do so, or maybe even before if not attending is causing your illness to worsen.

monty-doggy

I'm not in a union sadly.

I have a colleague who is store manager of another store, going to be my witness and he relaid my concern that the witness is lying, he has told me our area manager isn't interested interested and is refusing to adjourn to re interview the witness. He said he isn't interested in excuses or reasons, just that If the money that
Aid for my parcel was company money I will be dismissed end of.
And he also told me same area manager said he is withholding my sick pay.

He has also sent me some job vacancies he is aware of to help me find a new job.

The judgement won't be fair if he refuses the mitigating circumstances.