didn't give second sick note in time - accused of unauthorised absence

kirri97

I'm not a member of the union unfortunately. I've been thinking about it but.... still not joined anywhere >.<

Always when I have meetings like this I get very emotional. I know my employer are concerned about me, my sickness etc and the problems its causing them, and don't think they want to keep me on. (I say that because they pick on me more than others, if I do the smallest mistake etc, even if others do it too, or worse, there's no meetings or investigations.. I'm the one they move around between departments as necessary, never anywhere new though like they do with my colleagues. Only back to the department I used to work, or night shift..
My colleagues have said they don't think it's fair, and mostly just encourage me to find a new job.

I always get very sad, even crying and I find it hard to articulate myself in these meetings. Now, being really down I think it will be even worse than usual. Just thinking about it makes it hard for me to breathe ! >.<
I've been thinking about maybe asking for it to be done through email or something... I feel I never defend or stand up for myself, even when really feel I am right, in these meetings.

iclayt

I think calling today to ask what the meeting will be about is a good idea. It stops the worry about the unknown, which I often find to be worse than actually knowing, even if it isn't what you want to hear.

Try not to focus too much on what happens at work - the moving around, being picked on, what's 'fair' from the point of view of your colleagues. Likewise, it doesn't matter that you didn't pick the note up for a week - they could have called to ask if you had received it, it could have got lost in the post. It doesn't matter. What matters is just the meeting on Wednesday, and the outcome of it.

Is there really no one you can ask to go with you? It might be useful to have someone there to help remind you what was said. I suffer terribly with health anxiety (and general anxiety) after having cancer and cannot go to the docs on my own anymore because I never listen to what they say, however trivial the complaint - I need to take my OH with me, she doesn't say anything, just sits in the corner and talks through anything I'm worried about afterwards.

jobbingmusician

Do stress that your failure to deal with the note in time is PART OF YOUR ILLNESS. That should make it more difficult for them to penalise you!

Savvy_Sue

Also bear in mind that they may not have phoned because they thought that direct contact might have been too stressful / more difficult for you, or it may just be their policy.

Do you know they did NOT try to phone you? If you have a landline, maybe they called but did not leave a message.

kirri97

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Also bear in mind that they may not have phoned because they thought that direct contact might have been too stressful / more difficult for you, or it may just be their policy.

Do you know they did NOT try to phone you? If you have a landline, maybe they called but did not leave a message.

Yes, I'm sure they didn't because they don't have my landline..
But maybe you are right, maybe they thought it would be easier for me. I'm not so sure tho, considering the language in the letter..!

I called today to ask what time we will have the meeting. Was told there won't be any meeting "for now" but after I'm back at work and he told me to get a fit to return to work form from my doctor.

Financially I can't afford to be off work any longer now anyway, so I'm going to get this note but try to ask for phased return over maybe 2 or 3 weeks.. My first day back will be on Saturday.

kirri97

thanks for your replies everyone much appreciated.

The_Pedant

Did you mention that you had been signed off for 3 weeks in the meeting after you got the sick note?

If you did then I would argue that you had already given notice of the absence (in your meeting of 28th) and that there was simply a delay in getting the sick note into the office. After all, what would happen if it got lost in the post?