Would you be annoyed/upset at this scenario in the workplace?

hieveryone

Hi all,

This has been on my mind and I'm wondering if I'm being precious or justified in my thinking.

Anyway, in my workplace we have a fund where we all pay x amount at the beginning of the year to cover flowers/cards when someone leaves/has a baby/gets married/is off sick (whip-rounds for some things are done separately).

Anyway, I have been at this workplace for nearly 3 years now and have seen many times people being off sick and being sent cards and flowers to wish them well.

I am 26 weeks pregnant and have been off work for the last 3 weeks (and will be signed off for another week), yet haven't received either a card or flowers.

It's not that I'm particularly bothered about material things, but the 'rule' is there, and I'm not sure why I've not been included, even though I pay into the fund.

Anyway, what would you do in this situation? I'm obviously not going to go and whine about it in work, but it's really changed my attitude I think towards my colleagues.

Indie_Kid

Do they know you're ill as opposed to on holiday?

summerspring

They're probably wondering if you'll come back to work or if they need to get you a baby card and presents instead.

hieveryone

Indie_Kid wrote: »

Do they know you're ill as opposed to on holiday?

Yes, I can't take 'holidays' as such in my workplace (term time).

The whole staff know I am off ill as cover has had to be arranged for me etc, and a few people have messaged me to see how I am.

peachyprice

Perhaps they're 'saving' your turn for when the baby is born.

Hermia

Could they be saving up the money to get you a big new baby present?

Have your colleagues been told you are sick? I remember when a pregnant colleague was off and we were led to believe it was just normal pregnancy stuff, not that she was actually ill. I have seen variations of that happen a few times. The boss didn't want to give out personal info about the sick person and let us believe they just had some last minute annual leave!

LilElvis

Presumably you will get your "pay out" from the fund when you have your baby.

hieveryone

Hermia wrote: »

Could they be saving up the money to get you a big new baby present?

Have your colleagues been told you are sick? I remember when a pregnant colleague was off and we were led to believe it was just normal pregnancy stuff, not that she was actually ill. I have seen variations of that happen a few times. The boss didn't want to give out personal info about the sick person and let us believe they just had some last minute annual leave!

Yes, colleagues have been told. We can't take annual leave (I work in a school), so that's not a possibility.

LilElvis wrote: »

Presumably you will get your "pay out" from the fund when you have your baby.

I hope I'm not coming across like I want my 'pay out', just that it's the 'done thing' to send a card and flowers to someone who has been off, and I've seen it numerous times whilst I have worked there - even for people who have been off less time than me. The 'float' money is there, and any bigger presents are bought from a whip-round/collection, so that would be separate.

summerspring

Office politics..

I am so glad I don't work in an office full of women anymore. No offence but I really can't imagine men getting all worked up about not receiving a card/present when they're off sick!

hieveryone

summerspring wrote: »

Office politics..

I am so glad I don't work in an office full of women anymore. No offence but I really can't imagine men getting all worked up about not receiving a card/present when they're off sick!

I'm not worked up about it, it only occurred to me the other day. I've been too busy working on getting myself better.

In between this I have also had a hospital stay which staff know about, so it would just have been nice to know that I was being thought about, in the same way that others who have been off work (and for 'lesser' ailments) have been.

summerspring

Well, hope you get better soon, card or not