Being signed off sick, and need some support..

Kitty777

Hey all, thank you for your messages.

It looks like all is well with work. Dismissal is not something they are considering at all, they want to support my recovery. I am 24, and have worked there for a year but progressed rapidly in my time there. I am a valued member of the team and they seem willing to fight this illness with me.

They are asking HR what sick pay I get, but seem to think company pay is just on going.

Will update when I know more

sangie595

Kitty777 wrote: »

Hey all, thank you for your messages.

It looks like all is well with work. Dismissal is not something they are considering at all, they want to support my recovery. I am 24, and have worked there for a year but progressed rapidly in my time there. I am a valued member of the team and they seem willing to fight this illness with me.

They are asking HR what sick pay I get, but seem to think company pay is just on going.

Will update when I know more

Really? Limitless company sick pay? I think your manager hasn't a clue. There's no employer does that! I'm glad the manager is sympathetic about the illness, and it's early days yet, but please be cautious of what they say and take it with a pinch of salt. It is an exceptional employer who doesn't balk at extended sick leave (and a rare one that didn't have a policy on sickness that eventually leads to dismissal anyway). I'd suggest you ask your manager for a copy of the companies sickness absence process. If it's a major employer, they will have one. And you need to know what it says. Forewarned is forearmed.

marliepanda

The original post leads me to think Marks and Spencer...

If so, (obviously guessing) the company sick pay is far from limitless, from what I remember the policy is ruthless and down to the bone. a lad I worked with got a written notice for being off a week with pneumonia as those days took him over his sick day allowance.

sangie595

marliepanda wrote: »

The original post leads me to think Marks and Spencer...

If so, (obviously guessing) the company sick pay is far from limitless, from what I remember the policy is ruthless and down to the bone. a lad I worked with got a written notice for being off a week with pneumonia as those days took him over his sick day allowance.

Ah right - retail isn't my area, but I had been wondering who on earth in retail offered contractual sick pay anyway, as it would be very uncommon. But if so, yes, I have heard that M&S do or did. They were always considered one of the retailers with better terms. However, to be fair, it isn't ruthless to implement your policy. I do appreciate that it always feels like this to the "recipient" but these policies exist to stop employers cherry picking whose sickness they believe and whose they don't. And, as I pointed out on another thread a few days ago, they are actually largely a result of people taking the proverbial with sick leave, and then claiming unfair dismissal when the employer sacks them for taking the proverbial! It doesn't matter whether the illness is "genuine" or not any more, and employers are not allowed to create any leeway on that basis (with a possible exception for some disability adjustments). Employers generally have a pretty good idea who is really off sick and who isn't, especially when there is a pattern of behaviour. But they are no longer allowed to do anything about it unless they treat everyone the same, genuine or not.

agrinnall

sangie595 wrote: »

Ah right - retail isn't my area, but I had been wondering who on earth in retail offered contractual sick pay anyway, as it would be very uncommon.

I'd also concluded it was probably M&S, John Lewis may well offer contractual sick pay but I don't think they have the type of job that the OP has.

marliepanda

Sorry Sangie ruthless was probably the wrong word

I meant more 'it doesn't matter if you're a valued member of the team or not, company pay is not ongoing, far from it.'

Exactly what you describe, fair is fair. I suggest if it is MnS that the OP gets her information fast. The manager is wrong.

sangie595

marliepanda wrote: »

Sorry Sangie ruthless was probably the wrong word

I meant more 'it doesn't matter if you're a valued member of the team or not, company pay is not ongoing, far from it.'

Exactly what you describe, fair is fair. I suggest if it is MnS that the OP gets her information fast. The manager is wrong.

No apology necessary. I know what you meant, but I didn't want the OP to see it as something personal. She is in a difficult enough place right now. I know how it feels not knowing what is wrong and waiting on people to tell you. But wherever she works, either the manager is wrong or she had heard what was said wrong, because if there really is an employer that has no such policy and pays limitless contractual sick pay, we'd all like to know! I know I can be cynical and jaded at times, but I don't need either of those things to know I am right - no employer is that good.

aife

You haven't been given a firm diagnosis yet , I suspect your employer is waiting to see if this is a condition that can be treated/managed before they take any decisions.

Murphybear

Hi Kitty:grouphug:

Sorry I can't offer much practical help so I am sending you hugs

I do understand how you feel though as I had a lot of sick leave in my last job of paid employment.

I hope you start to feel better soon

Xxx Murphybear

Sanne

I agree what everyone says in terms of sick pay, do ask for a copy of the policy.

In regards to dismissal, as some are quite negative - there are companies with policies that give the manager room to make a judgement on how they want to apply this. Most decent managers will want to support someone valued on one spell of long term absence but they might get more difficult if this is followed by several short absences. One of my direct reports had a heart attack and was off for three months and the only thing I tried to do was help him back by offering a phased return, flexibility with medical appointments etc. When he then started being off sick every week for a couple of days with colds, headaches and the likes it turned into a different matter.

This is the same at three places I've worked so far though I do know there are places around who just follow their policy (I unfortunately worked for one).