Taking work calls whilst off sick

k3lvc

gwen80 wrote: »

Last year I fell backwards down 9 steps with my head breaking my fall on the concrete. I was made to call in every day (fine), but I was told that I had to talk to my boss - I couldn't leave a message. I spent each day on the phone trying to reach her because funnily enough she was never at her desk. It was really stressful and I've since discovered other members of the team can just leave a message.

There are a couple of potentials behind this

1) Your boss cares - did the accident happen at work or do you live alone ?

2) There's a more underlying issue re absence/commitment - only you can answer this and if so then maybe an appropriate time for a blunt discussion with the boss to address this before spending the next x weeks worrying about things/avoiding calls

ohreally

andygb wrote: »

As an employer, why don't you just leave them alone to recover?

Absence requires to be managed or where would the workplace end up.

andygb

ohreally wrote: »

Absence requires to be managed or where would the workplace end up.

I totally agree, but every case needs to be dealt with on its merits.
I have read the OP's posts, and for post abdominal surgery, I do not think that work should be contacting her, other than to ask her how she is. In her case I think a once a week, short call from work may be acceptable, but certainly not something which will stress her out unduly.

FBaby

Flexibility goes both ways. Expect them to adhere strictly to the rules and they will do exactly that but be prepared for them to tell you no when you ask one day to leave 1/2 hour early to go to an appointment.

It's all about reasonability. Calling you the day after surgery wouldn't be so. Calling you every day or so wouldn't be either not calling at 7am or 8pm. However is it really the end of the world to give you a call once or twice a week or so after surgery during working hours asking if you are ok to talk?

We had a staff member who took 6 weeks off after a minor surgery and bragged to some about how they spent the last two on holiday abroad making it clear that they were entitled to do so. Management said nothing but they also didn't get the job when they applied for.a promotion some months later.

Undervalued

FBaby wrote: »

Flexibility goes both ways. Expect them to adhere strictly to the rules and they will do exactly that but be prepared for them to tell you no when you ask one day to leave 1/2 hour early to go to an appointment.

It's all about reasonability. Calling you the day after surgery wouldn't be so. Calling you every day or so wouldn't be either not calling at 7am or 8pm. However is it really the end of the world to give you a call once or twice a week or so after surgery during working hours asking if you are ok to talk?

We had a staff member who took 6 weeks off after a minor surgery and bragged to some about how they spent the last two on holiday abroad making it clear that they were entitled to do so. Management said nothing but they also didn't get the job when they applied for.a promotion some months later.

Exactly.

I have to say the OP's posts do come over as somewhat entitled or disgruntled with her employers. Apologies if that is not the case.

Obviously we don't know the full background to that but a "leave me totally alone" whilst recovering from elective surgery, following on from fairly significant amounts of sick leave is not going to improve the relationship on her eventual return.

OP, unless you are intending to leave in the near future I would try to build bridges. Or, at the very least, not blow up the existing ones!

gwen80

FBaby wrote: »

Flexibility goes both ways. Expect them to adhere strictly to the rules and they will do exactly that but be prepared for them to tell you no when you ask one day to leave 1/2 hour early to go to an appointment.

It's all about reasonability. Calling you the day after surgery wouldn't be so. Calling you every day or so wouldn't be either not calling at 7am or 8pm. However is it really the end of the world to give you a call once or twice a week or so after surgery during working hours asking if you are ok to talk?

We had a staff member who took 6 weeks off after a minor surgery and bragged to some about how they spent the last two on holiday abroad making it clear that they were entitled to do so. Management said nothing but they also didn't get the job when they applied for.a promotion some months later.

Couldn't agree more. That's why I attend calls with the US after 5pm to support the business and so my colleagues with children can go home. That's why I've been working an extra 2+hrs a day to support some of my bosses work whilst she's been off work. Clearly I'm unreasonable to expect some support after surgery. My bad.

Calling me after surgery with the intention of enquiring how am I is fine. Please direct me to the post where I have said otherwise. My concern lies with my employers expecting me to answer work questions after surgery. And with all due respect, you don't know me and I'm nothing like your colleague.

gwen80

Undervalued wrote: »

Exactly.

I have to say the OP's posts do come over as somewhat entitled or disgruntled with her employers. Apologies if that is not the case.

Obviously we don't know the full background to that but a "leave me totally alone" whilst recovering from elective surgery, following on from fairly significant amounts of sick leave is not going to improve the relationship on her eventual return.

OP, unless you are intending to leave in the near future I would try to build bridges. Or, at the very least, not blow up the existing ones!

Thank you for your apology.

I have never said I wish to be 'left totally alone'. If they want to ask me how I am, check in with me - fine. Telling me now they expect me to provide information about work after surgery instead of using the time now to get that information I think is unreasonable.

I don't recall saying I've had fairly significant amounts of sick leave? I've had one day off sick this year.

I have no intention of blowing up anything - I simply asked some questions about where I stood.

gwen80

andygb wrote: »

I have read the OP's posts

Thank you - I'm starting to think you're the only one who has.

Undervalued

gwen80 wrote: »

Thank you for your apology.

I have never said I wish to be 'left totally alone'. If they want to ask me how I am, check in with me - fine. Telling me now they expect me to provide information about work after surgery instead of using the time now to get that information I think is unreasonable.

I don't recall saying I've had fairly significant amounts of sick leave? I've had one day off sick this year.

I have no intention of blowing up anything - I simply asked some questions about where I stood.

Clearly you do but not everybody (including your employer) agrees with you. You asked for advice which may not always be "yes, you are quite right".

Earlier in the thread you said.....

I've struggled with my health and a demanding job for a long time.

and

Last year I fell backwards down 9 steps with my head breaking my fall on the concrete. I was made to call in every day

Plus

I'm having abdominal surgery. I've had the same surgery twice before (although not whilst I was with this employer

Does rather give the impression you have had quite a bit of time off sick in recent years.

As I said earlier, if you are going to rely on your "rights" in all this then do check very carefully that you know exactly what they are.

gwen80

Undervalued wrote: »

Clearly you do but not everybody (including your employer) agrees with you. You asked for advice which may not always be "yes, you are quite right".

Earlier in the thread you said.....



and



Plus



Does rather give the impression you have had quite a bit of time off sick in recent years.

As I said earlier, if you are going to rely on your "rights" in all this then do check very carefully that you know exactly what they are.

Understanding my rights was the entire point of my first point, but the majority of the posts include some sort of assumption, mis-quoting and mis-representing of what I've said.

For example, I've struggled with my health and a demanding job for a long time means 'I go into work every day despite how rubbish I feel and do my level best'.

In terms of the operations in the past, I've already stated they were at a previous employer and, without providing my life story on the internet, took place over 5 years ago.