Taking work calls whilst off sick

andygb

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.

You seem to have missed the part where the OP said it was not with this employer.
I would say that surgery is a legitimate cause for having time off, and I would personally hate to have to be in the position where I had to have multiple surgical procedures carried out.
It would be far more sensible for the OP's employer/boss, to find out relevant information BEFORE the OP goes into surgery, and I think a lot of workplaces would favour a handover period to ensure the work is done correctly.

BonsaiClouds

As you said, I would stress that she shouldn't rely on you. Say you want to focus on your recovery so that you can get back to work as soon as possible, and depending on how you feel that might mean not taking work calls for a period. You might be able to, and if you feel up to it then by all means go for it, but you have no obligation to do so - make that clear (in friendly, helpful terms) to your boss, and it should be fine if they're reasonable.

gwen80

andygb wrote: »

You seem to have missed the part where the OP said it was not with this employer.
I would say that surgery is a legitimate cause for having time off, and I would personally hate to have to be in the position where I had to have multiple surgical procedures carried out.
It would be far more sensible for the OP's employer/boss, to find out relevant information BEFORE the OP goes into surgery, and I think a lot of workplaces would favour a handover period to ensure the work is done correctly.

And to ensure continuity.. I don't intend to have my work laptop with me in hospital!

nicechap

gwen80 wrote: »

That's what I intend to do this week. I also intend to start copying her in all emails regarding said project so she has the latest communications about it. Even so I'm concerned she could pester me whilst I'm off and I don't want her taking the mick by telling me I have to self cert if I don't have to.

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.

Looks like you've already agreed with your employer (or are you a contractor?) that's the way it is.

If history repeats itself and your boss is not available to answer your call you can return the favour by changing your answerphone message saying you're not well enough to take calls today.

The thing with being indispensable by working extra hours or outside normal working hours, is when people discover you are not indispensable.

Only you can decide what is the best way to manage your boss if you don't have a union or HR policies you can refer to.

FBaby

So isn't the issue that you are imagining the worse case scenario? That they will be calling you every day, pestering you for complex answers, hours after being out from hospital?

How about having a chat with your boss, say that you hope they won't have the need to contact you whilst you're off sick, that you'll do everything to come back as soon as you are able, and that you are fine with the very occasional phone call during the end period of recovery, but that you won't be picking up the phone/checking emails until you are feeling able to have that level of communication.

Be clear from the start without just shouting your rights that will make them suspicious as to why you are doing so.

gwen80

nicechap wrote: »

Looks like you've already agreed with your employer (or are you a contractor?) that's the way it is.

If history repeats itself and your boss is not available to answer your call you can return the favour by changing your answerphone message saying you're not well enough to take calls today.

The thing with being indispensable by working extra hours or outside normal working hours, is when people discover you are not indispensable.

Only you can decide what is the best way to manage your boss if you don't have a union or HR policies you can refer to.

I'm not clear how I've agreed with my employer? I self cert'd last year as it was my first sickness absence at the company and I never imagined they'd be as difficult as they were. In hindsight I should have gotten a note, which would have been easy seeing as I couldn't open one eye.

Hence my concern at being told that I 'had to self certify' this time.

HR still haven't come back to me, but I had a word with my other boss. I kind of have two bosses. I mentioned what the first boss had said and told her I'd try to answer questions, but obviously just having had surgery don't know whether I'll be up to it. She said 'it's fine, don't worry - you're off sick. We'll cover for you, like we did for X' (my other boss). Phew.

gwen80

FBaby wrote: »

So isn't the issue that you are imagining the worse case scenario? That they will be calling you every day, pestering you for complex answers, hours after being out from hospital?

How about having a chat with your boss, say that you hope they won't have the need to contact you whilst you're off sick, that you'll do everything to come back as soon as you are able, and that you are fine with the very occasional phone call during the end period of recovery, but that you won't be picking up the phone/checking emails until you are feeling able to have that level of communication.

Be clear from the start without just shouting your rights that will make them suspicious as to why you are doing so.

I was imagining a scenario like last year where I spent all day every day on the phone and it was very stressful - there is a precedent...

Maybe you could tell me where I proposed shouting my rights? Knowing your rights and shouting about them are not the same thing, but why bother with inconvenient differences like that?

FBaby

So you have been off sick longer than a day since you've been employed with them then?

If this stresses you so much, there is always the option of not picking up the phone!

gwen80

FBaby wrote: »

So you have been off sick longer than a day since you've been employed with them then?

If this stresses you so much, there is always the option of not picking up the phone!

Please do start to read posts before you reply. The answer to your first question is above - if you can be bothered to read it.

nicechap

gwen80 wrote: »

I'm not clear how I've agreed with my employer? I self cert'd last year as it was my first sickness absence at the company and I never imagined they'd be as difficult as they were. In hindsight I should have gotten a note, which would have been easy seeing as I couldn't open one eye.

Hence my concern at being told that I 'had to self certify' this time.

HR still haven't come back to me, but I had a word with my other boss. I kind of have two bosses. I mentioned what the first boss had said and told her I'd try to answer questions, but obviously just having had surgery don't know whether I'll be up to it. She said 'it's fine, don't worry - you're off sick. We'll cover for you, like we did for X' (my other boss). Phew.

By your behaviour before, you have already called in every day when you were off sick before.