Never go sick again?

Legacy_user

Hi everyone

Trying to guage attitudes towards taking sickness, I get the vibe (from the way sick reviews work and the way that zero hours contracts don't pay sickness at all) that we're pretty much expected to power through. This and the "get a grip" messages about school absence - after all a kid won't get better much faster at home than at school

Sometimes I have just powered through work with flu, norovirus, infected eczema, it was hard and not my best work but passable, I used to phone to ask line manager what they wanted me to do, so if I worked it was their responsibility, but since a sick review I try to disguise sickness to avoid a black mark against me, because HR said no more sickness for 12 months otherwise another review

I suppose if it really comes down to it you can use annual leave, but I hope the line manager would record it as holiday to protect my sick record, the problem is they might refuse to authorise annual leave and then refuse to let me work of they know about a sickness

Comms69

MatthewAinsworth wrote: »

Hi everyone

Trying to guage attitudes towards taking sickness, I get the vibe (from the way sick reviews work and the way that zero hours contracts don't pay sickness at all) that we're pretty much expected to power through. - not at all. This and the "get a grip" messages about school absence - after all a kid won't get better much faster at home than at school - yes they will, much faster and they wont be spreading germs

Sometimes I have just powered through work with flu, norovirus, infected eczema, it was hard and not my best work - You willingly risked infecting customers and colleagues with highly infectious conditions?.... but passable, I used to phone to ask line manager what they wanted me to do, so if I worked it was their responsibility, but since a sick review I try to disguise sickness to avoid a black mark against me, because HR said no more sickness for 12 months otherwise another review - indeed, reviews are there to support BOTH employers and employees.

I suppose if it really comes down to it you can use annual leave - only if employer allows , but I hope the line manager would record it as holiday to protect my sick record, the problem is they might refuse to authorise annual leave and then refuse to let me work of they know about a sickness

What's the actual question, if any?

System

The question is are we expected to conceal sickness and work to avoid the disciplinary route of reviews, to get paid if on zero hours, and for school attendance which is currently being touted?

elsien

MatthewAinsworth wrote: »

Sometimes I have just powered through work with flu, norovirus, infected eczema, it was hard and not my best work but passable, I used to phone to ask line manager what they wanted me to do, so if I worked it was their responsibility, but since a sick review I try to disguise sickness to avoid a black mark against me, because HR said no more sickness for 12 months otherwise another review

If you genuinely have flu you would be unable to get to work, let alone power through. Sharing norovirus with colleagues is just irresponsible.
As a manager, if a worker tried to make me send them home to make it my responsibility, I would point out that as I am not a doctor it was their judgement and decision as to whether they were able to stay or not. However if they did stay, I expected them to be able to carry out their role fully, not droop around sighing at me not getting very much done.
This is mainly because the ones trying to make me send them home or holding their heads and groaning were usually the people with higher sickness levels and generally taking the proverbial. When you have staff who are hard workers and you know only take time off when they need to, then within the bounds of the formal policy there is generally some leeway. It's not hard to tell which is which.

System

If they truly wanted us to go sick when I'll they wouldn't punish it

Comms69

MatthewAinsworth wrote: »

The question is are we expected to conceal sickness and work to avoid the disciplinary route of reviews, to get paid if on zero hours, and for school attendance which is currently being touted?

No.


You're expected to take action to prevent sickness.


As for school attendance being 'touted' - I have 3 kids and heard nothing new on this. If child is ill, you keep them away from school. Frankly anything other than this should be treated as negligence.

Comms69

MatthewAinsworth wrote: »

If they truly wanted us to go sick when I'll they wouldn't punish it

It's called personal responsibility - something I thought you'd know lots about given your 35 year plan to become a self made millionaire or whatever the figure was.

MEM62

MatthewAinsworth wrote: »

HR said no more sickness for 12 months otherwise another review

Unless they have some miraculous powers, they cannot dictate whether you get sick or not. Mother nature takes care of that and only an irresponsible employer would ask staff to attend work when they are not fit to do so.

As for the review, what is to fear? If you have an absence due to sickness and the company want to review it then let them review it and cooperate with the process.

elsien

Example conversation:
Worker - I'm having an ingrowing toenail removed and am going to need two weeks off work due to the infection control risk and health and safety because I can't wear hard shoes.
Me - ok if that's what the medics have advised that's fine. You won't have a problem getting a note confirming this from the GP then?
Worker - I've not talked to them about it yet, I just know it's what I'll need.
Me - Fine, just check it out with them and come back and confirm what they've said and that they will provide the appropriate fitnote.

End result - person back at work after 3 days because having checked with their GP instead of making it up as they went along, there was no valid reason for them not to be.

If managers are sceptical about some individual's sickness records, it can be because the person is setting themselves up for it.

sangie595

MatthewAinsworth wrote: »

If they truly wanted us to go sick when I'll they wouldn't punish it

I realise that occasionally some people find it hard to understand the complexity of the employment relationship. Employers pay people wages to work. If they are not working, then they are being paid to produce nothing. Produce enough nothing, and an employer will question whether you are a worthwhile investment for them. That's not a punishment. It's reality. If you were the employer, you would do exactly the same thing.

If your are so prone to serious infections as you suggest, I'd strongly advise discussing it with your GP. That is a lot of infections to have in a short space of time, and there may be an underlying condition impacting on your immune system.

shortcrust

Comms69 wrote: »

It's called personal responsibility - something I thought you'd know lots about given your 35 year plan to become a self made millionaire or whatever the figure was.

Crikey. I've barely got a 35 minute plan.