Am i being treat correctly

Masomnia

Have they done an Occ Health assessment?

I also think 12 phone calls in 3 months is reasonable, especially when you're not answering. Trying to claim they are harassing you probably won't get you anywhere on that one, better to apologise profusely.

You need to now prepare yourself for the fact that you might not have a job for much longer. I'm a bit surprised they haven't dismissed you for absence, and I think it's probably the inconsistent management that's caused that. If they don't sack you for gross misconduct then 17 months of absence with no prospect of return will be the reason this new manager uses.

I'm sympathetic because I've had bouts of depression myself and I know sometimes it feels impossible to do something as basic as take a phone call, but unless you're sectioned or something like that then employers will still expect you to follow absence reporting procedures.

Unfortunately you've been off 17 months and it doesn't sound like you're well enough to return anyway, especially with this new manager. Maybe you need a fresh start.

westbridgfordguy

Have you maintained regular contact with your company in the time you've been off, there will be a clause in the company handbook I imagine saying staff off long term sick have to keep in regular contact with the business to update them of your status. I am assuming you haven't done this if your current line manager is making a succession of phone calls to you. Keeping in regular contact does not mean flinging in a succession of sick notes either it means updating the company on your current circumstances, when you are looking to return to work etc. You would be in breach of this contract if you were not doing this. Has the company suggested a home visit?

marlot

SqaushedTomato wrote: »

...She has never been off the phone, in the past 3 months she's called 12 times. Some of these times i havent answered the phone...

Sorry to hear of your illness.

Your manager has called once a week on average, except that you've not answered some of them. If I were advising a manager, I'd suggest a call every couple of weeks - so I don't think she's out of order.

Its really tough for a manager to get it right and support someone with stress or depression. Many managers ignore the issue, as you've found. Your new manager sounds like she's trying.

What would you like to happen? Do you see yourself returning to work, even part-time? If you can start to articulate what success in this situation looks like for you, your manager may be able to help. If not, and there is little realistic chance of you coming back to work in the near future, I suspect it'll be decided for you.

Tigsteroonie

I'm curious to know how your 17 months of absence breaks down. One member of my team ended up off for 14 months legitimately - a month of accumulated annual leave, 12 months maternity, another month of accumulated annual leave. If the same is true for you, then only 3 months will have been sickness leave - the same three months of management contact. Contact during the maternity period would have been negligible unless something happened or you requested it; contact during annual leave is non-existent as everyone is entitled to peace when on 'holiday'.

I'd agree with other posters that the level of contact during sick leave seems normal. I've only contacted team members less often if they have specifically asked due to anxiety, and even then we only went down to fortnightly contact.

You have to engage with your employer's sickness process.

FBaby

Have you maintained regular contact with your company in the time you've been off, there will be a clause in the company handbook I imagine saying staff off long term sick have to keep in regular contact with the business to update them of your status.

indeed, I expect the reason for the investigation is not that you didn't answer the phone, but that by doing so and not contacting them back yourself, you've failed to maintain regular contact and that might very well constitute a warning.

What do you want to achieve and what do you want from them? To continue to keep you on their books so that you accumulate holiday and at least get paid for this? If indeed you don't think you are likely to go back in the near future, failing to engage with them whilst still happy to get paid for holiday is a bit dishonourable.

Seanymph

ACAS have a helpline and are very good - give them a call and have a chat.