Employer making me work while sick

Helpme88xxxx

I’m never one to phone in sick. However I have had a huge IBS flare up. I went home sick today as it’s something you want to be in the comfort of your own bathroom let’s say. 

I’ve called in sick tomorrow and my employer insists I work from home to cover the am shift. 

May I add this is a company that’s very small. They’ve also been putting us on furlough instead of paying leave. The leave is being used, but the pay is furlough. Instead of holiday. I took this job when I was made redundant from a big British Airline let’s say..... and I’ve never known treatment quite like this. 

As well as seeing employees  called a “c**t” over WhatsApp groups while out on jobs. Can someone please help me? 
I don’t get paid sick pay so I can assure you this is a generally illness. 

I get the working from home, but I may miss phone calls etc from being in the bathroom.  I have notified them of this, but there isn’t much flexibility. Yes ok I should be grateful - but unless you suffer with stomach problems, you can express how bad things can get, you can be in the bathroom for well over and hour with severe pain! 

I feel like I’ve just taken this job for money .... to pay my bills and I honestly thing they are in the wrong here in regards to a few things. 

lincroft1710

What help do you want?

If you miss phone calls, you miss phone calls. You probably have a message record facility on your phone. 

Most jobs are taken for the money, why else would we work?

KatrinaWaves

1 Is furlough not preferable to using up your leave? Leave wouldn’t last the full ‘lockdown’

2 depending on the work environment, calling names that you describe could be absolutely fine

3 you can refuse to do the shift. You’re sick. But I’d personally prefer the option to get paid, not have a sickness day on record and if I miss calls I miss calls...

Diamandis

You say you're only calling in sick because you want to use your own bathroom. Working from home here seems like a good compromise. If you're actually too sick to work at all then you need to tell them that. If not just let them know you might miss some calls. 

Thrugelmir

Helpme88xxxx said:

..... and I’ve never known treatment quite like this. 

Comes as a culture shock after the relative comfort of a large Corporate organisation. Small ones operate in a very different manner. Survival month to month is what it's all about. People generally pull together. As it's in their personal interests too. 

kazwookie

If you miss a call, just dial the number and say something along the lines of 'this is helpme88 from xyz company, sorry I missed your call, how can I help you'

I think you have a good compromise from your employer, it is the am shift only

Lomast

Ultimately they can't firce you to work whilst sick but remember you have only just started their so you have very little protection if they decide they no longer want you there

AskAsk

As others have said, you have to work from home if the company deemed you are able to do so.  IBS causes discomfort and can cause severe pain.  However it is short lived, so it shouldn't stop you working the whole day.

Think from the employer side.  They gave you a job when you really need it.  And in the current climate all companies are finding it hard to make a decent profit.  So give them back something in return for giving you a chance when you were desperate.

When times are rosy again, you can leave them and find a better job.  For now try to be flexible and help out where you can.  It will make you feel happier and will also make your employer happier.  It will also reduce the stress, which is a cause of IBS flare ups.

Iamdebtfree

Unbelievable. 

Tell them to go bleep themselves. Go to your gp and get a sick note for a few weeks. Then reassess when you're feeling better mentally and physically.

Helpme88xxxx

KatrinaWaves said:

1 Is furlough not preferable to using up your leave? Leave wouldn’t last the full ‘lockdown’

2 depending on the work environment, calling names that you describe could be absolutely fine

3 you can refuse to do the shift. You’re sick. But I’d personally prefer the option to get paid, not have a sickness day on record and if I miss calls I miss calls...

Hi, Our leave is being used, however on our payslips it’s down as FURLOUGH 

warby68

It isn't 'right' to insist you work when unwell and you feel you need to be off sick.
However, after 8m in the eye of a very big storm, a lot of stuff is probably about survival both for business and employee.
The culture and practices don't sound brilliant but the need to earn a living, especially at the moment, trumps an awful lot.
It probably isn't somewhere you want to stay but right now a lot of people will be putting up with stuff they wouldn't usually and that's what you have to decide really. Do you keep your income as best you can and hold on until you can get another job or do you leave without another job in a nightmare market?
The incidence of sickness is much lower in small businesses than large corporates and public sector with generous policies and economies of scale. Its a harsh fact of life. The boss is just as likely to have to work through illness as well. In a small business, everyone's absence for whatever reason really counts.
Its a culture shock no doubt but if they want you to work when ill, then they would be wholly unrealistic if they also expected 100% performance. Just do what you reasonably can.