Is attending a gay event when you are off sick with m.e. grounds for dismissal fair?

LuciferTDark

dmg24 wrote: »

You don't really understand mental illness, do you?!

Does living with clinical depression for over 20 yrs count towards understanding mental illness? AND having a wife who is also suffering from the same thing? Big coincidence I know, I can imagine you reading this & stroking your chin saying "Oh Yes? how convenient!".

dmg24 wrote: »

Having looked at the OP's previous posts (I'm nosy!), I feel that this is a much more complex case than described above. I would be interested to know the full story, and of course, in all cases like this, there are two sides to every story.

How could it be complicated? the OP is signed off work as too ill to do anything & swans off to a "street party" in broad daylight, anyone with even an ounce of common sense would steer clear of something like that when they're supposed to be ill, no matter how much the event means to them personally.

And yes I've been signed off work myself in the past & know you can't just turn up when you feel better.

adouglasmhor

PasturesNew wrote: »

Maybe they were spotted sporting a bright pink lycra thong and nothing else, belting out YMCA and dancing on the float at the head of the parade ... on the TV News.

Bet he wishes he had chosen the Leather chaps and gimp mask now

duchy

When did ME become a mental illness ?????

superscaper

duchy wrote: »

When did ME become a mental illness ?????

No idea. One person I know I think they managed to track it down to a severe hormonal imbalance, and another I know I don't think they could say for sure about the cause but they thought most likely neurological which I guess technically is mental illness (which can mean either psychological or neurological depending on your definition). But you're quite right about your inference. M.E. is a physical disorder not a mental disorder.

dmg24

duchy wrote: »

When did ME become a mental illness ?????

The OP has depression also (if all the previous posts refer to the same person).

tomstickland

chuckles1066 wrote: »

That's an obscene analogy and I trust you'll withdraw it.

Chelsea pensioners, by definition, are deemed by the State as being too old to work.........and besides which, they've done their bit for Queen and country.

Don't cheapen their existence by comparing them to otherwise healthy and able younger individuals choosing to attend a Gay Pride march.

It was a reasonable analogy IMO.

wisbech_lad

The fact that the event was gay or not is irrelevant, But, yes, misuse of sick leave is normally a sackable offence. What D&G procedure did you go through?

stebiz

Surely this is a grey area. I am off on sick leave with depression. The doctor actively encourages me to go out with my kids to the park, outings etc

Sometimes it knocks me for 6 but I still try and get out.

Stebiz

Fleago

I am surprised that so many people believe that if a person is signed off sick it means that they are confined to home. Clearly, a person on sick leave should use discretion as to what sort of things they do, but their doctor has declared them unfit for work, not declared them under house arrest.

Indeed, going out can be therapeutic and encouraged by a doctor, as in Stebiz's case, or it can be part of recovery, say, for example, for building up stamina and strength after surgery. People can even go on holiday whilst signed off sick, if a doctor deems it appropriate (some employers require people in these circumstances to inform them and seek consent from them - my own does this).

Employers are, of course, entitled to enquire if they believe that an absent employee is abusing their sickness absence, but in these instances proper procedures should be carried out and the employee afforded the option of providing evidence that their activity was therapuetic, for example, by the employer seeking consent to approach a doctor for information.

I make no comment as to whether attending a public parade is misuse of sickness abscence or a therapeutic thing for the OP to do, but I did want to comment on the apparent belief that people who are sick may not have a life outside of their own four walls.

cab412

This is clarification for all. It is my partner who has M.E. and depression and not myelf. I just went on the other night and put it in without making it clear. We are both under a lot of stress at the moment so I Apologise for the confusion.

My partner has M.E. and has been off sick since June. We were followed by his employer and the fact that a gay event is mentioned is because his employer has mentioned it in 4 contacts with him. We have received two abusive phone calls, a letter, abusive emails, three men threatening disability, a brick through our front window, and the final one of three men threatening to kill us. We have lost our peace of mind and again I apologise if it caused confusion.

I feel it should make no difference if one is gay or straight. What is happening is unaceeptable and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.