Is this harassment

gillian2001uk

Can anyone advise? My mother is off on long term sick leave from work. She is going in for major brain surgery at the end of March. Her area manager keeps sending letters asking to see her for 'absence management counselling'. I have told the area manager that my mum can't go out on her own, therefore she needs to come to the house (I thought it was a one off), however since then, she has made another two dates to come see my mum, one of which she didn't turn up, and another, three days before she goes in for surgery...........
can anyone tell me, what is the point to this?
Can they do this? I would think this is harassment, my mum is clearly a really ill woman.....

Any advice would be appreciated :mad:

Savvy_Sue

I would contact ACAS for advice, and also write to the Area Manager, with a copy to HR / Head Office, saying what you've said here. Your mother's GP might also write if you ask. I can understand how stressful waiting for brain surgery would be - and I was not ill before I had mine!

I don't know what the problem is but have you found a relevant support organisation? They might also be helpful.

ohreally

Obtain the employers policy on managing sickness absence. It will likely indicate the company is a forward thinking employer who takes the health and welfare of the employee seriously etc etc. Concerning the issue of home visits, the company will almost certainly not be compliant with the policy (no reasonable policy would allow for this behaviour) and if this is the case condiser raising a greivence based on non compliance of procedure.
There may also be possible DDA issues to consider as well so seek further advice on this issue as it can give robust protection which the employer must comply with or face serious consequenses.

maninthestreet

gillian2001uk wrote: »

Can anyone advise? My mother is off on long term sick leave from work. She is going in for major brain surgery at the end of March. Her area manager keeps sending letters asking to see her for 'absence management counselling'. I have told the area manager that my mum can't go out on her own, therefore she needs to come to the house (I thought it was a one off), however since then, she has made another two dates to come see my mum, one of which she didn't turn up, and another, three days before she goes in for surgery...........
can anyone tell me, what is the point to this?
Can they do this? I would think this is harassment, my mum is clearly a really ill woman.....

Any advice would be appreciated :mad:

Tell the area manager that the next time she visits the house for one of these 'counselling' sessions, it will be video-taped.

CFC

An employer is entitled to keep in touch with an employee unless the employee clearly states (with reasonable grounds ie if you have a broken foot don't tell your employer it will make your foot worse!) that it will worsen their condition.
The home visit is purely to avoid the employee needing to attend work for the meeting.

The meetings tend to go along the lines of 'How are you,is there any medical news you need to update me with, do we have a dateline on anything, looking forward to your return to work do you know now if there are any adjustments we need to make for you', that kind of thing. Its also designed to prevent the employee feeling that they are 'cut off' from work in a negative way ie nobody cares.

Its not about putting pressure on or adding to any stress, or the employee being required to 'justify' their absence, which is covered in any case by a medical note.

My own employer requires all managers to keep in touch with people who are off on long term sick at 4-6 week intervals.

If your mother feels that the home visits add to her stress, then she should write a letter to HR or to her manager simply saying that she finds the visits stressful and ask if they can reduce them to a minimum or keep in touch by phone instead.

Zazen999

Hi

From my Management experience, you usually do these sorts of visits on more 'subjective' sicknesses; so stress, long term depression etc - just to see how things are and as you said 'absence management councelling'...it is mainly to weed out the ones who aren't really ill and to try and get the stats down.

In your mum's case, it is ludicrous to even suggest this; she should be sent a bunch of flowers and best wishes.

Personally, if they did this to me I would be writing to personnel saying 'It's major brain surgery - what do you think you are achieving by insisting on these ridiculous visits; I enclose copies of my consultancy notes if you don't actually believe me, along with a copy of my brain scan. I would appreciate it if you could let me prepare for the op and recover and, once my doctor thinks that I am nearly ready to return to work, I would be happy to meet with you to discuss my return to work. This will of course be as soon as physically possible, but I feel that I am being harassed prior to my major brain operation, and if I survive it, I will be in touch. If you do insist upon this, I will be talking to my union and taking advice from my solicitor. Kind Regards [my name]'.

I did actually do this when I shattered my elbow and could not drive, and they insisted on me driving a manual car [company car], I send photos of the xray [which I took quickly when the consultant was out of the room]. I also got the consultant to write a letter to this effect. It was agreed by the end of the day that they had a car I could have.

Some people just take things to the extreme, and this manager sounds as if she has swallowed the book without looking at the title.

Hope your mum is ok.

sarahlouise210

I am having brain surgery myself soon ..so I know how stressful it is and your Mum will be in my thoughts (along with Quackers daughter!!)
My manager used to conduct my absence management meetings over the phone - with such a serious problem it is obvious that she is not eeking out her sick leave and the meetings should really only be to keep her in touch with any news she needs to know about and offer advice for how they can help with her return to work. My manager has visited me at home a few times but that was purely to see how I was and bring flowers etc - I think this manager needs to learn some people skills! Good luck x