Advice over "Stage2 warning"

Author
Discussion

AJB88

Original Poster:

12,263 posts

170 months

Wednesday 27th January 2016
quotequote all
Hi All,

Looking for some advice.

My partner has been working for a large company for around 1.5 years now, first few months were agency and then she was taken on. Earlier in the year she had a "mole" on her leg that the doctor didn't like the look of so sent her to see a specialist and the specialist decided she needed to have it removed for testing. The mole was removed and they left an open wound just in case they needed to go back in to remove any more tissue. Top and tale of this is that she had to attend around 10 appointments to see specialists and also to have the dressing removed and checked, unfortunately this couldn't be done at our local hospital which is 5 miles away and had to be done at one 25 miles away.

After this she was placed on stage1 warning for absence, basically she used a lot of her A/L attending appointments and then had to start taking them as sickness.

Later last year her smear test came back as abnormal and off we went again to see specialists etc... She then had a week off with a doctors note due to work kicking off at her.

She went into work a few weeks ago and wasn't feeling very well so went home half way through the day with an upset stomach.

She has now had a letter saying she has a meeting regarding her Stage2 warning and could be dismissed.

My question is can they really dismiss her when she has provided all of her doctor/hospital letters? She naturally wont let me speak to her company, I think she is a little scared to stand up to them.

Both results have come back clear which is a relief but she's really struggling with work, her shift is 10-7 5 days a week, they have other shifts but wont let her do them. she's started looking else where problem is... she can't attend any interviews due to the hours she works.

Edited by AJB88 on Wednesday 27th January 12:39


My major gripe is that my company - a massive company, we have members of staff which call in all the time stating "they are too tried to come in" and get away with it.

Edited by AJB88 on Wednesday 27th January 12:41

AJB88

Original Poster:

12,263 posts

170 months

Thursday 28th January 2016
quotequote all
Anyone?

Jasandjules

69,825 posts

228 months

Thursday 28th January 2016
quotequote all
A problem you have is under 2 years employment there are limited rights.

Each of her absences also appear to be unrelated do they not?

Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Thursday 28th January 2016
quotequote all
She should probably resign and then look for something else.

anothernameitist

1,500 posts

134 months

Friday 29th January 2016
quotequote all
Poor form if the company doesn't allow hospital appointments in their time, assuming that you had an appointment that couldn't be changed.

She needs to look at the company procedures , with you and decide if its a manager on a mission.


xjay1337

15,966 posts

117 months

Friday 29th January 2016
quotequote all
I think if you can prove the doctors appointments through an appointment history then they cannot dismiss for that, surely?

AJB88

Original Poster:

12,263 posts

170 months

Friday 29th January 2016
quotequote all
Jasandjules said:
A problem you have is under 2 years employment there are limited rights.

Each of her absences also appear to be unrelated do they not?
A few of them were for the initial mole and then follow up appointments, then the smear test and follow up appointments, 1 was for general sickness.

All appointments have had letters provided to the company.


Jasandjules

69,825 posts

228 months

Friday 29th January 2016
quotequote all
Indeed but under two years you have restricted rights. From what you say there is no disability (cancer is a disability upon diagnosis) nor any protected matter i.e. it is not on grounds of her sex or race either.


AJB88

Original Poster:

12,263 posts

170 months

Friday 29th January 2016
quotequote all
Nope there isn't, I'm waiting for her written contract to be brought home so I can read it.

Desperately trying to get her out of that environment, its the kind of place that has a high turn over of staff (tells you a lot really)

davek_964

8,795 posts

174 months

Friday 29th January 2016
quotequote all
Jasandjules said:
From what you say there is no disability (cancer is a disability upon diagnosis)
That seems a tad unreasonable. So if you have cancer and need treatment the company can't hold it against you. But if you have medical signs that you <might> have cancer, they can consider it unreasonable that you took time off to find out?

Charming.

AJB88

Original Poster:

12,263 posts

170 months

Friday 29th January 2016
quotequote all
Unfortunately I believe that's how it is, I know my company is very supportive of people who have medical issues.

I had to have a brain MRI a few years ago which resulted in a few weeks off before I could be scanned and they were brilliant about it.

TurricanII

1,516 posts

197 months

Friday 29th January 2016
quotequote all
Did you give the employer a heads up from the outset? Any chance they would have agreeable if they were told in advance?

Did you offer to take unpaid leave instead of surprising them with sick leave?

Not helpful now, I know, but empathising with the employer can help keep the relationship good.

They might use the Bradford Factor, a formula for HR which means 12 single days off are rated worse (because of the disruption) than e.g. 2 instances of 10 day absences

AJB88

Original Poster:

12,263 posts

170 months

Friday 29th January 2016
quotequote all
Yes she warned them.

My company use a similar thing where 1 period of lets say 20 days is better than 3 periods of 3 days.

Jasandjules

69,825 posts

228 months

Saturday 30th January 2016
quotequote all
Frankly if that is their attitude towards ill health perhaps it is better for her to be looking elsewhere no matter what....

cat with a hat

1,484 posts

117 months

Sunday 31st January 2016
quotequote all
AJB88 said:
Yes she warned them.

My company use a similar thing where 1 period of lets say 20 days is better than 3 periods of 3 days.
Sounds like they are following text book procedure and blanket applying the 'bradford factor' without any consideration.


Jasandjules said:
Frankly if that is their attitude towards ill health perhaps it is better for her to be looking elsewhere no matter what....
Good advice.

AJB88

Original Poster:

12,263 posts

170 months

Sunday 31st January 2016
quotequote all
Finally forced her to apply for a company which is literally across the road from us which has one of them modern "Google style" offices.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2016
quotequote all
AJB88 said:
Finally forced her to apply for a company which is literally across the road from us which has one of them modern "Google style" offices.
Oh good. They'll probably not care how much time she has off, if they have one of them "Google style" offices....


SpunkyGlory

2,321 posts

164 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2016
quotequote all
REALIST123 said:
AJB88 said:
Finally forced her to apply for a company which is literally across the road from us which has one of them modern "Google style" offices.
Oh good. They'll probably not care how much time she has off, if they have one of them "Google style" offices....
Not to mention she is probably really keen to work there if she was forced to apply.

AJB88

Original Poster:

12,263 posts

170 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2016
quotequote all
Nah she wants to work there just one of them people who you literally have to do it for.

xjay1337

15,966 posts

117 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2016
quotequote all
AJB88 said:
Yes she warned them.

My company use a similar thing where 1 period of lets say 20 days is better than 3 periods of 3 days.
We have the bradford factor.
Load of toddle lol.