Sick Note Expired But Not Back At Work

[DSLiverpool]

Employee went off early Dec with sick note for none physical condition, renewed it twice passing to a colleague to bring in.
Last note expired today and they are not here - anyone had any experience of this ie whats the procedure, as its a none physical issue I don't want to hassle them with a call etc - we finish today till the 29th

[worsy]

Expires today, fit to work tomorrow surely?

[Too Late]

worsy said:

Expires today, fit to work tomorrow surely?

Call them?
Never heard of handing a sick note to a colleague to hand in on their behalf before...

[DSLiverpool]

Signed off till the 23rd - means back on the 23rd - when renewed it was done as per that thinking

[TR4man]

So they have gone AWOL then.

I assume your employer has a procedure for AWOL?

[worsy]

DSLiverpool said:

Signed off till the 23rd - means back on the 23rd - when renewed it was done as per that thinking

I thought they were inclusive. Did a quick google and most sites suggest the same.

This link suggests the same https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...

The period that the fit note covers. This will
either be from the date of the assessment
(Box 1), or between particular start and end
dates. The dates are inclusive, (so a fit note
dated from 2 April to 10 April will no longer
apply from 11 April onwards).

[DSLiverpool]

Were not calling them, we have decided to write asking why not at work today then we will have to decide on the way forward. Its actually never happened before.

[Too Late]

DSLiverpool said:

Were not calling them, we have decided to write asking why not at work today then we will have to decide on the way forward. Its actually never happened before.

Are they still getting paid while off work?

[DSLiverpool]

Too Late said:

DSLiverpool said:

Were not calling them, we have decided to write asking why not at work today then we will have to decide on the way forward. Its actually never happened before.

Are they still getting paid while off work?

Whilst signed off yes, not sure what happens now to be honest.

[geeks]

DSLiverpool said:

Were not calling them, we have decided to write asking why not at work today then we will have to decide on the way forward. Its actually never happened before.

You should call, if it is non physical then it is physiological a bleak time of year for mental health issues etc, checking in is the responsible thing to do!

Although I also thought that if the note was to the 23rd it was inclusive...

[DSLiverpool]

They don't live alone their partner could have dropped it in I am sure they are ok, the past sick notes say on them Return to work date xx this one is a return to work date 23rd.

Has anyone actually had this happen to them ? first for me - been told to write asking why not in work but I am pretty surprised to say the least.

[geeks]

DSLiverpool said:

They don't live alone their partner could have dropped it in I am sure they are ok, the past sick notes say on them Return to work date xx this one is a return to work date 23rd.

Has anyone actually had this happen to them ? first for me - been told to write asking why not in work but I am pretty surprised to say the least.

Ah sorry an assumption on my part, I would still call though, will save the puzzlement, there maybe a good reason perhaps, albeit I am struggling to think of one. Has everyone checked voicemails today as well? Happened to me once rang in, got TL's Voicemail, left a message and then rang his boss, got Voicemail too so left a VM on there. Got a phone call some three hours later when they noticed I hadn't appeared turn out neither had the voicemail notification from their phones and neither had checked the voicemail because they hadnt had the notification, once they checked my VM's were there and they were happy and I was left to recover!

[DSLiverpool]

Well they are still off and have produced notes until today - the employee was due back today but no note. came in for the hearing though yesterday and their mobile was ringing a lot - were really busy and the fact as an employer I cant do anything is just wrong. I accept the ill need help but I should be able to dismiss if no note after a certain time or send for a suitability for employment assessment - something!!

[andy-xr]

How about finding out what the problem is? The sick note is covering something, if it's for interviews that can come out in the course of conversation. Depends if you're going to want to punish them for something I guess, what sort of team do you have? One that wants to work or one that's frightened to say anything for fear of being castigated?

[Magic919]

You should talk to your HR people regarding what you can and cannot do. They are there to keep you out of Court.

[omgus]

DSLiverpool said:

Well they are still off and have produced notes until today - the employee was due back today but no note. came in for the hearing though yesterday and their mobile was ringing a lot - were really busy and the fact as an employer I cant do anything is just wrong. I accept the ill need help but I should be able to dismiss if no note after a certain time or send for a suitability for employment assessment - something!!

As an employer you can do something but you need to have set this something out as a process and ensure you work to it from day one.
It is unfortunate you have discovered this after someone has started taking the piss.

[DSLiverpool]

A note was produced the next day, they are back at work on Monday after 5 of our busiest weeks off. We have looked at the role and it can be done in 5 hours on a Monday and 3 hours tues to fri plus answering the phone - so I am not expecting Victorian work levels - Monday will be interesting

[andy-xr]

For you especially if you dont handle it properly, a genuine illness which is covered by a note is fairly solid reasons for not being able to work. Tread carefully and with respect

[DSLiverpool]

Yes its stress hence we have run through the job and trialled it with other workers to see if the workload is reasonable. ideally they should be part time but my HR said not to mention this as they could say I am trying to force them out

[ATG]

Have you made any attempt to speak to your employee to ask them how they are and what is wrong? Surely you aren't just passively sitting there waiting for his return or another sick note to appear? That would hardly be executing your responsibilities to your firm or to the employee.