Sick lines and socialising
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Mark A B

Original Poster:

166 posts

178 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
quotequote all
A friend of mine is currently off on the "sick" from work with stress. His role isn't Very demanding but the doctor has signed him off for a few weeks.

Over the festive period he was out socialising, pissing it up and posting all over Facebook which I'm sure his employers could see.

I've told him to maybe keep that kinda stuff on the down low as it doesn't look great on his behalf but is there anything his employers could do?

krunchkin

2,209 posts

170 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
quotequote all
they could sack him for being a lazy, grafting perchance?

davepoth

29,395 posts

228 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
quotequote all
krunchkin said:
they could sack him for being a lazy, grafting perchance?
You forgot "stupid".

Stress is a bit of a funny one. You might suggest that "relaxing" with friends is part of the cure, but this really won't play well with his company. I'd guess that he's actually off with "I hate my job, and my workplace, and my managers"?

Grandfondo

12,241 posts

235 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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Stupid people are stupid shocker!

Dr Interceptor

8,183 posts

225 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
quotequote all
Your friend could be dismissed on the grounds of a long term inability to fulfil their role.

The employer will need to be seen to be acting with some compassion, but ultimately, if your friend can't do their job without becoming stressed, then they aren't suitable for the role, whether or not their 'stress' is the employers fault.


longshot

3,286 posts

227 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
quotequote all
You know him better than us of course but it is possible to have stress and still enjoy yourself. Sounds like a good antidote to me.
I have depression but I have been known to go out and enjoy myself from time to time. I even smile sometimes. smile

simoid

19,774 posts

187 months

Monday 12th January 2015
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If the chap's depressed would a doc or company be impressed that he's filling himself with booze?

scratchchin

longshot

3,286 posts

227 months

Monday 12th January 2015
quotequote all
simoid said:
If the chap's depressed would a doc or company be impressed that he's filling himself with booze?

scratchchin
Well that depends. If it was mid morning when he would normally be at work then probably not.
If it was in an evening then it's not really his company's business.

I knew a guy who was off with stress. His GP told him to get off down the pub to relax and socialise. Who'd have thought it.

RobinOakapple

2,802 posts

141 months

Monday 12th January 2015
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I've not yet heard of a self-employed bloke being off work with stress.

Dr Interceptor

8,183 posts

225 months

Monday 12th January 2015
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RobinOakapple said:
I've not yet heard of a self-employed bloke being off work with stress.
So true.

We just have sleepless nights and get on with it.

JuniorD

9,013 posts

252 months

Monday 12th January 2015
quotequote all
I know a traffic policeman, was off sick for 6 months following a crash in which aonther traffic police car t-boned him outside the polie station.

He told me all about it the weekend afterwards at cycle hill climb event, in which he won and I came second. As witnessed by my own eyes and as evidenced by multiple videos on Facebook, his injuries while off sick had zero affect on his ability to do the complete "Gangnam style" dance routine.

ruff'n'smov

1,092 posts

178 months

Monday 12th January 2015
quotequote all
Dr Interceptor said:
RobinOakapple said:
I've not yet heard of a self-employed bloke being off work with stress.
So true.

We just have sleepless nights and get on with it.
Self employment the best prevention for any illness

simoid

19,774 posts

187 months

Monday 12th January 2015
quotequote all
longshot said:
Well that depends. If it was mid morning when he would normally be at work then probably not.
If it was in an evening then it's not really his company's business.

I knew a guy who was off with stress. His GP told him to get off down the pub to relax and socialise. Who'd have thought it.
Not sure I do much effective socialising when I'm pissed tbh, ymmv biggrinbeer

Terminator X

20,490 posts

233 months

Monday 12th January 2015
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Off with stress?! Should be a sackable offence imho. Tell him to MTFU.

TX.

vx220

2,725 posts

263 months

Tuesday 13th January 2015
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longshot said:
Well that depends. If it was mid morning when he would normally be at work then probably not.
If it was in an evening then it's not really his company's business.

I knew a guy who was off with stress. His GP told him to get off down the pub to relax and socialise. Who'd have thought it.
Relax and socialise, yes

Probably didn't prescribe alcohol (you know, that well known destroyer of mood/families/health?)

Sy1441

1,283 posts

189 months

Sunday 18th January 2015
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I find it really interesting dealing with absence due to "Stress". People often confuse Pressure with Stress, however stress is the output of a combination of factors which manifests itself in Physiological, Behavioural and Emotional changes.

It doesn't look professional being out on the lash when off with Stress, thats for certain. It'll would certainly make myself as an employer probe into the absence in greater detail upon the emoloyees return.

c8bof

368 posts

194 months

Sunday 18th January 2015
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Surely it all depends on what's causing the stress? If it's work (and it doesn't have to be a highly pressured job to cause someone stress), then whycan't someone be out socialising if their social life is not the issue.

As both an employer and HR person, I can't make any judgement on this without knowing the full story.

Grandfondo

12,241 posts

235 months

Sunday 18th January 2015
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C8bof I am also an employer and after years of being the person in charge of HR when it comes to employees the story they give you is irrelevant because they are lying scumbags and will use every trick in the book to pull a fast one! wink

simoid

19,774 posts

187 months

Monday 19th January 2015
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And lo, the employee:employer psychological contract was born wink

Mark A B

Original Poster:

166 posts

178 months

Monday 19th January 2015
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Just to update he's continuing the "show" and is still off. I think he's at it if I'm honest.

I did like the best cure for stress is being self employed though! Will pass that on