Calling in sick
Discussion
Interested in both sides, as employer/boss and as the employee.
What level of detail do you give or expect when calling in sick to work? Does an employer have the right to inquire as to the cause/severity of the ailment?
Question prompted by an employee calling in today giving far too much detail about their upset stomach to the point that I assumed they were making it up and going over the top to disguise it.
What level of detail do you give or expect when calling in sick to work? Does an employer have the right to inquire as to the cause/severity of the ailment?
Question prompted by an employee calling in today giving far too much detail about their upset stomach to the point that I assumed they were making it up and going over the top to disguise it.
As a manager, it depends on whether they are a good worker, in which case I don't care what the issue is I know they wouldn't call in sick without a good reason. Or someone who will take the pi55. In the latter case a back to work interview is the time to grill them enquire sympathetically into their wellbeing.
Dr Jekyll said:
As a manager, it depends on whether they are a good worker, in which case I don't care what the issue is I know they wouldn't call in sick without a good reason. Or someone who will take the pi55. In the latter case a back to work interview is the time to grill them enquire sympathetically into their wellbeing.
This. When I have anyone on the phone I only need to know two things... what's wrong with you and when do you think you'll be back. Everything else can be discussed at their RTWI as well as supporting the snowflakes to get out of bed more often
Some people overshare in general and some don't.
If they are known for oversharing in general I wouldn't give it much thought, if it is unusual for them to talk that much I would be interested in organising RTWI and subtly implying you know they pulled a fast one.
That also said, if it's their first ever day off and they are otherwise good, I'd leave it alone!
If they are known for oversharing in general I wouldn't give it much thought, if it is unusual for them to talk that much I would be interested in organising RTWI and subtly implying you know they pulled a fast one.
That also said, if it's their first ever day off and they are otherwise good, I'd leave it alone!
Where I work, there is certainly no 'fairness' in this kind of thing.
There are the same old suspects who seem to have a couple of 'sick' days a month, wild excuses are given, nothing ever gets said. And then there are those who never have any time off sick (5 years and counting for me).
There are the same old suspects who seem to have a couple of 'sick' days a month, wild excuses are given, nothing ever gets said. And then there are those who never have any time off sick (5 years and counting for me).
Gary29 said:
Where I work, there is certainly no 'fairness' in this kind of thing.
There are the same old suspects who seem to have a couple of 'sick' days a month, wild excuses are given, nothing ever gets said. And then there are those who never have any time off sick (5 years and counting for me).
Same here; the usual suspects who always seem to be off and then my department (sales) who are rarely off, probably due to being commission based so if you have a day off, you could well lose out, also we are generally made of hardier stuff!!There are the same old suspects who seem to have a couple of 'sick' days a month, wild excuses are given, nothing ever gets said. And then there are those who never have any time off sick (5 years and counting for me).
My manager is ok with a text or WhatsApp as he knows we don't take the piss, however we all have to fill in a back to work form, or whatever it's called, with details of the issue.
My manager is great I call in explain i wont be in because of said issue and I will keep him updated with any changes, which i would. I dont take the piddle with sickness and he knows this so is fine. We are meant to phone in daily but depending on whats up my boss lets it slide. Once back in work we have a back to work meeting to discuss and see if they can help in any way. This is good imo as he genuinely wants to help if he can with anything and is aware of any circumstances if he needs to act fast. Realistically if anyone is off due to say kids etc they make the time back rather than have it as sickness which works in everyone's favour.
Where as my last manager would expect a call daily, even when signed off sick would call you daily to see whats going on then grill the f**k out of you putting you on a report like a child once back.
Where as my last manager would expect a call daily, even when signed off sick would call you daily to see whats going on then grill the f**k out of you putting you on a report like a child once back.
Most employers / managers do want to know what the ailment is, but actually they have no right to that information.
It comes from the disability legislation, you cannot force someone to disclose their disability, or even if they have one, so forcing someone to reveal what they're off sick with could be seen to be forcing them to reveal the disability. Google this for more info.
It comes from the disability legislation, you cannot force someone to disclose their disability, or even if they have one, so forcing someone to reveal what they're off sick with could be seen to be forcing them to reveal the disability. Google this for more info.
Barga said:
Is the RTWI a way to discourage “sickies” or to catch out?
Asking as an employer who doesn’t do RTWI.
Both really. Asking as an employer who doesn’t do RTWI.
It demonstrates that your focus is on helping your employees as some may have underlying medical conditions that you're unaware of.
They can also (in extreme cases) help with disciplinary proceedings if you agree to set attendance targets but in my experience there's an incredibly fine line that has to be trodden along if you're going down this route. It can take years!
I don't ask for full details, but a category of the illness must be entered into our HR system when they return. I'm rarely off sick but when I am I say roughly what it is and when I expect to be back, just to help set expectations.
Allowing staff to work from home massively reduces the amount of days taken sick in my experience and my place is pretty flexible for that. One of my team (based in Belfast, I'm in London) has quite a bad sick record but is an awesome team member otherwise. Since taking over the team in January I have almost enforced the team to work at home regularly - the work still gets done (they are a 1st line support team) and the level of sickness has gone down (vital in a team of 3).
In 10 years as a consultant working a mix of on client sites and at home (so no daily commute) I was rarely off sick. I do wonder if an expectation of long hours coupled with ever-longer commutes is a factor in sickness levels.
Allowing staff to work from home massively reduces the amount of days taken sick in my experience and my place is pretty flexible for that. One of my team (based in Belfast, I'm in London) has quite a bad sick record but is an awesome team member otherwise. Since taking over the team in January I have almost enforced the team to work at home regularly - the work still gets done (they are a 1st line support team) and the level of sickness has gone down (vital in a team of 3).
In 10 years as a consultant working a mix of on client sites and at home (so no daily commute) I was rarely off sick. I do wonder if an expectation of long hours coupled with ever-longer commutes is a factor in sickness levels.
The chap who works for me 'texts' in sick, rather than phoning which I don't like but, the companies staff handbook says he can so, nothing I can do about that. I think if he had to call, there might be fewer 'mysterious' post-weekend stomach bugs and the like.
Having said that, he doesn't get paid for time off sick so perhaps I'm being too cynical.
Having said that, he doesn't get paid for time off sick so perhaps I'm being too cynical.
Gary29 said:
Where I work, there is certainly no 'fairness' in this kind of thing.
There are the same old suspects who seem to have a couple of 'sick' days a month, wild excuses are given, nothing ever gets said. And then there are those who never have any time off sick (5 years and counting for me).
Are you one of those people who come to work regardless, and then make those around you ill, or do you just never get poorly?There are the same old suspects who seem to have a couple of 'sick' days a month, wild excuses are given, nothing ever gets said. And then there are those who never have any time off sick (5 years and counting for me).
Because if the former, that would really piss me off if you were a colleague of mine, as I've lost count of the amount of times colleague(s) have come to work full of flu etc. and then promptly made several others around them ill.
I'm particularly prone to catching colds / flu, and when I do it 'knocks me for a six' (e.g. can't function for a day or two), through no fault of my own.
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