Phoning in sick
Discussion
A colleague of mine has been rostered in to work on a bank holiday. If he "phones in sick" can the company legally issue a warning, or do anything about it?
At my place of work most people only take 2 or 3 days sick a year, but as in most places a couple take the mick. The boss man said that HR have advised that if someone phones in sick, as long as they have followed procedures there is nothing that can be done.
What thinks the PH SPL team?
Thanks
At my place of work most people only take 2 or 3 days sick a year, but as in most places a couple take the mick. The boss man said that HR have advised that if someone phones in sick, as long as they have followed procedures there is nothing that can be done.
What thinks the PH SPL team?
Thanks
One of the other PM's has a guy in his team who has been gainfully employed by the company for 9 months.
He has managed to make it to work for a grand total of 8 weeks in that 9 months.
He came back after a 6 week break yesterday, he's off today.
It really is the most bare faced cheek I have ever seen...
He has managed to make it to work for a grand total of 8 weeks in that 9 months.
He came back after a 6 week break yesterday, he's off today.
It really is the most bare faced cheek I have ever seen...
mcflurry said:
A colleague of mine has been rostered in to work on a bank holiday. If he "phones in sick" can the company legally issue a warning, or do anything about it?
If its genuine, the company can't do anything about it.
Which begs the question: "how does the company know it is or isn't genuine?"
For a 1 day sickness absence, I'm guessing the answer is "they can't".
It sucks, but that's life.
I've always wondered how you ring in sick, because surely you need to sound ill.
The trots don't make you sound ill though, neither does a toothache, so there's always the worry that you'll judged to be tely porkies.
Where I work, after 3 days you need a sick note.
Some people consider sick leave to be part of their holiday entitlement.
Infact, one of my colleagues (who had read the rule book) went off to scotland on holiday and rang in sick when he got there. They had to give him his holidays back as it was technically sick leave!
The trots don't make you sound ill though, neither does a toothache, so there's always the worry that you'll judged to be tely porkies.
Where I work, after 3 days you need a sick note.
Some people consider sick leave to be part of their holiday entitlement.
Infact, one of my colleagues (who had read the rule book) went off to scotland on holiday and rang in sick when he got there. They had to give him his holidays back as it was technically sick leave!
bryan35 said:
Infact, one of my colleagues (who had read the rule book) went off to scotland on holiday and rang in sick when he got there. They had to give him his holidays back as it was technically sick leave!
This is one that a lot of honest, harworking people miss out on. If you're ill on holiday, you're entitled to have sick leave for those days and therefore reclaim your holiday days.
Personally, I think its extracting the urine more than a little, but well worth it if your holiday's ruined and you have no annual leave remaining in order to try again later.
That's a bit harsh. 
Depends upon the company disciplinary policy.
For example a major supermarket has a counselling session after an employee has had two occasions off sick. That could be as little as two days in a year.
The counselling session, which consists of nothing more than, is there anything wrong, also counts as the first step in the disciplinary procedure. Then they wonder why the staff morale is rock bottom.
I do agree some people do extract the michael though.
For example a major supermarket has a counselling session after an employee has had two occasions off sick. That could be as little as two days in a year.
The counselling session, which consists of nothing more than, is there anything wrong, also counts as the first step in the disciplinary procedure. Then they wonder why the staff morale is rock bottom.
I do agree some people do extract the michael though.
Flat in Fifth said:
Depends upon the company disciplinary policy.
For example a major supermarket has a counselling session after an employee has had two occasions off sick. That could be as little as two days in a year.
The counselling session, which consists of nothing more than, is there anything wrong, also counts as the first step in the disciplinary procedure. Then they wonder why the staff morale is rock bottom.
I do agree some people do extract the michael though.
That sounds borderline illegal, starting disciplinary procedures for being off sick.
stackmonkey said:
Depends upon the company disciplinary policy.
For example a major supermarket has a counselling session after an employee has had two occasions off sick. That could be as little as two days in a year.
The counselling session, which consists of nothing more than, is there anything wrong, also counts as the first step in the disciplinary procedure. Then they wonder why the staff morale is rock bottom.
I do agree some people do extract the michael though.
That sounds borderline illegal, starting disciplinary procedures for being off sick.
Its getting very common though.
I watched the money programme the other day and someone has come up with the best idea I have come across for some time.
You outsource your sickness register to this company.
When you call in sick you dont phone your boss you phone this partner firm. The person that picks up the phone is a fully qualified nurse...
Thats bloody great thinking I reckon.
I think the rules should change so that:
1. Sick days are not paid.
2. Salaries are increased slightly to account for 1.
3. Employees are responsible for their own sickness insurance.
As an IT contractor, this is effectively my situation and as a result, I haven't taken a sick day for about 8 years!
1. Sick days are not paid.
2. Salaries are increased slightly to account for 1.
3. Employees are responsible for their own sickness insurance.
As an IT contractor, this is effectively my situation and as a result, I haven't taken a sick day for about 8 years!
My bro worked for a large dept store at a high level. A large % of his staff were temporary, and so incorporated those that you would not typically rely on (I think that's the PC way to put it).
Anyway, there were literally thousands of days a year taken off....normally after a bank holiday, or a friday and a monday, etc. etc. - all blagging stupid stuff
The company created a "return to work interview", where you had to explain why you were off, how it prevented you from coming into work, and what you will do if it happens next time. Silly absences went down instantly!!
I remember in my last place of work (office) the secretary always used to be "sick" the days the boss wasn't coming in (she was secretary.....she knew when that would be!) and another woman had pretty much EVERY friday and monday off with ponsey little headaches.
We were only an office of 5 people FFS!!
Anyway, there were literally thousands of days a year taken off....normally after a bank holiday, or a friday and a monday, etc. etc. - all blagging stupid stuff
The company created a "return to work interview", where you had to explain why you were off, how it prevented you from coming into work, and what you will do if it happens next time. Silly absences went down instantly!!
I remember in my last place of work (office) the secretary always used to be "sick" the days the boss wasn't coming in (she was secretary.....she knew when that would be!) and another woman had pretty much EVERY friday and monday off with ponsey little headaches.
We were only an office of 5 people FFS!!
Where I work we have to give self-certs for anything under 3 days, after that we need a sick note from a doctor. When we return to work we have to go through a back to work interview where a "Bradford" score is completed.
The Bradford score is "number of times absent * number of times absent * number of days absent". Once this number passes 130 or so you go on a 3month review where if you're off once more you are deemed unreliable & given a final written warning.
It seems harsh, and in some ways I agree, but then I was of work for some 19days in the middle of the year due to an operation which was disregarded.
The Bradford score is "number of times absent * number of times absent * number of days absent". Once this number passes 130 or so you go on a 3month review where if you're off once more you are deemed unreliable & given a final written warning.
It seems harsh, and in some ways I agree, but then I was of work for some 19days in the middle of the year due to an operation which was disregarded.
docevi1 said:
I was of work for some 19days in the middle of the year due to an operation which was disregarded.
What I like is when, if you dont take the pi ss, things like this are accepted and all is ok. For example, at the office I spoke about above, I contracted glandular fever and ended up off for about 5 weeks (quite genuinely so). they didn't mind at all and wished me all the best!
Where I am now there's people that come in obviously not well.....if they phone in sick, you KNOW they're ill!
Alex said:
I think the rules should change so that:
1. Sick days are not paid.
2. Salaries are increased slightly to account for 1.
3. Employees are responsible for their own sickness insurance.
As an IT contractor, this is effectively my situation and as a result, I haven't taken a sick day for about 8 years!
Err.... Sick Days do not have to be paid. To be precise, you will be paid, but only the statutory £38.00 or so per week. It concentrates the mind wonderfully.
Problem is public companies and so on ; the employees just abuse it to the extreme.
tonyhetherington said:
I was of work for some 19days in the middle of the year due to an operation which was disregarded.
What I like is when, if you dont take the pi ss, things like this are accepted and all is ok. For example, at the office I spoke about above, I contracted glandular fever and ended up off for about 5 weeks (quite genuinely so). they didn't mind at all and wished me all the best!
Where I am now there's people that come in obviously not well.....if they phone in sick, you KNOW they're ill!
Problem is you cannot discriminate.
In any workplace everyone knows who the people are who'll come into work in almost any situation, and those who won't come in if they can get away with it. It's obvious.
However, you cannot now say "he's a good honest guy we'll pay him" and not pay the skivers.
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