Manipulative colleagues taking time off "sick"

[Viperzs]

I have a colleague who is always disruptive, acts incredibly childish and attention seeking all the time. She has been ill over the last year and a half, with time off for some operations etc.

She seems to milk this though, always making sure people know when she wasn't well and really making a big deal these days if she doesn't feel good (even if it's just a cold). On Friday she was her normal self, talking utter bks all morning and being a pain in the arse. I just got on with it and put my headphones in. She takes her lunch (30mins allocated) but has about 40 minutes then messes around on her phone for about 10 minutes when she gets back too. Very annoying, but I'm not her manager so I say nothing to her.

Then I get a Skype from someone asking what's wrong and if she's been crying. She then gets up, puts her coat on and says she's going home as she's not well. She's called a manager (who was working from home), cried down the phone and claimed there's nobody in the office that she could have talked to about it, doesn't feel well and needs to leave.

This is bks as there were 3 department managers and our MD in the office that day; she had 1hr30 left of her working day and conveniently was going to another city at the weekend for someone's birthday which she attended with no issues. Looks like she had a glorious time.

At what stage does disciplinary become eligible and the employee is no longer 'protected' by the disability factor from being truly ill?

[ozzuk]

Not your problem, and trying to make it your problem will just stress you out/annoy you. You aren't her manager so leave her to it. Management are likely aware and just don't think it's worth the problem to do anything about it. If it is impacting your workload then tell your manager, but don't say anything to her or she'll likely accuse you of bullying, or trying to manage her.

Oh, and I'm sure you're being professional, but don't talk about her in a negative way on skype, these things are often monitored and you don't want to find yourself in the firing line!

[Vaud]

ozzuk said:

Oh, and I'm sure you're being professional, but don't talk about her in a negative way on skype, these things are often monitored and you don't want to find yourself in the firing line!

Skype messages may be retained (e.g. on O365) but not actively monitored... retained in case of a complaint, etc but not watched.

[davek_964]

If I'd been ill for 18 months, and it was enough that I needed operations - I doubt I'd be Ronald McDonald either. Leave the poor girl alone and carry on using your headphones.

[Disastrous]

Not your problem if it isn’t directly affecting your work.

[KrazyIvan]

If your being asked to pick up her workload then you have a legitimate complaint you can make, but if you are not, than I'd suggest you just ignore her and her actions and concentrate on your own work.

[kurt535]

Herein lies the problem companies have hiring permanent staff and why we see the sad rise of crap zero hour contracts.....