Off sick & company phones you: legal?
Discussion
hertsbiker
I would have thought it perfectly reasonable for the odd call while your're off sick, they are paying you after all (if you are sick without pay then you might consider that another matter).
As a former employer in a small company, it was often essential for the well being of the company to know a few events/actions of the previous working day, so that we could keep our customers happy.
davidy
I would have thought it perfectly reasonable for the odd call while your're off sick, they are paying you after all (if you are sick without pay then you might consider that another matter).
As a former employer in a small company, it was often essential for the well being of the company to know a few events/actions of the previous working day, so that we could keep our customers happy.
davidy
When I was employed I HATED being phoned on the odd occasion I was off sick, and hated being phoned in my own time by my then boss, period. Most of the time they phoned because they couldn't assed to read a file or look on my desk. My attitude was they could wring me out when I'm at work, but my own time is my own time. Mind you I think he was a particularly bad case - once phoned me at 6 am on a Sunday from Jeddah because his laptop wouldn't start up, for example.
Depends...
If it's a ,sorry to bother you but can you tell us where XYZ file is, then no it's not a problem.
If its 'come in or you're fired' then yes it is a problem unless you're on a final warning for absence in which case most people would drag themselves to work and hope to get sent home when the boss can see it's genuine.
If it's the first scenario at least you can take some comfort in the fact that someones covering for you and you're not going to go back to a world of hurt
DC
If it's a ,sorry to bother you but can you tell us where XYZ file is, then no it's not a problem.
If its 'come in or you're fired' then yes it is a problem unless you're on a final warning for absence in which case most people would drag themselves to work and hope to get sent home when the boss can see it's genuine.
If it's the first scenario at least you can take some comfort in the fact that someones covering for you and you're not going to go back to a world of hurt
DC
It will depend what they want, but I do phone my employees when they are off sick to see how they are and find out when they expect to return to work. I also remind them to go to the doc and get a sick note if there are to be off over a certain time period for their protection.
If I thought someone was "messing" I would take an active interest though, but generally it's just an element of concern
You know your employer, but it's not all big brother.
Psychobert said: That said, i get calls evenings, weekends, even when on holiday. I'm told it goes with the job, but it is getting a little much at times..
Agreed. My ex-boss used to insist I make myself available at all times when on holiday, "just in case". The last straw came when I got a call from one of the staff asking how to switch back on a PC that I left clearly labelled "Do NOT switch off"... Doh.
There are limits to loyalty IMO.
>> Edited by SGirl on Wednesday 9th April 14:30
If I'm off sick I don't get paid so I make sure my office and mobile numbers divert to office voicemail. Same thing if I'm on holiday.
However, if some enterprising sod manages to contact me while I'm on holiday then I simply mark that day down as 'not on holiday' and add that day back onto my holiday entitlement. If they ask why I think I have one more day holiday entitlement than the HR system says I explain it to them and give the name of the person who called and the reason for the call.
It used to happen a lot, it doesn't happen at all now . . . I wonder why!
However, if some enterprising sod manages to contact me while I'm on holiday then I simply mark that day down as 'not on holiday' and add that day back onto my holiday entitlement. If they ask why I think I have one more day holiday entitlement than the HR system says I explain it to them and give the name of the person who called and the reason for the call.
It used to happen a lot, it doesn't happen at all now . . . I wonder why!
If I'm off sick for a short period of time I will phone him every day at some point out of courtesy more than anything else, and it lets him know when I'm likely to be back so he can keep jobs back a day or two for me, or give them to someone else if I'm off for longer. It removes the element of doubt.
However, if I am on holiday and I recieve a phone call I simply dont answer it, but then if I am in a situation like the one recently were I took a week off which ended up turning into a month, I make contact every few days after the original period of holiday has ended to keep him informed and make sure I still have a job.
Its good to talk.....
However, if I am on holiday and I recieve a phone call I simply dont answer it, but then if I am in a situation like the one recently were I took a week off which ended up turning into a month, I make contact every few days after the original period of holiday has ended to keep him informed and make sure I still have a job.
Its good to talk.....
yertis said: When I was employed I HATED being phoned on the odd occasion I was off sick, and hated being phoned in my own time by my then boss, period. Most of the time they phoned because they couldn't assed to read a file or look on my desk. My attitude was they could wring me out when I'm at work, but my own time is my own time. Mind you I think he was a particularly bad case - once phoned me at 6 am on a Sunday from Jeddah because his laptop wouldn't start up, for example.
if i had worked for him he would have ended up in
A&E having his laptop removed from his rectum
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff