Anxious about work

[Vanillalime]

Hi, I have been off work for the last month with work stress. This is due to the fact my manager has been, for want of a better word, bullying me for the past few years.
I have never been off work before but things had reached breaking point for me & I finally went to the doctor, who gave me a sick note for a month & a prescription for propranolol.
Because my sick note was for work related stress, I have been called into work on 2 separate occasions to try to resolve the issues. I was a nervous wreck about this because my meeting was with the manager who bullied me.
I felt I was really open & honest & told him everything about how he made me feel & gave examples of things he said etc.
He basically denied everything & managed to turn everything around & said he didn't think he was the reason I was really off sick, but it was due to other factors in my work. There has been lots of changes in my workplace & he said he didn't find me adaptable & this was prob the reason for my stress.
Anyway, I have now received a letter saying I'm not being paid because I haven't followed absence procedures correctly, as I have not been in touch with work since last week.
The reason I haven't been in touch is because I am terrified of phoning in. I am so anxious about even picking up the phone to make the call. I have switched the ringer off on my phone so no one can phone me because it turns my stomach thinking of being put on the spot, not just by work but by anyone.
I felt because I have had no contact with work for over a week, I have actually felt calmer & felt ready to go back to work on Monday. But now after having received the letter about no pay, I just want to go back to the doctor & get another line. I don't even know if I would get an appointment for today. I feel like I was making progress, now im back to where I was a the start.
If I'm honest, there's part of me that thinks, "we'll if you're not paying me, I'm just going to take another few weeks off!!" But I have barely been out of bed this past month & don't want my anxiety to slip into possible depression. I just don't know what to do.

[MrsKranky]

Oh no, OP I'm sorry you're feeling like this. Do your company gave an occupational health company? Or an employee assistance programme? If the have an OH provider you could ask to be referred. They're independent and will listen to you and send their finding to HR, including their opinion on why you're off. They're medical professionals, usually nurses, so their professional opinion is worth more than your managers!

In terms of calling in, can you arrange to call someone else, another manager or HR maybe?

[SilverStars]

Do you have a union or a HR manager you can speak to?

Have you got a copy of your absence policy? If you presented work with a month sick note do you have any legal reason to contact them each week?

Where in your absence policy does it say pay is dependent upon x number of contact being made.

Can you put all is in writing - and insist everything is in writing - and take an advocate with you to represent you at all future meetings.

[Vanillalime]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I'm feeling slightly better now, think I just had a bit of a wobble when I received the letter! We do have an occupational health within my workplace but usually you don't get referred until you've been off longer than a month. But I suppose there's nothing stopping me getting in touch myself?
I don't have a copy of the absence policy, so I'm not sure what the actual procedures are.
I actually went into work on Saturday & spoke to HR and the assistant mentioned to me that the letter I received is basically a load of tosh & they are basically chancing their luck by not paying me. When I spoke to HR manager she confirmed that it wasn't "set in stone" about no wages!!
So I guess I'll need to fight my corner.

Thanks again.

[SilverStars]

Glad you have a HR and they know their own policies!

If the comment about no pay was in written format do give a photocopy of it to HR ( keep original!).

Dif you ask HR how often and in what method you are expected to stay in touch when off sick? Especially when met management and handed over sick notes? If you know what is expected you can meet it but if no one given you a policy then there is no way you can know.

Do ask for a copy of your pay/sick pay policy; all staff should know their rights. Different jobs have different policies and how long sick pay and at what amount is paid should be recorded. Where I work we get full pay for a set amount of time and then after that we get SSP which is paid via the government but Hr sort it for us.

If it was me I would write a strongly worded letter to HR/Manager copying in the threatening letter you sent ( copy of) with the fact you not given copy of policy, the fact that you attended meeting on xy dates and so on. And if unreasonable behaviour and letters not based on policies continue to be sent you will be seeking legal action for harassment during sick leave.