To feel harassed?

[Fortitudine]

I'm off sick at the moment with quite a nasty infection. I've been in bed most of the time since coming down with it on Thursday when I also saw my GP who prescribed antibiotics. I'm obviously wanting to be back to work as soon as possible, but it's looking like it will be Tuesday or Wednesday at the earliest, I've really been quite poorly. It's the second period of sickness I've had this year, as I had to have a minor operation in April.

We have a new boss at work and I informed him of my absence by phone as is procedure. Since then I've had two emails and two texts asking how I am and when I'd be back, and yesterday I received a letter stating I'd hit a sickness target and would be monitored closely from now on. This sort of thing is normally discussed when a person returns to work, and seems a bit excessive when I've been off two days. I feel under pressure to return, and feel harassed, bullied, and being treated as if I'm skiving.

Would I be unreasonable to complain about this and raise the matter with my union? I've felt quite upset by it to be honest.

[Bluntness100]

You wouldn't be unreasonable to do it, no, but on the other hand, going via the union isn't going to endear uou to them exactly. Two periods of sickness doesn't seem excessive to me and I assume uou have a doctors note.

Is there anything else at play, for example are you usually on time, do you do your work in a timely and efficient manner etc?

[mum2Bomg]

What does your contract say? Or the HR policy. If that's what they're following and they do it with everyone then it's not a judgment on you...

[Fortitudine]

I've never been late, have glowing appraisals from previous boss, love the job, just worried this new boss is flexing his muscles in an inappropriate way. There have been a few warning signs that have made me uncomfortable with him. I refused to add him to my Facebook as I never add bosses on there. He didn't like that and made the odd joke about me having something to hide. Thankfully other members of staff have refused to as well. He has set my spidey senses tingling as one who tries to be far too pally with staff, but I don't trust him.

[caroldecker]

It depends on your work policy - if he is new, he may just be playing it by the book

[Fortitudine]

I think it's the fact that there have been multiple texts and emails as well as a letter in such a short space of time. My DH raised an eyebrow about it and thought it was overkill.

[MissVictoria]

I thought you were entitled to 7 days off sick before the need to "prove" it with sick note etc?
If you're ill, you're ill. Going in when you're not going to be productive, distracted, and potentially making others ill who then need time off, is surely not preferable to you taking a few more days.

[Fortitudine]

Yes, I think you are entitled to 7 days. He hasn't gone so far as to ask for a sick note, as it's not needed yet.

[WeedlesHatOfDisappointment]

Even if OP has triggered their sickness policy, it should be dealt with when they get back, not having emails and texts sent to them after only 2 days off sick!

[Fortitudine]

Just to make it clear, I realise I have triggered the sickness policy, I just question the way in which it has been raised, before I've even returned to work. I'm fairly laid back about the illness, in my view if you're ill you need to take time to recover. I feel as if I'm not being believed or listened to - in the emails he stated wrongly what I was ill with and I corrected him on both occasions as he was saying a completely different illness to the one that I have!

[RandomMess]

I believe it's inappropriate that he contacted you if you had kept him informed as per your sickness policy. Last thing you need whilst I'll!

[McButtonwillow]

Yanbu! That's ridiculous and I would be sending him a very firm message that you have already been in contact with him re your sickness and it is inappropriate for him to keep contacting you whilst you are unwell.

Also completely agree re facebook- why on earth would you have your boss as a friend!

[Bogeyface]

Oh dear, I can see why your spidey sense is tingling. Wants inappropriate knowledge of your private life via FB and is being an ass over 2 days sick leave so far? This one is going to be a nightmare and I suggest you start looking for a new job now, before the rush starts and everyone else in your department is looking too.

I had a boss just like this and she was a nightmare, thankfully it was preFB but if it had existed then she would have been all over us about it. I went on maternity leave, got hassled when I was off about when I was coming back and then left 6 weeks after returning as the atmosphere had got even worse in the intervening 6 months. Almost everyone from the old team had left in that period too. Sick leave was a nightmare.

She got sacked eventually but not before she managed to drag the entire department down.