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AIBU?

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HR calling me on my day off

90 replies

Notsurewhatithink · 20/11/2024 13:25

I have been experiencing some health problems which require reasonable adjustments in the workplace. I thought I was managing this well with my line manager. Today, however, I received a phone call out of the blue from the person who does our HR, to discuss "support" for me, as I had expressed "needs" to them (I have a formal diagnosis, which I think shared with management). However, I do not work on Wednesdays and the caller ID did not come up as my work, so I answered as I was concerned it was my son's school.

AIBU to be pissed off to be called about work-related issues like this on my day off? It can absolutely wait until tomorrow. I have not had more than half a day in a row off for this condition (or a full day for anything else since February), so it's not like I am never in work for them to speak to me! I was in the library with my toddler and now I am fucking paranoid they're trying to cut me loose!

OP posts:
Notsurewhatithink · 20/11/2024 17:18

Quitelikeit · 20/11/2024 17:09

You school has a HR lady on site do they? Never known it

YABU - let it go

Someone who manages contracts etc? Yes, it does. Maybe not formally HR but definitely the closest we have to it.

OP posts:
TinyGingerCat · 20/11/2024 17:17

Offering someone support when they have disclosed an issue (health or wellbeing) is not disingenuous, it's what a good employer does to look after their staff. You don't have to take the support but your employer has done the right thing to flag it with you.

Notsurewhatithink · 20/11/2024 17:17

Caffeineismydrug35 · 20/11/2024 17:07

I bet none of the replies so far are from anyone who works in a school. Schools are known for being toxic so I understand your reservations. Has anyone mentioned your performance? I’ve seen a few colleagues in the last few years be pushed out over health conditions, all dressed up as Performance Issues. What is your actual SLT like? Are they supportive? Did they initiate this or is it a case of simply following procedure?
Keep a record of all communication and contact your union if you start to feel unfairly treated.

Thank you for this. No, no one has mentioned my performance. SLT was supportive when I disclosed my condition, but that was three months ago. I am probably just being unnecessarily suspicious, but that's based on past experience (I asked my then LM for a meeting to discuss workload and I rocked up to find the HR person there to take notes; off the record "advisory chats" that could be construed as bullying etc etc). Said former LM is now the HT so I'm not overly confident I will get a supportive hearing...

Seriously considering bringing the union in, as I don't trust a meeting to discuss support for me won't, intentionally or otherwise, turn into a meeting about performance.

OP posts:
Quitelikeit · 20/11/2024 17:09

You school has a HR lady on site do they? Never known it

YABU - let it go

Caffeineismydrug35 · 20/11/2024 17:07

I bet none of the replies so far are from anyone who works in a school. Schools are known for being toxic so I understand your reservations. Has anyone mentioned your performance? I’ve seen a few colleagues in the last few years be pushed out over health conditions, all dressed up as Performance Issues. What is your actual SLT like? Are they supportive? Did they initiate this or is it a case of simply following procedure?
Keep a record of all communication and contact your union if you start to feel unfairly treated.

AwakeNotThruChoice · 20/11/2024 17:05

If today (Wednesday) is your day off and you want a break from work talk, why are you posting here about it.

HildaHosmede · 20/11/2024 17:02

I would have felt entirely different about it if I had asked for support. Offering someone support unprompted is disingenuous

They'll have boxes to tick. Health and safety, wellbeing, whatever.

To be frank, if you didn't want anything 'done' you should have kept your diagnosis to yourself.

LittleMousewithcloggson · 20/11/2024 16:57

Firstly, they are trying to help!
If it was about your actual work then I understand you being annoyed for getting a call in your day off.
However, it was to offer help and support. I wouldn’t have got upset about being phoned on my day off for that.
Secondly, you were the one that phoned them back! If you had bothered checking your voicemail you could have made the decision to leave it until the next day. You would have also been more prepared for the conversation if you had listened to the voicemail first.

As HR I would always speak to someone about reasonable adjustments when there was plenty of time to do so. It would not occur to me that there was a performance problem or a hidden agenda. It would be all about the welfare of the employee.

Dont read too much into it.

Teladi · 20/11/2024 16:53

Notsurewhatithink · 20/11/2024 16:32

I would have felt entirely different about it if I had asked for support. Offering someone support unprompted is disingenuous - they must have concerns about my performance, otherwise why offer support?

It sounds like you're going through a lot at the moment but this would be quite standard at my workplace to check in and make sure you were happy with the risk controls in place, that your line manager was supportive and whether there was anything else the organisation can do. Not anything sinister.

It's fine not to want to talk on your day off but I imagine they called you then so you wouldn't be in class, not to railroad you or catch you out.

Hope you get sorted

Catza · 20/11/2024 16:48

Notsurewhatithink · 20/11/2024 16:32

I would have felt entirely different about it if I had asked for support. Offering someone support unprompted is disingenuous - they must have concerns about my performance, otherwise why offer support?

Because it is statutory requirement once someone discloses their long-term condition.
If you think that your performance is not up to scratch, then that's a separate matter. But if you know you are performing at the same level as previously, I really don't see why you immediately jump to a conclusion that they have an ulterior motive.

bettingpencil · 20/11/2024 16:46

Notsurewhatithink · 20/11/2024 16:32

I would have felt entirely different about it if I had asked for support. Offering someone support unprompted is disingenuous - they must have concerns about my performance, otherwise why offer support?

Hi Op, I say this with a lot of kindness as I understand your condition probably stops you from seeing things clearly - but I don't think them offering support is disingenuous just because its unprompted. As hard as it is to see when something overwhelms us, I'm sure their intentions are in the right place.

SereneFish · 20/11/2024 16:44

Notsurewhatithink · 20/11/2024 16:29

Aye, because the only time you can feel like you're not in control of a situation is when someone points a gun at your head... Great for you that you're always so self assertive. I'm not.

It doesn't take an unusual level of assertiveness to say you're off work and ask to pick up the conversation another day. You're overreacting and imagining devious motives to ordinary things.

AConcernedCitizen · 20/11/2024 16:37

One phonecall - on which you were perfectly capable of telling them it was inconvenient to speak and could catch up when in work - is hardly railroading.

They're trying to help you!

Delatron · 20/11/2024 16:34

I understand OP. I do think it’s fine to state your boundaries. Some people don’t mind being called by work on their day off and others do.

I would see if you can arrange a meeting with them in one of your free periods. If they call you on your day off keep saying it’s inconvenient and you’ll arrange a convenient time to talk when you’re in school.

Whatever your preference- having a private work conversation in a public library with a toddler is not a great idea. You won’t be able to concentrate and you are supervising a small child.

I would guess this is the case every week on your day off so they need to understand that it’s not the best time to speak to you.

TouchOfSilverShampoo · 20/11/2024 16:32

@Notsurewhatithink Well do you want their support or not?

They've called you once. Hardly getting "railroaded".

AgnesX · 20/11/2024 16:32

It's HR, they should know your working days and shouldn't have called. I would have just said that it wasn't convenient and could we arrange a call/ meeting for the next day.

I don't think there's any lines to read between..

Notsurewhatithink · 20/11/2024 16:32

StillAtTheRestaurant · 20/11/2024 16:25

If my workplace were trying to support me like this, I'd happy to speak to them whether it was a workday or not. I think if you're in a salaried role rather than on an hourly wage (if that makes sense!) a bit of give and take is needed.

I would have felt entirely different about it if I had asked for support. Offering someone support unprompted is disingenuous - they must have concerns about my performance, otherwise why offer support?

OP posts:
Notsurewhatithink · 20/11/2024 16:29

Lostinbrum · 20/11/2024 16:17

Don't see how you got railroaded. They weren't pointing a gun to your head. You were on the phone, a simple sorry its my day off I'm busy I'll call you tomorrow would have been fine. Your LM has gone to HR to help assist you with your health needs and they want to speak to you about it what's weird about that

Aye, because the only time you can feel like you're not in control of a situation is when someone points a gun at your head... Great for you that you're always so self assertive. I'm not.

OP posts:
StillAtTheRestaurant · 20/11/2024 16:25

If my workplace were trying to support me like this, I'd happy to speak to them whether it was a workday or not. I think if you're in a salaried role rather than on an hourly wage (if that makes sense!) a bit of give and take is needed.

Notsurewhatithink · 20/11/2024 16:23

Kangarude · 20/11/2024 16:19

So they left you a voicemail? How did that catch you off guard?
It was just a phone call. I couldn’t get worked up about it

No, they called and left a voicemail. I saw I had a missed call from a number I thought might be my son's school, so I returned the call. It was only after that call that I realised they left a VM.

OP posts:
Notsurewhatithink · 20/11/2024 16:21

Catza · 20/11/2024 16:17

HR knew it was my day off, because they wouldn't phone if it wasn't as they'd know I was in class.
So when are they meant to speak to you, then?
It's a normal practice to request Oh assessment for someone who discloses a health condition. Whether you choose to decline it, is entirely up to you but your employer has duty of care and needs to make sure you are receiving support you are entitled to. Refusing OH assessment is not "being obstructive". Not everyone with a health condition will need or want RAs.

No one mentioned an OH assessment?

Of course I get free periods etc at work. I'd prefer them to talk to me then, or catch me at break or lunch or whatever, which is what they'd do if I was in work. It's not that they couldn't possibly speak to me at another time, it's that the fact that they called means they knew it was my day off

OP posts:
Kangarude · 20/11/2024 16:19

So they left you a voicemail? How did that catch you off guard?
It was just a phone call. I couldn’t get worked up about it

Notsurewhatithink · 20/11/2024 16:18

TouchOfSilverShampoo · 20/11/2024 13:33

She called to offer help. She isn't a mind reader, yes oversight that it's your day off.

But it's not hard to put on your big girl pants and say, I'm actually not working today, can you come and grab me tomorrow when I'm in the office.

It is that hard when you're in the throes of PMDD.

OP posts:
Catza · 20/11/2024 16:17

HR knew it was my day off, because they wouldn't phone if it wasn't as they'd know I was in class.
So when are they meant to speak to you, then?
It's a normal practice to request Oh assessment for someone who discloses a health condition. Whether you choose to decline it, is entirely up to you but your employer has duty of care and needs to make sure you are receiving support you are entitled to. Refusing OH assessment is not "being obstructive". Not everyone with a health condition will need or want RAs.

Lostinbrum · 20/11/2024 16:17

Don't see how you got railroaded. They weren't pointing a gun to your head. You were on the phone, a simple sorry its my day off I'm busy I'll call you tomorrow would have been fine. Your LM has gone to HR to help assist you with your health needs and they want to speak to you about it what's weird about that

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