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Original poster

To take time off sick when I work in payroll

38 replies

Feelingpoorly2025 · 11/11/2025 19:46

I feel I can never be off sick and just have to work from home instead when I’m unwell. Had covid last week and took the week off, however I’m now suffering really badly with sinusitis. I logged into work today but just cannot concentrate I have really bad head pain and fatigue. It’s the payroll deadline Friday and there is no one else in the company that can operate the payroll, I feel so stressed. I tried to push though yesterday and today but just can’t do it. More and more payroll issues keep coming through on email and I don’t have the energy to work through them.

OP posts:
Original poster
Feelingpoorly2025 · 11/11/2025 20:01

I’m in a HR team of 3 and no one else has learnt how to do it. I just took it over from my predecessor. And one person is on annual leave. And both have their own work loads. I think I’m worried how I’ll feel so stressed to call in sick and leave the company with this big disaster! But today was a complete fail with me feeling so unwell

OP posts:
TowerRavenSeven · 11/11/2025 20:01

Since you have written instructions could you give it to your boss and have them attempt it then? I’m so sorry. I know how stressful it is.

Original poster
Feelingpoorly2025 · 11/11/2025 19:58

TowerRavenSeven the problem is I really do feel to unwell to do it. I tried a section this morning and felt like crying. Covid has really knocked me out. Body aches, sinus, headache etc. I’m on day 9 so thought I would be better by now.

OP posts:
Bootsies · 11/11/2025 19:58

Feelingpoorly2025 · 11/11/2025 19:46

I feel I can never be off sick and just have to work from home instead when I’m unwell. Had covid last week and took the week off, however I’m now suffering really badly with sinusitis. I logged into work today but just cannot concentrate I have really bad head pain and fatigue. It’s the payroll deadline Friday and there is no one else in the company that can operate the payroll, I feel so stressed. I tried to push though yesterday and today but just can’t do it. More and more payroll issues keep coming through on email and I don’t have the energy to work through them.

If you are ill, you are ill. Just call in sick. It's not your fault there is no back up. But I get the pressure. ever since covid we are told to WFH when ill (instead of calling in sick). It completely changed the company culture and I have worked a few times when I really shouldn't have.

Call in sick!!

IDontHateRainbows · 11/11/2025 19:57

I can't believe your line manager has not learned the basics to be able to take over in an emergency.

TowerRavenSeven · 11/11/2025 19:56

I’m so sorry. I did payroll in our office but there were two of us to share the burden. We alternated between the two of us. If one of us were sick the healthy one would do it and then we’d begin alternating again, or if both of it were out my boss would do it! Your boss has an obligation to know how to do it especially as you’re the only one!
That said, though, unless you’re in hospital I guess you’ll have to do it. But get on your boss to have a contingent plan next time!

Original poster
Feelingpoorly2025 · 11/11/2025 19:56

ineffable2023 the problem is I’ve got nearly the whole payroll to do because I was off last week.

I have full written instructions I created myself on how to do the payroll but not sure there is anyone that could do it. I work in a small HR department of 3.

definitely if they re-run last months amounts it will be a nightmare as overtime differed each month.

OP posts:
Original poster
Feelingpoorly2025 · 11/11/2025 19:53

I completed some today and had to re-check everything and had to log off as my head just hurts so much and I’m completely exhausted

OP posts:
Ineffable23 · 11/11/2025 19:53

Ultimately in an emergency they could just copy last month's BACs and pay that again. Pay any new joiners manually and fix the tax situation later.

Not thinking you should have to work, but to avoid the inevitable extra work that would come later from not running a full payroll report and paying over to HMRC etc, could you stop fixing new payroll issues, and just run the payroll as is?

This is 100% the company's fault for having a single point of failure and staying off sick would be totally reasonable. But I am also aware that the extra work is likely to land on your desk so I think if there was something I could do that minimised the work now while minimising the excess work later, I might take that route.

Original poster
Feelingpoorly2025 · 11/11/2025 19:50

Payroll runs first two weeks of the month, I was off last week and I guess work would just assume I would be better this week and work like crazy to get two weeks worth of work done in one week, but I feel so poorly!

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 11/11/2025 19:50

IDontHateRainbows · 11/11/2025 19:48

It's your employer's fault for not having a contingency plan in place what if you were in a serious accident and couldn't work even if you wanted to.

It's also not good to be doing such an important job when unwell as more likely to make mistakes.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 11/11/2025 19:49

If you're not well then you're not well. Your employer should have a back up plan - you're not a robot!

IDontHateRainbows · 11/11/2025 19:48

It's your employer's fault for not having a contingency plan in place what if you were in a serious accident and couldn't work even if you wanted to.

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