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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to think informing ten colleagues while off sick is unreasonable?

68 replies

eestameen · 03/06/2026 12:16

I was off sick yesterday with a serious migraine. First time I’ve been off from work with illness in almost two years and first time at my current workplace (started 3 months ago).

I checked the HR manual and it said I had to notify HR and my Manager before my usual start time of 8am. Set an internal and external out of office.

I did this and then told my Manager I would follow up with what projects I was working on and what work needed to be done that day

I emailed my Manager this list and included who I was working with, i e who might expect work from me that day. It was over 10 people.

Logged off and laid in bed in a dark room. At 1pm I get a response from my Manager saying it is my responsibility to inform each individual I am working with that I am unwell and off work.

AIBU to think it’s crazy to expect someone off sick to have to email over ten people and also be monitoring emails? I am worried as this makes me look really bad!

OP posts:
Growingaseed · 03/06/2026 23:37

I once had tonsillitis, I woke up when my alarm went off and text my manager to say I was sick as feeling awful. Went back to sleep and woke up 10 hours later to her asking for a full handover 🤣 In total I slept for nearly 24 hours according to my Fitbit.

She also didn't see to believe I was ill and said I won't get sick pay as I'm in my probation period (in contract it said it was discretionary). I sent her a photo of my prescription for antibiotics and she didn't bother replying.

Luckily I was friends with the girl in HR who said she would never stop someone being paid for sick unless there had been some recurring issue. She actually laughed when I told her about what a power trip the manager was on.

Some people are just delusional I think OP. They don't understand that you can be very sick.

Clairey1986 · 03/06/2026 23:02

I think what’s got her back up is you sending a list of people that she is then expected to inform and relay your message to. You could have just cc’d them.

And I am 90% sure when she says inform them she means cc them, not a personal email to each.

LucyLoo1972 · 03/06/2026 22:55

LambriniBobInIsleworthISeesYa · 03/06/2026 12:39

Wait until you hear about what they expect teachers to do. I’ve been asked to pull cover out of my arse for five lessons on the morning of an operation, sat in a hospital bed.

My husband is a teacher and says it is less work to just go to school!

StartingToday010626 · 03/06/2026 22:52

eestameen · 03/06/2026 22:46

Because I’d get sacked if I didn’t notify someone I was unwell and not working? 😂

Show quote history

Of course, but you should be letting all the relevant people know, not just one and job done.

Original poster
eestameen · 03/06/2026 22:46

StartingToday010626 · 03/06/2026 22:36

No. But if I were her manager I wouldn’t want to be given a list of to-dos from her when she emailed in sick. If she’s well enough to email me, she’s well enough to email the relevant people with tasks that need covering or to cancel her own meetings, it would take her long.

Show quote history

Because I’d get sacked if I didn’t notify someone I was unwell and not working? 😂

OP posts:
StartingToday010626 · 03/06/2026 22:36

Janicchoplin · 03/06/2026 22:20

So. You expect your employees to come to work sick?
Terrible managers honestly.

Its why these days there's no loyalty. Who wants to be loyalty to a company that doesn't value you.

I worked the whole of covid. I was respected and treated very well.
I respect my work place massively.

Edited
Show quote history

No. But if I were her manager I wouldn’t want to be given a list of to-dos from her when she emailed in sick. If she’s well enough to email me, she’s well enough to email the relevant people with tasks that need covering or to cancel her own meetings, it would take her long.

Noce · 03/06/2026 22:25

I had a migraine today. Texted boss to tell her. Was far too sore and dizzy to log on ans email anyone. The only time i managed to get out of bed this morning was to be sick

Janicchoplin · 03/06/2026 22:20

StartingToday010626 · 03/06/2026 13:07

@eestameen Even though you haven’t been off work sick for 2 years, you have been in your new role in just 3 months. This isn’t a great start. You may have got her back-up with your email too and made her think you can very well do your own emailing round as she doesn’t work for you.

So. You expect your employees to come to work sick?
Terrible managers honestly.

Its why these days there's no loyalty. Who wants to be loyalty to a company that doesn't value you.

I worked the whole of covid. I was respected and treated very well.
I respect my work place massively.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 03/06/2026 21:42

We get a list sent round at 9 am of who is off sick that day. So you know not to direct stuff to them, and their buddy knows to take over the tasks.

Totallyfrazzledmum · 03/06/2026 21:31

No way would I email 10 people, def unreasonable. Text the boss who presumably has access to your calendar. Other work can wait, if extended sickness then could provide a work update if fit enough but the world won’t stop if not!

WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 03/06/2026 21:27

Absolutely not, this is part of their job as a manager.

RosePetals86 · 03/06/2026 21:23

Yeah I would not be emailing 10 colleagues while I’m off sick! Never heard of that- usually just ring your line manager to inform them?

RosePetals86 · 03/06/2026 21:23

Yeah I would not be emailing 10 colleagues while I’m off sick! Never heard of that- usually just ring your line manager to inform them?

RosePetals86 · 03/06/2026 21:22

Yeah I would not be emailing 10 colleagues while I’m off sick!

comoatoupeira · 03/06/2026 21:06

I voted yanbu but now I think if it, if I’m off sick I do email separately someone Im
due to work on something with that day, to postpone. Don’t just inform the boss

Original poster
eestameen · 03/06/2026 21:04

Erin1975 · 03/06/2026 15:01

That's bizarre. I would not expect any of my staff to do that.

I just need a quick message to say they are ill and then take care of the rest.

That’s how I’ve always found things to run

OP posts:
EverythingGolden · 03/06/2026 15:09

I’m a manager and all I expect is a message to tell me they’re off and why. It’s a bonus if they have already cancelled their own meetings or whatever but really there should be systems in place so a manager can see anything critical that needs to be done. You can’t rely on someone being able to function in relation to work.

Erin1975 · 03/06/2026 15:01

That's bizarre. I would not expect any of my staff to do that.

I just need a quick message to say they are ill and then take care of the rest.

Friendlygingercat · 03/06/2026 14:57

What a pity you never got that email. The computer shunted it into the SPAM file.

PoliteSquid · 03/06/2026 14:25

bigboykitty · 03/06/2026 12:57

Shouldn't the lessons be planned in advance anyway and available to a cover teacher if needed?

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Ha ha! You overestimate what is expected of cover teachers! Setting cover work requires an entire re-write of a lesson. The assumption is always that the person covering is just there for classroom management not actually teaching.

Everanewbie · 03/06/2026 14:19

The responses here are mad. You're ill. You've told your boss you're not coming in. That must be enough. Especially with a migraine. Emailing everyone involved in some project and so on? Well you may as well work.

If she is the manager, its her job to manage - communicate, delegate, whatever. You're ill.

Original poster
eestameen · 03/06/2026 14:07

StartingToday010626 · 03/06/2026 13:07

@eestameen Even though you haven’t been off work sick for 2 years, you have been in your new role in just 3 months. This isn’t a great start. You may have got her back-up with your email too and made her think you can very well do your own emailing round as she doesn’t work for you.

hello Manager ?

OP posts:
AgnesX · 03/06/2026 14:06

foreversunshine · 03/06/2026 12:24

I wouldn't have sent my manager of my list of projects and all associated colleagues to begin with. The absolute most I would send is:

"Dear X,

Sorry to report that I won't be in today due to a severe migraine. I'm returning to bed and won't be checking emails today. I've set my out of office and hope to be well enough to return tomorrow. I'll keep in touch if anything changes.

Regards, Y

No list of colleagues = no expectation to inform said list of colleagues
I promise you, none of your colleagues care if you're off sick for a couple days and the projects will not crumble.

TMI. Just your apologies as you're ill and won't be picking up emails. They don't need to know anything else.

KarmenPQZ · 03/06/2026 14:03

I think cancelling meetings you have is common courtesy if you can. Setting OOO doesn’t quite go far enough to cover existing meetings but will obviously let anyone who contacts you on the day that you’re out.

as others have said if you can email your manager a list you can add them in bcc. Not ideal with a migraine but it is life.

FlapperFlamingo · 03/06/2026 13:25

It seems unreasonable that you have to inform everyone - but our place is the same. I just cc everyone in the same email including my manager, HR and team members.

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