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Original poster

I need a massive handhold, single parent, long covid and possibility of losing my job

40 replies

thetrees · 20/01/2023 17:20

Namechanged for this. I have long covid, I've had it since July but was making good progress and was planning a phased return to work. While discussing the phased return I was told that there was a massive fuck up and that I had only been entitled to two months sick leave on full pay and two on half, and that my employer is going to claw back the money they have overpaid. I have checked with ACAS and they are entitled to do this.

My manager and I had assumed I was entitled to six months. I know I should have checked, but I have LC and had had regular check ins with my manager.

I am now on SSP and was worried about getting better within six months, but I have just checked the sick leave policy which says that SSP is 'subject to remaining entitlement'. So I think I will only be entitled to two months. Again, ACAS confirm that this is at employers discretion.

I am absolutely terrified and can't stop crying. I am over 50 and a single parent. I have no fucking idea what I am going to do if I lose my job. Long covid is very dependent on calming the nervous system and this has really set me back. I have been doing endless meditations and yoga and really being brave but the fear has just overwhelmed me. Kids are at their dads this weekend and I could really do with some advice/company.

OP posts:
LavenderLewis · 20/01/2023 18:01

I am sorry you are poorly. However I do not really understand why your workplace has overpaid your sick leave. Surely this is automatic so your pay will drop after the first two months.

Nimbostratus100 · 20/01/2023 18:04

hi! I am in a similar situation, luckily my children are adult, but yes, its a massive kick in the teeth, isn't it. I feel like the rug has been whipped out from underneath me- I also expected 6 months full pay..

Original poster
thetrees · 20/01/2023 18:06

@LavenderLewis there was a cock up and my sick leave wasn't recorded on the system. So they didn't know.

@Nimbostratus100 I am sorry this happened to you too. Is it recent? I was getting so much better, like eight weeks might have been enough to get me back and now feel wiped out. It is so important to have a relaxed nervous system to recover, it's such a catch 22. I find it very hard to put the stress aside

OP posts:
Nimbostratus100 · 20/01/2023 18:08

yes, I have been off 4 months, and I thought I had 6 months full pay, but I went down to half pay last month, which was a bit of a shocker. I am hoping to be back to work within a few months, but I dont know yet

Howtoberight · 20/01/2023 18:08

That's a really serious mistake (by your manager?) Assuming no insurance policy though work that kicks in?

Emmamoo89 · 20/01/2023 18:12

I'm so sorry you're going through this. Sending lots of love ❤️

Original poster
thetrees · 20/01/2023 18:12

@Howtoberight yes, I assume it was her. It is serious, it has massively affected my health. No insurance through work, it's public sector.

OP posts:
Howtoberight · 20/01/2023 18:15

I mean your manager should have been all over this, along with HR. I'm a manager (not technically public sector but in the same ball park) and I would have been meeting with HR regularly to review entitlements, occ health assessments etc. even if your manager wasn't aware HR should have informed payroll.

Lifeisgood1 · 20/01/2023 18:15

Contact universal credits - you may be entitled to a top up whilst off sick

Howtoberight · 20/01/2023 18:16

I know you've spoken to ACAS but this is grievance territory, which may get you a better result. I don't say this lightly!

Original poster
thetrees · 20/01/2023 18:17

It's horrendous isn't it. Even when I met her on Wednesday she had no idea about SSP and how long it would last for. She has been a really good manager and does lots on wellbeing. I don't know how the hell this could have happened.

OP posts:
Original poster
thetrees · 20/01/2023 18:18

@Howtoberight can you say a bit more? I have a meeting with the union rep on Monday but based on communications so far I am not very optimistic

OP posts:
Nimbostratus100 · 20/01/2023 18:19

My union rep tried to help, but couldn't do anything

Original poster
thetrees · 20/01/2023 18:19

That is not optimistic that they will be very good.

OP posts:
Vinylloving · 20/01/2023 18:20

I'm so sorry, I have been through long covid, longer than you so finally out of it to an extent I feel more able to work (lots from home, use as much flexibility as I can get away with) I don't have any words of real wisdom, just so much sympathy. I understand the nervous system stuff, no one else whose experience it will understand exactly what we've gone through. I wish I could do something to help you, have you got all the support available to work remotely if possible and with occupational health on board, with flexibility, reduced workload, very long phased return, lots of breaks. It's the only thing I can think of, to fight to get the best return to work you can, try it and see how it goes

Howtoberight · 20/01/2023 18:21

It's hard without knowing your systems, but it should all be automatic - she logs the sickness on the system and it feeds though to HR/ payroll and triggers the correct processes and pay. You said there was a mistake so has she simply not logged it? Did the senior manager know? If she's not logged it correctly and you've been paid incorrectly due to that mistake I'd definitely be raising it. You presumably continued to spend the moment on the assumption you'd been paid correctly.

PersonaNonGarter · 20/01/2023 18:22

Poor you, OP. Is there any way you can talk to your work about a slow phased return without the clawback?

Original poster
thetrees · 20/01/2023 18:23

That's right @Howtoberight , my guess is she didn't log it, or thought she did but there was a mistake, she is very conscientious, but even with it being paid as a mistake, they are entitled to reclaim it.

OP posts:
Original poster
thetrees · 20/01/2023 18:24

@PersonaNonGarter phased return is three months, we were going to start with an hour a day. At the end of the three months I would have to be full time, with two days a week in the office and was told by my manager that there was no flexibility on that but I have no idea if that's bullshit after how things have been this week

OP posts:
Howtoberight · 20/01/2023 18:25

thetrees · 20/01/2023 18:23

That's right @Howtoberight , my guess is she didn't log it, or thought she did but there was a mistake, she is very conscientious, but even with it being paid as a mistake, they are entitled to reclaim it.

I'm sure they are, but if you raise it and it's found to be your manager's error then your company may be more amenable to reach a compromise agreement about clawing it back. This sounds very unfair.

Original poster
thetrees · 20/01/2023 18:31

It really is. If it wasn't public sector I'd be more optimistic that there was room for discretion.

OP posts:
HappyHolidai · 20/01/2023 18:35

I really feel for you. I've been off with post-Covid fatigue for just a few weeks and have been surprised how much it affects my mental capacity for complex thought.

No advice but I hope you can get something sorted so that you can keep your job and some sort of income while you continue to get better.

Luredbyapomegranate · 20/01/2023 18:37

Howtoberight · 20/01/2023 18:25

I'm sure they are, but if you raise it and it's found to be your manager's error then your company may be more amenable to reach a compromise agreement about clawing it back. This sounds very unfair.

Show quote history

Yes, I think you need to think about this strategically. Just because normal procedure is to claw it back, doesn’t mean they will opt to do it.

See what your union rep has to say, but other than that start with HR, be clear this is having a hugely detrimental impact on your recovery and it is the company’s responsibility that its staff understand its systems. It should not be trying to get money back from you that it released.

Be clear you won’t let it rest, and move it up the chain to head of HR, dept head etc. It’s probably going to be easier for them to leave it rather than try and claim it.

Viviennemary · 20/01/2023 18:39

Since it was their error you should be able to negotiate an arrangement to pay it back over a longer period of time.

Sayedm1982 · 20/01/2023 18:42

Are you on hrt? It's helped me a lot.

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