Sickness Absence Meeting. HR advice please.

[fridaynight1]

I had a full on panic attack at work on Friday and they called my DH to come and take me home. It's all a bit of a blur but DH tells me I was in full melt down mode.

I was still having palpitations later that evening so DH called 111 and they told me to go to A&E.

A&E said it was nothing serious and it was most likely triggered by lack of sleep (I had about 6 hours sleep over 3 nights caring for an elderly relative). They gave me Propranolol and Diazepam.

My boss told my DH that I should not to go into work for the next 3 days (Saturday, Sunday and Monday). Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are my days off so I'm not due in work until Friday.

My boss phoned me earlier today and said that he wants to come to my house on Thursday with the HR Manager for a Work Absence Meeting. I have literally just had 4 days off, the first day I worked most of the day and the other 3 I was told not to come in. I'm feeling much better and I was intending going back to work on Friday.

Whenever, I've been sick from work in the past, I've had a back to work meeting once I'm back in work.
Does anyone in HR know why they would both want to come to my house?
Why the rush for a meeting?

And why is the HR manager coming?

I am really stressing that they are coming to sack me and my anxiety is going through the roof again. It's gone 2am and I can't sleep because I'm worrying about it.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

I think you can say no, and agree to meet them at work, ideally with someone you trust. Also remind them that you can self certify for the first 7 days sbsence and will do that on Friday. It does sound odd but try not to do yourself a mischief worrying

I agree with the above poster! You need the rest and peace, not to have to scrub your house because management are calling to it. Honestly I think they have some cheek even suggesting that, the norm is to do these things on the clock when you return!!!! Try not to worry, but definitely put them off!!!

I'd be inclined to consider it a duty of care meeting. Given you had a full blown panic attack in the workplace, they probably need to satisfy themselves the reason for the panic attack was not work-related i.e. they would not wish to see you in circumstances/environment that may cause this for you again.

Even though it is not work-related, they should also be looking at ways they may support you with the issues that have caused the panic attack in the first place - reduced hours, alternative workload, counselling, referral to OHS etc. etc. etc.

Wherever you go ahead with the meeting the above advice regarding having someone you trust with you is good advice. For me, I'd want my partner with me and that's much easier to achieve at home than in the workplace.

They should not be putting the meeting in on a day you're off sick. They should wait until you're back to work.

Absolute cheek to invite themselves to your home, it can and should be done in work or if you've said you're not comfortable returning to that location then it should be done somewhere neutral and private at their cost.

I'd tell them I'm bringing a rep and whether it's formal or not I'd want the conversation following up in writing so there is a record of the event and everyone agrees what was said.

This may well be coming from a good place on their behalf but it's not being well executed and clearly causing you more stress.

They have no automatic right to come to your house.

I'm not a HR professional, but there are lots of questions about this that are relevant.

-How long have you worked at the company?
-What type of organisation is it?
-What is their policy around this? Have you read the policy?
-Are you in a union?
-What is your sick record like?

You need advice asap.

I work in HR and am inclined to think they're doing a welfare check and are concerned about you. That's natural if you had a panic attack at work, they will need to find out if they can make reasonable adjustments for you at work to try to prevent it happening again. However, you are still in a period where you can self certify your absence and don't need a fit note from the GP, I personally would not be asking to meet you until you were back at work or had been off longer but I'd probably want a check in phone call with you to see how you were doing.

We have asked to meet employees at their home before. It's easiest if you need to be away from the office but somewhere private but you are free to say no and we wouldn't think anything of it if someone wanted to meet elsewhere. Everyone is different, some people prefer to meet at their house as it's easier and others prefer to be somewhere neutral.

Your mind has immediately gone to worse case scenario and you aren't sleeping knowing this could trigger an attack. You need to see your gp about treatment for your mental health. If you are on medication then seek a review with your Gp as to whether it is actually working for you.

It very much sounds like a welfare check. Your boss has a duty of care to you. By asking to do it in your home I'm presuming it's because that is most people's safe place where they can relax. It also doesn't put pressure on you to be in the work environment if they and you come to the conclusion that you ate not ready to be back to work yet. Your boss won't care what your house looks like.

Thank you for all your replies. Losing sleep and worrying about this isn't helping me so I have decided to keep with the meeting at my home tomorrow and get it over and done with. I want to get back to work if they will let me. I don't get sick pay for a start.

I have worked there for less than 2 years.
I have had one previous sickness about 8 months ago - also for anxiety, although no panic attack that time.
The company I work for is global (not a UK company)
I am currently at Stage 1 absence.
I have looked at my contract and it says they can escalate straight to Stage 3 if the mathematical calculation says so. Another reason for me to minimise days off and getting back into work ASAP.

The email confirmation I received from HR confirms the meeting and is headed sickness absence review. It doesn't say welfare meeting anywhere in the letter. I don't get a nice huggy vibe from it, it is a very formal letter.

All this happened just days ago - I can't get my head round the speed of all this and holding a meeting so soon, especially due to the nature of my absence.

I cannot remember a thing about my melt down so I don't know what I said or did - they probably think I am a totally deranged mad woman. I genuinely think they are going to sack me.

I don't think it's reasonable for them to come to your house and they shouldn't have asked too. I have no idea about the seriousness of your panic attack but you seem to be under a lot of stress from your sick relative. Was your last period of absence a lengthy one.

If you do go ahead with the meeting, please have somebody at home with you...I wouldn't agree to this meeting tbh.

Re the letter being formal, it’s likely they’ve just used a template letter and adapted it for your details so don’t read too much into this

It sounds strange. As a manager I would perhaps do the same if this happened to a team member at work, but it would absolutely be phrased as a welfare check rather than something so formal. Check your policy OP, you should be allowed to self-certify and have someone there with you. Please also check in with friends or family in real life, your anxiety might be causing you to catastrophise.

I agree with @Roseandrose20 .

Large organisations tend to use template letters regarding sickness absence. The intent behind the meeting really should be 'huggy' but organisations with global HR policies tend not to allow for 'huggy' letters within their procedures.

Good luck xxxx

Agreed, they use standard templates and change name, date, venue etc.

Please ensure someone is with you, mainly as a witness to whatever is said but also in case the process induces any further attacks

can escalate straight to Stage 3 if the mathematical calculation says so. Another reason for me to minimise days off and getting back into work ASAP.

Not necessarily if the calculation is the Bradford factor as shorter absences give you more 'points'