Zoe Ball....sorry for her loss but the general public don't receive 950K per year and get tiled to take an indefinite length of bereavement leave

[mids2019]

I have had a period of bereavement leave (2 weeks) after the death of my father. Given the nature of deadlines at work I had to send emails during that period.

Am I right to question Zoe Ball paid by the licence fee payers being told to take 'as much time as you want' on a vast salary?.Does this show a good between the celeb existence and that of us mere worker drones?

The NHS also has a good sickness policy - 6 months on full pay.

Wherever I have worked it's take as much time as you need. My partner is an orphan and took no time for parents, or his brother. I'm lucky not to have had a bereavement yet. Where I am currently it's 2 weeks paid then come back when you are ready for a parent.

How do you know she is being paid? It could be the same as where I have worked. I'm nearly 60 btw so plenty of workplaces.

You’ve got a heart of stone OP.

How do you know she’s not had sone mad breakdown? I certainly did when my mum died, had agoraphobia and panic attacks for six months and could barely leave the house never mind go to work never mind be witty and upbeat on live radio.

Maybe when you do we do see people forced back to work effectively by being forced to take unpaid leave, yes, I think there are double standards. I do take the point you have to act professionally as a DJ but don't you have to be consistent with all employees?

But why are you annoyed with the BBC? They have a duty of care to their staff. Forcing her back to work would be counter-intuitive - she's on national radio, it would be bad for business if she was too upset or stressed to do a decent job. It's not like she can hide in the corner of the office and have a cry while she's on air.

And as people keep telling you - it's most likely not the BBC's decision anyway, she'll have been signed off sick.

But you’re comparing to the NHS where you can take 6 months off sick on full pay and then a further 6 on half pay.

Your speaking from a position of privilege yourself.

Maybe my frustration should be directed towards t and c generally across society for such things as stress and bereavement lewve.

Where I work eight weeks is the standard leave for a close bereavement, if more was needed it would be very easy to ask a doctor to extend this for you.

I’m not sure why different companies having different rules has surprised you, I would however be concerned if it turns out you’re patient facing due to your clear lack of empathy.

What is your role in the NHS? You don’t sound very compassionate.

My company is a week, don’t think it’d be right for me to complain about anyone in NHS having longer than me or this person that you’re trying to focus on

yoir problem is with your employer not with what other people get. You should advocate for more, not for others to get less

Given the NHS is also publicly funded then should I be equally up in arms that you get 2 weeks OP, while in my private sector job it's officially 2 DAYS?

No, because I know that's an issue with my employer not being generous enough, rather than yours (or Zoe Ball's) being too generous.

They are very good in other ways though, so I stick with them.

Well you can’t do fuck all about another company’s T&C, so you either fight harder for better T&C’s in your own job or move on.

I think you sound very mean and bitter OP. Its not a race to the bottom.

OK maybe I should be be more empathetic towards someone who has lost someone but in reality I think you can show empathy but still highlight that a lot of employees are treated differently.

I think there are a lot of employees managed out for taking too much sick leave and it certainly goes on a reference. That is the reality for the vast majority of people in this country.

I thought 2 weeks was standard and then most people take sick leave.
Dh got no bereavement leave when his df died, he had a temporary job and missing a shift meant no pay. In hindsight it affected him badly and he should have definitely had a few weeks off.

I can’t imagine doing a job like Zoe Ball’s and having to chat inanely whilst feeling wretched.

2 weeks. I had 2 days and was expected to go off sick after that if I wanted more. (Which I did. But probably not good use of gp services either.) NHS nurse! Shambolic really.

Have you just realised that employees are treated differently? Use that difference to improve your situation. Don’t use it to worsen other peoples benefits

This! You're being a bitch OP.

A friend of mine lost his mum and didn’t get any days bereavement, he took day of funeral and a few other days, think it was less than 5 in total but they were all unpaid. He also only gets ssp of off sick. I don’t think there is any statutory minimum for paid bereavement lots of low paid people get nothing. I know it’s not a race to the bottom but it’s good to have an awareness of other people’s position

I think of all the things the bbc spend our license fee cash on……

this is one of the best.

It’s a shame that not everyone can have all the time and money they need to grieve but that’s not her fault.

She did return to the show after her mothers death for a while and then took this leave of absence. She clearly needs it and it’s right that she has the opportunity to do so. Whether this is sick leave / bereavement leave or whatever is nobody’s business. Surely we should be pleased her employer is considering her needs and encouraging other employers to do the same rather then bitching about a woman clearly going through an awful time.

Considering the other issues /problems / travesties at the beeb i agree with this

My companys policy isnt as generous but id certainly be allowed to take a month or two

I am not bitter about Zoe per se, it's the fact that some people are offered more employer empathy than others. People do lose parents and people all feel the loss in very complex ways but there is an inconsistency with how employers deal with this.

I wish we could all have compassionate employers who wouldnt want to us back at work soon but may be that isn't the case. I think there is a human empathy for the loss but you can still feel there is one rule for some and one rule for others. Maybe I should have entitled the post do you agree that bereqvmwnt/stress leave is inconsistent.

Even prior to this she was always taking time off. It feels as if she is never on and it was always Gaby standing in for her. We are always saying at home that she's not on again. I am preferring Scott mills anyway.

I'm sorry for the things she has gone through but I would prefer someone else to do her show permanently.

Why?