Would you be happy if this was your employee?

[NiceCuppaMintTea]

Or your work colleague as they are currently picking up the slack due to the following.

A person starts a new job in January of this year. In Feburary they take some time off as sick leave due to a bad back. They are still off on SL with the supposed bad back and HR appear to be content with this.

However, every single weekend this person posts social media videos of them and their family at their local karaoke club. They are clearly seen on stage singing, dancing and jumping around to the music......every weekend.

They've been off since February?

Yes and they are yet to return.

They've been off for 7 months?!

They started a job in January and have been off sick for six months already?

In which case, no - I'd be working with HR and Occ Health to bring them back asap or looking at their fitness to work. Are HR really doing nothing?!

Isn't the maximum amount of sick pay 28 weeks? Must be in excess of that now?

It's a LA job if that makes any difference, although I suppose not?

They have had several meetings with HR and they are currently content with his back issues and the 'need' to have more time to recuperate.

I tell you how I’d feel. Really pissed off.

Are you the manager?

Would they be entitled to sick pay if they were only there a month? Surely they would have a probationary period which they failed to pass.

No, I am a close family member and although I know it is none of my business and to date I have kept my mouth shut, I personally think this person is taking the piss.

That's insane. Are you their manager?

I am not sure how these things work tbh as I am self employed.

Then you’re probably not getting the full story

I don’t think the person really matters

more fool this thick as shit HR dept/ employer really

I have a family member who does this. 'Works' for the NHS and is off at the drop of a hat. Took a fortnight off 'sick' when his new playstation arrived. Absolutely infuriates me.

I will say I don't know what additional information HR have about your family member that we aren't party to.

Most organisations don’t allow the same level of sickness absence for new joiners as they do for established employees. And how has she passed probation? It sounds very unlikely

They are a very close family member who is usually very open about things but of course you could be right, maybe they aren't telling us the full picture but I personally believe if they are not currently fully fit (or commited) for full time work then they should resign and release this job to someone else, it's a popular job role and jobs in our area are really hard to get atm.

Had this at work once.

I was off after a cancer op which required a very lengthy recuperation (was off 3 months). My temporary replacement, who had been VERY sniffy about my ability to do the job/cope in my role went off sick 2 weeks into his temporary contract.

About a month after my operation, I was very kindly taken out, door-to-door (because my mobility was impaired), to the movies. While sitting in the foyer, who should I see out joking, laughing and enthusiastically buying drinks and snacks, but my supposedly sick replacement!

Perhaps, but if the employee is off with a bad back, it begs the question how they are able to recuperate enough every weekend to be dancing on a dance floor. Only to be unwell enough to return to work afterwards.

LAs are the worst for this. I have a colleague who has been off since March and it's affecting the whole department. Frankly, I'm sick of seeing their 'having a lovely time' posts on social media while we're all on our knees. I hid her posts. Yes, I know people can post what they like on social media, yes I know that people are allowed to go out while on sick leave and although there will always be people who defend this kind of stuff, some people really do take the piss and are just grifters.

I am not sure tbh. They got the job, all seemed ok for a month and then they went off sick and has been ever since.

Of course, it may be that they were let go some time ago and haven't told any of us but that would be very out of character for this person.

It's a LA school position, not sure if LA work differently to the private sector when it comes to these sort of things but I find it a bit strange in all honesty.

I absolutely knew this would be a school. Same here. It's shameful.

How are they managing with no pay?

Of course, he could be completely above board etc but having known this person for 35 years, I doubt it. He does not have a great track record and I was highly surprised he actually secured such a popular job role, there must have been lots of applicants.