Work problems due to sickness

[Charliebradbury]

I am having problems at work due to multiple instances of sick leave. In the last 6 months I have had
1 bout of d and v which was 4 days off work
1 infected cat bite which was 5 days
And now I am off again as the antibiotics I had for the cat bite have left me with severe diarrhoea which is being investigated by my gp for c diff.
I work in a food handling setting so obviously was not allowed per the companies rules and regulations to work during any of these sicknesses. And was told by my manager not to come in etc
I have now being informed I am on a formal review for this and I am so stressed.
I obviously can not work with active infections or wounds but a colleague has said I could lose my job over this.
I have never had this problem before any advice on how to handle it?

Unfortunately that level of absence can trigger action. Check the policy and ask for support if needs be.

The rule is usually 48 hours but most people are off for 48 hours total not 48 hours after they stop D/V (as per the rule). It is very unusual to have almost three work weeks off in 6 months.

I know its unusual but it is all just terrible luck. The d and v had to be 4 days because I was throwing up for 2 of them so had to wait 48hrs. Pretty certain that all the parents of the kids I produce food for wouldnt want me to risk infecting their children.
I would have happily worked with the cat bite but was informed by my manager I wasn't allowed to work with an open wound and you can't close cat bites as it makes them more dangerous. The cat bite has now led to the possible c diff infection which again as per their rules I am not allowed to work.
Why have rules and tell people not to come to work and then penalise them for it.
I have evidence of them telling me not to work until a certain date. But I don't know what support I would need for a run of bad luck.

It does seem unfair to have rules for safety and then penalise someone for having to follow them. An infected bite probably wouldn’t stop you working if you worked in an office or something. But of course they want you off with an open wound in food prep.

Yes it’s a lot in six months but how long have you worked there because if it’s all you’ve had in the last decade, I wouldn’t see it as something to particularly worry about.

I've worked there 4 years and other than a chest infection a couple of years ago I haven't had any significant illnesses.

By significant illnesses do you mean you’ve had one incident of sickness in 3.5 yrs prior to this? If so, deep breath, all will be fine. You might go on an absence management plan but you should be at the top.

I wouldn't be too worried if you've been there 4 years with just one other incident.Take your proof of them telling you not to come to work, and explain that going forwards you will try your best to come to work unless it's against policy such as these ones.

Yeah only other sickness incident. I have had to take emergency parental leave a few times but I don't think that is counted. I have worked through sinus infections and all sorts of viruses and when I injured my foot so I'm not one to take time off just because but in these instances I had no choice. All because of a cat bite because I tried to help my injured cat.

In my organisation, this would trigger an interview with your line manager, after which you’d be issued with a ‘letter of concern’ or ‘notice to improve’.

Your attendance would likely be monitored for improvement for a set period, during which another absence would likely result in formal action. But as you’ve worked there for a few years with a good attendance record, I wouldn’t be too worried.

That will count towards your absence. How many working days out of the six months have you missed ?

Why couldn't you work with the cat bite, out of curiosity?