Manager has refused my time off 'request'

[MyBossIsAPillock]

I emailed him 6 weeks ago to inform him that I won't be in next week and the week after. He's just told me that my request is rejected. He says it's half term so others have already booked the time off and I'm taking the piss even asking seeing as I've barely been in this year.

Things is, the reason I've been off so much is because I've had breast cancer. The reason I won't be in for the next 2 weeks is because I'll be having radiotherapy.

I told him it wasn't a request and that I wouldn't be in. He said that then it'll become a disciplinary matter. Fuckwit. I'm not worried, HR and senior management have been excellent throughout. But what a twattish way to treat someone going through hell.

I’d forward this to email and make a point about how stressful you have found this.

Tell HR, OP. You could definitely have done without this and he'll behave like this with someone else in time. So sorry. Hope radiotherapy goes really well and all the best. What an unkind person and terrible manager he is. Glad HR have been lovely.

I really hope that you have immediately forwarded his response to HR.

Send it to HR.

And make sure you are covered by a fit note as you can only self certify the first week.

He sounds bloody awful.

I hope your treatment goes well.

Check your sick absence policy, make sure you have fully complied and provide sick note etc if needed and I’d email HR.
Our leave has to be put through system so emailing isn’t enough but onus would be on me as manager to do it.
I think we can request proof of apts.
I’d be pleased you’d given me heads up re your treatment dates. Manager should also be seeing if any adjustments needed, any support with workload etc.

I hope you forwarded his email to HR immediately

You can't protect him

As you say, he's a legal challenge in the making, an absolute liability for the company

You must tell HR and let them deal with him
good luck with your treatment

Sounds like it’s disability leave to me!

Unions don't represent members on issues which are ongoing when they join the union. For obvious reasons.

If you tell HR? Why on earth wouldnt you?

Agree. I would also be having a word with HR to try to agree shorter hours in the weeks following treatment because the after effects can take you by surprise. I had debilitating tiredness for some time after radiotherapy and if OP experiences the same, that should be accommodated.

OP doesn’t need a sick note. All she needs to do is to provide evidence of the treatment - so a record of the appointments. This isn’t sick leave and should be recorded separately as disability leave if there’s a possibility that the accumulated time off for treatment would trigger disciplinary procedures.

Do refer the situation to HR @MyBossIsAPillock - remember that even though you have the confidence to stand up for yourself, a future employee may not have that confidence and could miss out on vital treatment due to his idiocy. He needs to have disciplinary action taken against him for the good of humanity.

Also make sure you do take your full entitlement of Annual Leave separately from any sick leave for treatment and recovery. He's allowed to stop you taking your Annual Leave on days that would be inconvenient to business needs but he cannot stop you from having it at all, and you do not have to use your Annual Leave for sickness or recovery.

Wishing you well with your treatment OP

The hospital will give you a medical note for RT as it’s exhausting. And tell HR, now. This could be discriminatory as cancer is classed under the disability discrimination act. Drag him!!

I love the username that alone should be put a smile on us.

An employer cannot refuse time off for jury service, but the can withhold pay.
If you’re having medical treatment then you need to send in a sick note - all you’re doing is giving him the heads up that you’ll be off and a sick note will follow.

It is. Cancer is a protected characteristic from day one. OP doesn’t need a sick note. She just has to supply the record of appointments which she should have already as radiotherapy is meticulously planned. If the amount of time off for cancer treatment threatens to trigger disciplinary action for sickness absence, it should be recorded as disability leave and not counted towards sickness. Sounds like the manager needs significant retraining before he lands the company in court. If OP feels as though she needs to use annual leave for her treatment l’d bet the farm he’s the reason.

I hope your radiotherapy goes well, OP.

Meanwhile, this, here, this period of time? This is the time of his f*ucking around.
The near future, the one after HR get involved? That will be the time of his finding out.

At least you can be comforted by the knowledge that his own stupidity is what will cause his downfall.

Does He expect you to cancel your Radiotherapy? What a bellend.

OP doesn’t need a sick note. All she needs is a record of her appointments. Cancer is a disability under the Equality Act and if the time off for treatment threatens to trigger disciplinary action for sickness absence leave, it should be recorded as disability leave and not counted towards sick leave. They have no obligation to pay her for the time off but they can’t refuse to grant it under the circumstances.

the man is a wanker.

sorry you are going through this OP

Not all employers have specific “disability leave” but just have normal sick leave rules. He would be a dick to try and discipline someone for taking time off but she should still follow whatever the company’s rules are on reporting absence, so it can be properly recorded. He shouldn’t be refusing the absence, but depending on policy they may be entitled to ask the employee to get signed off as unfit for work after the first week. She should easily be able to do this.

I feel for you.💐
My husband was sent the most horrible solicitor’s letters demanding to know when he was going back to work whilst he was in hospital having a bone marrow transplant. They really upset him and no-one bothered to visit him from the company during his time in hospital.
He died some years later, but I’ll never forget it. He had made a lot of money for the company and they didn’t even want to pay me what was outstanding to him.
The firm went bust not long after he died and, rightly or wrongly, I felt some satisfaction in discovering that.
Some companies aren’t worth working for. All the best with your treatment. 🙏🏻 xx

‘If’ you tell HR? Fucking tell them!
I’m actually amazed he’s still there if this is how he generally operates.