to bust her in a Facebook message?

[Definitelybeautiful]

One of the staff I line manage is off sick today - she called in last night. I don't work Friday mornings and am home and have just noticed that she is all over Facebook - uploading photos and commenting etc (we are friends on Facebook - she sent the request).

1. AIBU to think this is not ok and she can't be that sick if she has FB time? (we are teachers - people are having to cover her classes)
2. AIBU to send her a message along the lines of 'I hope you feel better soon - I love the photos you are uploading'?

OP you need to be a hell of a lot more professional about this. YANBU to expect her to be a bit more discreet, or if you have suspicions that she is skiving, you are within your rights to ask her about it on her return - ask her what was wrong, is she better, is thre anything she needs from you as her manager. And (in UK, which I appreciate the OP is not) you ARE allowed to know details of what is wrong, yes, even if it's "women's problems" - in fact ifyou were later sued by a member of staff you'd need to prove you made efforts to understand the problems and did everything you could to help.

"BabeRuthless Fri 18-Nov-11 08:11:14
Frustrating as it is your suspicions don't count as actual fact. She could claim someone else posted, she was doing it in bed on her phone, she felt better that evening etc. It's not a very smart thing to do but I don't think you can formally discipline her. At my work we had a lad on long term sick who was posting about nights out but hr said there was nothing to be done. His sick note overrides everything else & even if he'd been turning cartwheels in the street it still stood."
Again in the UK, this is bollocks. GPs not write "fit notes" which outline what the recipients CAN do and it's up to the employer to make adjustments to keep the ill person IN work. This may include a desk job fr someone who is usually on their feet etc.

sorry, not accusing you of lying, this is a relatively recent thing, and yes, with previous sick notes and cautious HR depts, the person off sick (esp with "work related stress") held all the cards.

I can understand both sides I think.

On the one hand, when you have a cold, you wake up early really dehydrated with all your sinuses blocked and your head pounding. The thought of getting in a shower then out in the cold and being normal makes you want to cry. Last Monday I was the same, I slept a few hours and felt better mid morning, but still not enough to face the world. If you call in sick for that day you are entitled to be sick and not be expected to do any work. If my staff do this, that's it, I don't expect anything of them until they return to work.

By midmorning you normally transfer to the couch, watch shit telly, play on ipad etc. Most people feel very guilty about calling in, so they always make it sound worse than it is, hence the migraine. Who hasn't called in and even faked their voice into a weak version. I did this when I broke my arm! I don't even know why!

But it is hard picking up the pieces when people are sick, and I would expect soeone to be a little more discreet on FB. Posting that you feel lousy for sympathy is one thing, uploading and organising your photos hmmm I don't know.

I think I would bank it for now, just bear in mind if sickness becomes too much from one individual. If you do feel compelled to let her know you know IYSWIM, then ask how her migraine was and mention that a recommended way for a speedy recovery from migraines is to stay away from computer/ipad/tiny phone screens and rest the eyes.