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AIBU?

HR ringing me at home when I am off sick

69 replies

Spudoolickay · 26/03/2013 10:01

I was off sick yesterday. I followed the procedure and let my manager know.

Unbeknown to me, my manager had taken some leave. I received several phone calls from HR on my home number asking me to ring my 'plus one' (who sits in the same office as me).

I had followed the correct procedure and done everything right so why was my plus one getting involved and why was he getting HR involved? He has my personal mobile and could've just called / texted me himself if he needed to. But surely he should trust that I have sorted things out and informed my manager. I feel very checked up on.

Would I be unreasonable to speak to my 'plus one' about this?

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PurpleStorm · 26/03/2013 11:16

Perhaps he's lost your mobile number?

I really think that you need to talk to him directly to get this all sorted out.

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SarahBumBarer · 26/03/2013 11:23

You do sound a bit...sensitive.

Maybe your "plus one" thought I'll get HR to ring her because I CBA - which is fair enough actually if HR are willing to do it. And it's true, HR probably don't care about you really - but they will care about being criticised if anything had happened to you and they had not checked. Welcome to the real world - that's just how it is in the corporate world.

You sound like you're potentially in a bit of a vulnerable position (whatever employment law protections there may be) certainly in terms of perceptions about you and you would probably do well to be a bit less defensive and play the game a little better.

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LetMeAtTheWine · 26/03/2013 11:26

Maybe he was following procedure with HR? Perhaps he contacted them to see if you had called in to them because he hadn't heard from you or your line manager and they said they would try and find out what was happening? Employers have a duty of care with regards employees and they will probably be even more conscious of this as a result of your pregnancy.
I would try not to read too much in to it and not let it stress you out, just make sure you cover your own back in future by finding out what you should do if it happens again.

With being able to start early maternity leave, I think (although not certain) that you have to be within 4 weeks of your due date and it would need to be more than or two days off.

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MrsSpagBol · 26/03/2013 11:38

I really don't understand why you are insisting on why your plus one didn't call your mobile directly?

I have had a situation before where I got a new phone, didn't transfer all my numbers and lost my boss' number.

You can't prove that he had your number, and due to data protection etc etc, the correct procedure is for him to contact HR and ask them to ring you. It is actually not correct for HR to even give him your number without your permission.

So I think you really need to let that go. I really don't understand why you are being so sensitive about that point, although I do empathise as I am a great worrier, and I am also pregnant and very concious of trying not to look like I am taking the mick at work because of pregnancy.

I think you really need to calm down, do what some of the others have suggested in terms of clarifying what happened - ie "I rang my manager, I assumed that she passed the message on but can see now that that might not have happened. I am sorry for any distress caused, in future, if manager is out who should i contact. "

Draw a line and leave it at that.
You were ill.
You are not a piss taker with leave/sick days.
So stop working yourself up into a great state over nothing and next time try not to make rash decisions like going into work when you've phoned in sick.

Once you've phoned in, that's it. Leave it be!

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Trazzletoes · 26/03/2013 11:41

I know you're pregnant, but you sound really highly strung. And you seem to be taking everything personally.

It really isn't a giant leap of understanding that your manager, who is on leave, might not have told work that you were sick. It therefore makes perfect sense that someone would call to check what was happening.

Yes, if he has your number, it would make sense for your plus 1 to call you himself. I know plenty of Managers who wouldn't dirty their hands with stuff like that and you've already said he hates admin and employed someone else to deal with that side of the job.

It doesn't sound at all like he has it in for you. It sounds like he doesn't like admin. As you have already said.

You get a message asking you to call him. So instead of calling him, you go in to work. Despite being too sick to work. And then you still don't contact him. Even by the next day you have not complied with a reasonable request to speak to a Manager.

To be fair, if I were him, is wonder what the heck you were playing at by now. Your behaviour sounds totally weird.

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OhDearieDearieMe · 26/03/2013 11:44

Is this term 'plus one' widely used? Only I've never heard of it and reading it over and over is giving me an ache where there shouldn't be one. Do you mean your superior? Supervisor? Line manager? Why not just say so?

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Spudoolickay · 26/03/2013 12:21

Well things have taken a turn I didn't expect, and apparently I got everything wrong.

It wasn't HR ringing me at all - it was my manager's manager's manager (my plus two if you like). The big cheese. Sorry I'm not using the right terms, it's called Plus One at my work and I assumed it was everywhere else, that was wrong of me.

Yes I am really highly strung and sensitive, all that stuff. I hold my hands up.

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Spudoolickay · 26/03/2013 12:25

And the reason they were ringing me wasn't because I was off sick, it was because they were announcing that I am going to be made redundant and I was missing the announcement and they didn't want me to find out second hand.

Phew don't I feel better

I assume now that this is why my immediate manager has taken 'emergency leave'

Ah well at least it isn't my sickness being called into question [eyeroll]

Thanks all for being so nice about it all, and unbelievably patient given what you are working with!

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Spudoolickay · 26/03/2013 12:26

Oh and if you are wondering, I thought it was HR because the voicemail just said "it's Steve from [company name]" and I just assumed it was HR, not ever thinking my boss's boss's boss would ring me on my home phone number.

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LetMeAtTheWine · 26/03/2013 12:31

How awful

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mrssmooth · 26/03/2013 12:31

Sorry to hear the bad news Spud

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Viviennemary · 26/03/2013 12:37

That's awful. Make sure you get all the reduncancy payment you are entitled to.

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QuintEggSensuality · 26/03/2013 12:47

Are you sure your immediate manager has taken leave, and not been made redundant too? If she is there purely to manage you, why will they need her now?

Sorry to hear the news.

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annh · 26/03/2013 12:49

Sorry to hear about your redundancy. Did you find out yesterday when you turned up to work, having missed the announcement? Or have you only found out since you started this thread? How come no-one told you when you went in?

Do you believe this is a genuine redundancy situation?

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Spudoolickay · 26/03/2013 13:07

Hi, I only found out today since starting this thread - nobody told me yesterday but then I didn't really see anyone, and other than a diary invite for an 'urgent meeting' yesterday morning with no explanation (that I missed) there was nothing in my emails. I'm not pally enough with anyone that they would've sought me out to tell me (or perhaps they had been told not to, or felt it wasn't their place).

I do believe it's genuine as I'm not the only one being put 'at risk' but I AM the only one who is pregnant so I think the chances of redeployment are very very slim.

Thanks for your messages, I am in a bit of shock I think.

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Tigglette · 26/03/2013 13:25

Actually, if you're pregnant your more likely to be redeployed in a redundancy situation than your non-pregnant colleagues. Legislation around redundancy gives priority to pregnant women and those on maternity leave so if there's the possibility they would need to consider you first. I'm sorry to hear that's what they were trying to contact you for - times are so tough just now.

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BAUagent · 26/03/2013 13:28

Sorry to hear that, what terrible timing. I hope you get a good redundancy package so that you can enjoy what would be your maternity leave without any stress.

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Trazzletoes · 26/03/2013 13:34

Oh I'm really sorry to hear that, OP.

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ElvisIsKing · 26/03/2013 20:28

Sorry only just came back to this thread, sorry to hear your news OP.

Just thought I would post this for your info (I do realise may not be relevant now), taken from Equalities and Human Rights website

Pregnancy-related sickness in the four weeks before the expected week of childbirth (EWC)

If an employee is absent due to a pregnancy-related sickness at any time during the four weeks up to the EWC, her maternity leave will start on the day after the first day of absence, unless you agree otherwise. In order to preserve her rights, the employee must, as soon as is reasonably practicable, give you notice (in writing if requested) that she is absent from work because of pregnancy and give the date on which absence for that reason began.

If the employee is eligible to receive Statutory Maternity Pay, it will start from the day following the first day that she is absent for a pregnancy-related sickness.

Odd days of pregnancy-related sickness may be disregarded at your discretion.

Time off work for antenatal care is not to be counted as absence due to pregnancy-related sickness.