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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Boss wants me to give up a day of holiday to compensate for a sick day.

30 replies

DaisyBug · 26/03/2013 21:52

AIBU to refuse?

I have taken only ONE sick day the entire year that I have worked for her FFS when the UK average is apparently 10. Still she reckons this is too many and that I now 'owe' her a day.

I'd actually prefer to just not be paid for it but that wouldn't be right either.

OP posts:
Seabright · 26/03/2013 21:53

No, don't do it. YANBU. Does she ever get sick?

MamaMary · 26/03/2013 21:53

Er, no, YANBU.

MrsBW · 26/03/2013 21:54

Er, tell her to fuck the fuck off.

dublindee · 26/03/2013 21:54

Tell her to feck off. You are entitled to sick leave she would be breaking the law by making you forfeit your holiday entitlement.

LetMeAtTheWine · 26/03/2013 21:55

What MrsBW said...

zwischenzug · 26/03/2013 21:56

I'd actually prefer to just not be paid for it but that wouldn't be right either.

It's actually quite common for employers to have something in your contract that you won't be paid for the first few days you take off sick, although it may not be 'morally' correct.

But yes she is taking the piss, she can't take your holiday off you - in fact, legally if you get sick while you are on holiday, you are entitled to reclaim your holiday days Smile

LindyHemming · 26/03/2013 21:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Scholes34 · 26/03/2013 21:59

What Zwischenzug said. Is there anything in your contract about days off sick?

MaryMotherOfCheeses · 26/03/2013 21:59

Do you have a contract?

Original poster
DaisyBug · 26/03/2013 22:03

Thanks all. Unfortunately it is a small business, of which she is the owner, so there is no HR dept. I'm not entirely sure how to refuse without things turning unpleasant, but I'll certainly give it a go.

She also thinks it fine to demand that everyone come to work an hour early every day this week, just because SHE got behind on something. Don't even get me started on her expectation that we should voluntarily come in on Saturday afternoons to clear-out the shed.

OP posts:
ENormaSnob · 26/03/2013 22:03

Yanbu at all.

ENormaSnob · 26/03/2013 22:05

It sounds to me like you need to start keeping a diary of work issues.

Will show my arse if this is the last problem you have.

LindyHemming · 26/03/2013 22:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MaryMotherOfCheeses · 26/03/2013 22:10

Hmm, she sounds dreadful.

However, from a brief google, you're not entitled to full pay for being off sick. Many employers allow it, but it's not compulsory. They can't pay you less than Statutory Sick Pay though (which is £85 a week or thereabouts) (SSP only kicks in on the 4th day) so from her point of view, she might be trying to find a way of you still being paid your full amount.

AFAIK.

However, if you haven't been sick all year and this is your fist day, she's being a bit mean and the other stuff she's up to suggests she's not exactly a great employer.

hwjm1945 · 26/03/2013 22:11

Love enormas name.took me a while to get it
Btw yr employer is in the wrong

Lonecatwithkitten · 26/03/2013 22:13

Your employer doesn't have to pay anything for the first three days you are sick then after that sick pay kicks in.

Pandemoniaa · 26/03/2013 22:19

Not being entitled to sick pay idoesn't make it acceptable for the OP's boss to demand she gives up a day's holiday though.

MaryMotherOfCheeses · 26/03/2013 22:22

No, she definitely can't demand it, she might be seeing it as a solution to not being paid though.

But she is a miserable cah.

Viviennemary · 26/03/2013 22:24

She certainly can't force you to take a days holiday instead of sick leave. But it seems that some firms don't pay sick leave these days. Why not look for another job where you will be more appreciated. She sounds awful.

MrsDoomsPatterson · 26/03/2013 22:32

Blimey. Get out of there!

maddening · 26/03/2013 22:34

Ours sometines offered it if people were getting close to warnings - but as a favour - you were fine to put it down as sick if you wanted.

Original poster
DaisyBug · 26/03/2013 22:35

Thank you for the confirmation that she is not exactly a great employer. Truly, there are days when I wonder if it is perhaps just me and that I expect too much and/or am too much out for myself.

She thinks she is God's gift where employers are concerned. I know it may sound bizarre to you but she really truly does. In her eyes, we are all like one big happy family. I don't think she expects any of us to see this as a job as such but more like an opportunity given as a personal favour from her.

Yes, there is a contract but only a vague, crappy, amateur one written by her which skates over sick pay and just says that SSP is paid after 3 days, as long as a medical certificate is provided.

OP posts:
Doha · 26/03/2013 22:40

A self certificate sick note is only needed after 4 days, A GP sick note is for after a week of self certification. Her contract is crap

travailtotravel · 26/03/2013 22:43

Before you wade in can you ask her why she thinks this - it might be that she wants to pay you for the day ... and as already stated, she doesn't have to. But also be on the watch - she sounds like some of the other business owners I've worked with - on their own case.

Rainbowdrop8 · 26/03/2013 22:50

I've had the same issue, I refused to use my annual leave so it was put through as unpaid leave.

Other 'option' offered was to make up the 8hrs sick by working an extra 4hrs for 2 days Confused