Not really an AIBU but wonder what happens in other workplaces as I feel like I'm in the twilight zone.
I work for the LA. Loads of redundancies and loads of people going on "long term sick".
Call me cynical but the people who do this (there are two repeat offenders - oh and our manager who was moved to our team and didn't want to be then went on 6 months sick leave on full pay) do not seem stressed they just go off with it or a bad back when they don't like their job (they couldn't possibly leave and work somewhere else as then they might miss out on redundancy in the next wave of cuts - which have been every year for the last 5/6).
Offender one has been suspended for 4 months on a disciplinary - but is now "on long term sick leave" as his GP doesn't seem impartial to handing him out sick notes like smarties. Last year he had 3 months off with a bad back and the year before had about 4 months off with said back but has also had time off being suspended too - he's utterly incompetent and anywhere other than the LA he would have been sacked years ago.
Offender 2 has been off for 7/8 months (1st 6 months full pay, next 6 1/2 pay). Also utterly incompetent (moans constantly about being over worked whilst swanning out of office for 2 hour nail appt etc).
She had been told to come back or she will be dismissed. Although when we questioned where she was our manager informed us "well she has so much leave to take".
Our LA's are going bankrupt yet this is allowed to carry on because of some overly PC policies on acid.
It's so frustrating.