Colleague signing off for 2 weeks at a time

[stripystars]

How long can this go on for? So far it's been 10 weeks. There is no diagnosis and some 'general' sorts of symptoms. I do sympathise but wondered how long this can go on for 2 weeks at a time?

It's a public sector public-facing role, and the management aspect of this person's role is not being covered, which is causing quite a bit of difficulty for the rest of the team.

May I ask what HG stands for?

The sick notes will continue as long as the GP deems appropriate, the only thing you should concern yourself with are any work related issues.
I've been in your colleague's shoes and being gossiped about and doubted by your teammates is extremely unpleasant and just adds to the worry. Perhaps try offering some support to him/her, it will make all the difference when he/she comes back to work.

Like PP I've been the person off sick due to illness and was in the public sector. I was signed off with depression. Part of that included guilt at letting people down. I'm unemployed at the moment and worried about entering paid work again. With hindsight I know that not having cover wasn't my issue and in any case someone suicidal really can't do a good job. At the time i felt I was letting colleagues and managers down.

OP please try to be understanding when your colleague returns to work. I know it's hard picking up slack but it's not easy coming back knowing how much extra work others have been doing because of you.

Your colleague's illness is none of your business. She has been signed off by a GP and that's all there is to it.

A colleague has been recently diagnosed with Lupus(a serious auto immune disease) having had vague but troubling symptoms for the last six months. She was signed off, on and off during that period. She has now come back to work, but with reduced hours.

If I found out my line manager had been discussing my illness with others, I would put in an official complaint.

Beards HG is hyperemesis gravidarum, which is severe sickness. For me that means being sick pretty much all day, with medication not doing much to help.

yes, YABU. ever heard of invisible illnesses/disabilities? ever heard of anyone with a serious chronic illness being diagnosed. treated and cured the first time he or she attends the doctor? and how are you privy to her symptoms? either your HR manager has looses lips or you've been snooping. if her doctor thinks she is too ill to work, what right do you have to challenge his opinion.

*loose, not looses

I was signed off for over 3 months plus had a gradual return following a traumatic miscarriage combined with significant stress at work. That was done in 4 week hits then 2 week hits. No one knew why I was off, the rumour mill had a guess, but it was none of their business.

How about approach management about the things that can be fixed and keep your nose out of the things that can't.

How is this any of your business? I'm in 'public sector people facing role' my DH has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. And it's your business how?

I think the OP is getting a hard time here. If it's something like teaching, then I sympathise. A colleague was off looking after a non-blood related relative, then this just kept getting extended for two weeks at a time, then he eventually stayed off for the full six months, having been off for most of the academic year in 2 week slots. It was very difficult for the students who were given random cover because of the part time nature of the job. Also damned hard work when management gave no support and others were supplying the work and marking the books.

I can see both sides of this - DH runs a business and has had one very bad episode of an employee getting signed off with "anxiety/stress/depression", that caused absolute mayhem in a small company. DH was working 7 days a week, burnt out and exhausted, and yet couldn't employ someone else. This person was a complete fraud too, thankfully one of the other staff had the gumption to screenshot their FB feed and DH was able to take disciplinary action though it cost a small fortune (around 5k in legal fees). Turns out they'd had an inheritance and because DH hadn't agreed to them changing their hours around their sons hobby!! Behind the 11 months of hell this caused was a GP happily signing these fortnightly notes but I won't go down that road........ so yes sometimes people do take advantage.
However, I'd say your issue is with management and not the person off sick - few people can afford to be on long term sickleave just for the hell of it, and honestly, you have to think that this colleague could be going through something horrendous that is rightfully confidential. You need to approach HR as this is clearly turning into a longer term situation.

Some people are genuinely unwell.

I am 20 weeks pregnant and have just got home after 11 days in hospital. I was treated for pneumonia and further scans and tests have revealed I have a type of cancer called Hodgkin's lymphoma.

I start chemo on Tuesday. I will go go work on Friday but I do feel anxious. I know clients have been asking where and how I am.

Please try to stick to pointing out the impact on your workload to your manager if relevant. This colleague may be genuinely ill.

I have only been in my new job since August. Having had to already tell them I am pregnant and now explain I have cancer I bet they think what next! It is so hard.

I'm horrified that you know what's on the sick note, enough to comment that it isn't very specific. No way should you know your colleague's exact diagnosis.

And yes. I've been signed off in chunks like this when I was in a psych ward suffering from a psychotic episode. Would you prefer that a general bulletin be sent to my co-workers detailing my symptoms? It's absolutely none of your business.

Honestly a lot of people have jumped to conclusions here. I know it's a contentious issue, or may have sounded like one, but people have extrapolated a lot too.

I don't know what it says on the sick note - where did I say that? Neither have I been 'snooping'. The colleague has been texting another team member occasionally and has asked that she fill us in. I know she doesn't have to do that, but she has. I'm not on social media and neither is she. Don't know if there is gossip on there but I doubt it. I only mentioned her symptoms to show that there wasn't a diagnosis as such and of course I know it's not our business. I also realise she may have other symptoms she hasn't mentioned, which is obviously totally up to her.

Anyway, I wasn't implying she isn't really ill, but more asking if there is a cut off point at which proper cover would have to be bought in. It seems not, which is not her fault or concern. We don't have HR on our site, or see a lot of management - it was a genuine question. I will raise the workload issue if she is signed off again but I doubt I'll get anywhere.

Anyway, I highly doubt she is pregnant and I'm not a first time poster either - I obviously didn't want anything to be identifying along with my other points, yes, just in case she is on here (really don't think she is though). Thanks for replies.

The main thing for you is that interim management arrangements are put in place, indeed they should be there to cover holidays (as they have existed for all since 1936, so there has been plenty of warning).

If a doctor is only signing off for 2 weeks at a time, then she or he is to be applauded, as too many people are signed off for long periods when it might not be needed.

It doesn't matter what she's got as the Gp sick note is confidential and it would be unprofessional for you to be told

If she's asking a friend to fill you in that's kind of her to fill you in a bit BUT she doesn't have to. It's nobodies business

Your problem is that the management aren't covering her role.

There are two issues here. The first is that the OP is in a position where a colleague is off sick and because of not knowing if/when she is going to come back, the OP and her colleagues are left picking up the slack with no idea if and when that is going to change. That's bloody frustrating for anyone.

The second is that if someone has a bad sickness record then there comes a point when it becomes harder to sympathise esp if you're the one at work doing their job while they have a couple of weeks off whenever. It seems to suit them. And the reality is that there are people like this in every workplace, which means that for those who have genuine illnesses it's a lot harder to be taken seriously.

And people are naive if they think that you can only get signed off sick if you have a genuine illness. Once you have one sick note it's bloody easy to get another one, and most GP's don't even examine their patients and just hand over the sick note regardless. I know personally of someone who is currently off legitimately at the moment but who has been told by the GP that if they don't feel better after a couple of weeks to just go back for another note. Far too easy to go back and say "oh, I don't feel better," week after week.

My DP has a member of staff who arranges her sickness around the school holidays. Managed to get the whole summer holidays signed off in fact then can be back on the day the kids went back to school. Coincidence? I think not. And HR are powerless to deal with her.

So while of course there are people who have genuine illnesses and have to take extended sick leave. There are an awful lot who take the piss.

the point is her work isnt being covered.
you need to set the wheels in motion to demand someone Fills in. you are not super human, if you are short staffed you need temporary staff.

I dont believe it is far too easy to pull the wool over your GP's eyes and demand sick notes

It really is that easy. Person I know went to GP and told him she felt stressed (which to be fair, at the time, she did,) and he wrote her a note and just told her to come back for another one in two weeks time if not feeling better.

The GP doesn't really care, esp for conditions like stress where there are no medications etc involved. It's just a note.

well she was stressed.

and that is not the issue, the issue is op is covering colleague's work.
you need to forget about your sick colleague and her reasons or otherwise and get the help for you to work effectively.

vixyboo really sorry to hear this, I hope you make a good recovery as soon as possible.

OP, I get your frustration, but your colleague is ill. People get ill. She may God forbid have something very serious. The real issue is that her role needs to be covered and that is your management's resonsibility.

The thing is here, her illness, whether it's something minor or life threatening is nothing whatsoever to do with the OP.

Her only issue here is that the workload is not being covered. That is the fault of the management, not the person who is off sick.

Callme I don't believe for a minute that it's that easy to get. Sick note from a GP. I'm lucky I haven't been off sick for as long as I can remember, but that's all it is- just luck.

I'm sure that people do take the piss sometimes with time off, but I'd much rather this from a tiny minority and have the employment protection that we have in place ( at the moment anyway, who knows after brexit)