Manager coming to house

[jarhead123]

Want to keep this brief for confidentiality reasons, but would you consider it reasonable for a manager (owner of business) to visit you at home while off sick to see how you're doing (and also put pressure on you to return)

Thanks!

I thought it wasn't allowed! Maybe not illegal (but could be) but defiantly not the done thing.

Long term sick

God no. Totally inappropriate.

7 weeks off @Creampasty

To see how you are doing - fine depending on the relationship
To put pressure on you to return - not fine

There was a thread here recently with someone complaining that their manager hadn't called or visited after they had an accident at work that resulted in them being off for a while, so clearly there are people who expect it

Depends on how open the communication channels have been prior really and how well you've informed your employer of the reasons for your absence and have followed all the correct company procedures and supplied sick notes etc.
If you've done all the above, then maybe it's a visit to check as they have concerns.
How can they pressure you to return if you have a sick note?
Has the visit happened?

If they are putting pressure on you to return to work then that is not acceptable. However when we had people on long term sick we would visit them (with their consent) It was a way to show our concern and see how they are as well as keeping them in touch with the business (if they wanted to know about it) and to see if there were any adjustments we could make to their job role, hours etc to make it easier for them to return if that was what they ultimately wanted to be able to do.

It is a thing as long as you are agreeable.

I work for a trade union and this happens with our members.

Sometimes they take a member of HR to be in attendance also.

Of course you can refuse and you are also entitled to have somebody with you (a rep if you are in the union), to take notes if you want them to, even if it is informal.

This happens as part of our sick process after a certain amount of time off. It's to see how the person is doing though, not to force them back to work!

They just turned up last week, I wasn't expecting them.

I've been in touch weekly, always sent sick notes in and kept the up to date with appointments/scans etc.

Told the visit was to see how I was, but then told they've struggled without me, could do with me back etc

My DH works for a large multinational company. He was previously in a people management role. Part of this involved visits to staff who were off sick at home.

This is quite normal and nothing unusual, as far as I'm aware. It's assuming that since you are I'll, you might be unable to come into work to duscuss your needs. So the manager goes to them to discuss if any changes need to happen in work to assist your return.

Nothing was said about me coping at work. It was basically filling me in on what I've missed and telling me 'could do with me back now'

Turning up out of the blue is totally not on.

Smacks of checking up on you, and professionally way out of order.

Are they a friend? Changes it slightly, but even a friend should maybe ask if you're up for a visit-??

Not great overall in other words.

told they've struggled without me, could do with me back etc

I'd write down the date and conversation as far as you can remember it. Was anyone else there?

Call ACAS. I don't think this is on at all.

We all get on, but not a friend no. Would never socialise out of work, never been to my home before

Not appropriate. How does this aid a person's return to work. It sounds like it has caused you stress. I would be very clear with them about that. You have been signed off by a gp and when you are able to return you will, I presume.

I would hate this.

I don't like people round at the best of times but when i'm signed off ill I would be really stressing that they were checking up on me, and I'd go over and over the conversation worrying about what i'd said.

My experience of managing long term sick has been in the public sector (NHS, local government and education) where it would be completely unacceptable to tun up unannounced.

Senior managers try to keep in touch with those who are long-term sick by the sick person's preferred method - phone, email, meeting for coffee in a neutral place etc. People can be visited at home, but only by agreement, and not to 'check up' on them.

It's actually good practice to keep in touch with employees when off sick, although this should be by appointment. It's not right to put any pressure on to return, but the conversation should be about what can be put in place to make a return easier if that's appropriate.

Few companies, especially smaller ones, can sustain prolonged absence and the company has to plan its resource accordingly. If the owner of the business made the visit I'm guessing this is a small business.

This is accepted and done at my work (NHS). Not out of the blue however. It would be offered, and if accepted, arranged in advance. If it was declined it would not be pushed.

What have you been off with? Broken bones very different to stress/depression.

Small company or big one?

TBH if it's a multinational I doubt anyone would be so stupid as to visit you at home.

It's completely unethical - we aren't even allowed to phone our friends (that we socialise with) if they are off sick (we do of course) but it can be deemed as harassment by their very presence, no matter how well intentioned.

www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4199

Covering long term illness for small business -

www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4203

Managing staff absence - Long-term illness

Will they come back?

Handling long-term absence is a delicate matter:
the illness may be serious, and also involve an operation and recovery time, or could be a mental health problem. These require a sympathetic approach.

or you may suspect an illness is being drawn out to delay a return to work.

However, these two scenarios, although contrasting, still mean the absence can be a strain on the business. How you manage them in some areas can be similar. But remember, these situations are poles apart and will require sensitivity to be used in very different ways.

You should:

assess if colleagues can manage for a while without a replacement, or whether you need to hire someone on a temporary contract

keep in regular contact with the employee about their position, be clear about their sick pay and explain any updates - for example, promotion opportunities or any other important workplace changes

consider whether it might be best, in some cases, to simply keep in touch and give them the time they need to get better

think whether you need to ask the employee for permission to contact their GP, or whether they would see the company doctor, to assess:

when a return to work will be possible

will there be a full recovery and is a return to the same work advisable?

should it be phased - may be part-time or flexible hours to begin with?
whether the employee is disabled - if so, reasonable adjustments must be made so they can return to work

whether a return to lighter, less stressful, work would be advisable.

Yes, this is standard practise at most large companies I've worked at. There should usually be a welfare check every 4 weeks. However you should be given a choice of venue if you're not comfortable with seeing them at home.

You shouldn't be made to feel guilty for being off or under pressure to return before you feel fully fit, though. That's very bad form.

Turning up unannounced is not on. Should have refused to answer the door. Depending upon what is wrong with you, it may have been relatively simple to come up with an excuse.

Ok to come to your house by arrangement, not ok to surprise you or pressure you to return.