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 think it depends on your relationship, how long the absence is likely to be, the pattern of absence and the wishes of the staff member.
I like to keep in touch and make sure people don't lose their sense of belonging, to update on staffing changes and see if I can do anything to support them. I would always email or ring first. I'd always offer an alternative like a coffee shop. I'd always make clear it was informal and there was no pressure. I wouldn't offer for less than a fortnight unless they were in hospital and wanted visitors.
My team usually seem pleased to see me and catch up.

They need to make an appointment to visit.But standard practice to visit you at home and ask when you might be able to return to work.
Hope you feel better soon xx

OP - I know it's tough, but the owner will be assessing whether he thinks you will be back at work any time soon.

Even if he is only paying SSP, that is coming from his pocket and he is covering the work.

All these people talking about 'unethical' etc have presumably spent most of their careers in large institutions with HR departments etc.

Even so, your employer could well have an HR helpline that he will be calling to see what he can and cannot reasonably do.

Mind you, anyone can rock up to your door at any time I'm looking at you , politicians

Fluffy
X posted with you so didn't see your 2 other posts your 1st one said it was normal to have a sickness meeting I only said that it wasnt normal to turn up unannounced and guilt trip someone into going back to work early.

I think it's unreasonable for them to drop in without any warning but I think whether or not anybody from work drops in for a visit is reasonable depends entirely on the situation.

If you've broken your ankle, have been signed off for a specific period of time with a return date that you've kept them updated on any changes to (eg if you were signed off for 8 weeks but have complications during treatment that pushes the return back an extra two weeks) there's definitely no need for them to come over especially unannounced. If they do come over it should only be with an appointment first, having asked where you want the meeting and have a reason (eg the week before you're due back they want to get you up to speed on a project or to discuss any accommodation you might need on your return).

If however you're signed off long term for something like stress/depression with no specific return date and no guarantee of any improvement to the situation then I think it is reasonable for them to come over to do a welfare check, to make sure you're OK and also allow them to have a discussion about whether you are realistically going to be returning to work and balance that against the business needs. Unfortunately sometimes small businesses can't afford to have someone off long term sick and so it's better for them to start the proceedings to dismiss an employee, no matter how understanding they want to be to their employee's situation.

Arranged visit as part of the sickness policy - yes if you agree or want it at your home .... or elsewhere

Just turning up like that, not on!!

Hope you're ok

I done several home visits for people on long term sick.

There are lots of different reasons we go. Including to find out what we can do to supoirt then coming back and seeing if they have a timeline (even approximately) of when they plan to return.

But we mainky discuss how they have been, how they are feeling, what we can do to help them and to keep them updated on whats been going off.

However I, personally, have only needed to them when people are off for physical problems like operations. So there is usually a planned return date.

If there is no way a return date can be planned (perhaps if the person is sufferimg from depression or illness they dont know a cause for) we dont push that issue.

Oh and always olanned in advance. We call and speak to them and confirm in a letter.

It's part of our policy to offer to visit you at home or a location of your choice rather than you coming to the place of work which might be a long way to travel to or might be triggering if you're off with stress work related issues.

However you absolutely have the right to say no and offer an alternative location or solution.

All these people talking about 'unethical' etc have presumably spent most of their careers in large institutions with HR departments etc.

So it's OK to be unethical as long as you're a small company with no HR?

I mean, you're not wrong that employers with no HR get away with unethical practices; but that doesn't make it OK.

OP, have you tried ACAS or another support body if there is one?

I have to say, I'm a bit at the idea of employers doing 'welfare checks' anyway. Does the actual employer do them? I'm just trying to imagine any HR person or manager from my own experience having the first idea how to assess someone's welfare/progress in the context of occupational health.

willow2017
I only posted once so I may have a similar username to someone else. Anyway not to worry. Perhaps I'll name change. There are a number of fluffs etc about.

Not turning up out of the blue, no. They should have requested a meeting with you to discuss your situation in a neutral place and given you 2 weeks notice, with the option for you to have someone with you. Do you have a HR department to discuss this with?

The OP has already said there's no HR.