Off work sick, being asked to complete work tasks

[RubyWho]

Hello all,

Can't work out if I am being precious or not. I'm off work today (due to side effects from new MH related medication). I let my boss know I wouldn't be in via email. Boss responded to said email with a list of tasks they wanted me to do today.

They aren't huge, more like 'please remind X Y Z to do this' and 'send out X to group B' etc. I've also been asking me questions about things I've forwarded onto them when I logged into my emails around 6am, and asking for clarification by COB today.

Boss is well aware of the medication I am on, why I am on it and the difficulties I have with it. I usually work around a 60 hour week (9 hours in the office M-F, and then the rest at home outside of core hours, at the weekend and such) so it's not as if I never do any bloody work!

Is this U of Boss? Or am I being oversensitive?

The argument that if you're well enough to be on Mumsnet, you're well enough to work, doesn't apply if you are ill with work-related stress. OP, when you go back in and have your rtw interview, they should ask what support you need from them to get better/avoid being sick again. Tell them you'd like a meeting with HR. Then tell HR that the way your boss is managing your illness is making it worse, and ask them to intervene. Otherwise this is going to keep building.

You haven't seen the emails though, right? Because you're off sick and not checking your emails. RIGHT?! wink

tell HR that the way your boss is managing your illness is making it worse, and ask them to intervene. Otherwise this is going to keep building.

I agree with this.

Also being well enough to be on mumsnet (where getting it wrong doesn't matter!) is somewhat different from work where you may be making complex decisions etc. I usually forward emails if I'm on holiday/off sick and deal with "urgent" things but it will really depend who is asking - some people take the piss and ask you to do stuff that they could have done themselves. They get the out of office and ignored. Some people only ask if you specifically have the only information that will enable them to complete the work - I'm always happy to help those people out.

(But I'm not off sick with stress which also makes a difference!)

Being on mumsnet, watching shite tv, going out for a coffee, shopping, long soaks etc has no bearing on your ability to work or not. There are many reasons why a person has to be on sick leave.

When I was off work sick following a late miscarriage my boss warned everyone they were not to concern me about work and warned them against contacting me. This was when I did accounts for a company whose year end was march 31st. April 1st was a bank holiday and I went for check up on 2nd and found out baby has died. All year end reports had to be finalised etc.
Would have been manic for them sorting everything out but they did it.
If work is causing you this stress then I think they definitely shouldn't be contacting you when off sick.
Hope you are better soon x

Being on mumsnet, watching shite tv, going out for a coffee, shopping, long soaks etc has no bearing on your ability to work or not.

yeah right...

You can do all that, but you cannot forward a few emails. It says it all. And you wonder why some "Illnesses" are not taken seriously! What's next? well enough to go suntanning on the beach, but not well enough to work?

And we are talking about office worker, not a pilot, a brain surgeon or a even a cop who has to be on his feet.

Work your shouldn't be contacting you when you are signed off sick by your GP.

We stay in contact with staff by text but it's making sure they are ok and not giving them work (we are a small close team).

clearly for some it doesn't.

We are not talking about a few 10 hours day work, but forwarding a few emails and answering a few queries! I feel sorry for all the colleagues who have to pick up the slack, what about their stress level.

Dear god, someone people are ignorant.

Coddi... way to go with your obvious ignorance around mental health.

I thought we had moved on from this sort of ignorance. How wrong I was.

coddiwomple you have no clue what you are talking about and clearly have never experienced workplace stress and anxiety. Stop commenting on this because what you are saying is rubbish and is of no help to the OP.

OP, , I work in HE too and it can be a nightmare, especially now at the start of the academic year... I have also experienced the 'fun' of anti-anxiety meds at the start but hopefully it will calm down soon. Not sure which ones you are on- I was on Fluoxetine and the side effects did not last long. Hope you feel better soon.

Don't be stupid, coddi.

At my place of work we have a strict attendance policy. People who have been in hospital with a life threatening condition have been given warnings.

If I was to call in sick (very rarely do) and was asked to complete work related tasks I would be asking where this would fall in their policy. After all, the sick cannot be counted against you if they are still giving you work whilst you are off! I hope that makes sense...it does when I have it in my head!

Anyway, you take care of yourself. I had a work stress related breakdown about ten years ago and I have never felt so mentally incapacitated. I could barely even string a sentence together.

Off sick is off sick, not 'can you just get this done'. Your boss is not behaving well.

Set up an OOO.
Tell boss this is making you worse and is setting back your recovery.
Turn off emails and do not check them!!!