to ignore work emails whilst off sick?

[PoesyCherish]

As I said in my previous thread, I've been off for almost two weeks because of unbearable joint pain and my employer failing to put in any reasonable adjustments. I've checked my emails once per day just because I've had to email in every day to update on my progress.

For the last week and a half I've been getting requests for me to carry out work and demanding I do it by the end of the week. AIBU to ignore the emails, or at least some of them - particularly those telling me I need to do online training?

It's not like I'm in an even remotely senior position where they desperately need me to do things. The training one is just so it doesn't affect their metrics. Surely though you don't expect an ill employee to still carry out training even when signed off as not fit for work by a trained medical professional?

If your out of office is on and says that you're away and has a contact for urgent matters, then people emailing you will know that and won't expect you to respond.

If you're then contradicting your out of office by answering emails, then actions speak louder than words and your colleagues will assume you're well enough to answer emails otherwise why would you be doing it?

YANBU to put on your out of office and ignore the emails.

YANBU, your company should be putting the reasonable adjustments in place. None of them sound particularly difficult to implement so I don't understand why they haven't.

Put on an out of office and update your manager another way. If I'm off sick the only time I would look at my emails is when I log on to do the out of office, after that it's tough. I don't check them if I am on holiday either and I have removed the app from my phone so I don't see them - that was very liberating!

Can't you email in sick from your home address?

Have you got RSI? Sorry you are not well. They should adapt your workstation by law.

I was signed off about a year ago after surgery (planned in advance so did as much as possible) and my manager told me just to phone in or text her to let her know how I was and not to work!!

I wanted so bad to go back early but My manager wouldn’t allow it.

(She did however request I let her know when I was out or surgery so she didn’t worry but that’s because we are close)

This may not be you...but from the management/HR perspective I get peeved with employees who demand heaven and earth in terms of equipment for their issues...but they have none of this when they insist on WFH. Sit stand table...ergonomic mouse and keyboard...footrest....special chair...document holders...wrist rest...back rest..you name it they want...then they go off sick in protest while it's on order for them.

@SandyY2K what's wrong with them requesting the items you state? Unless they're WFH long term they don't need those things at home. Generally speaking unless things have gotten to the stage where they're really bad, working without the items you mention is okay for a day / a few days. But it's when it's long term the problems really set in. I guess it depends on if your employees are working the occasional day at home or long term.

@woodhill yes I have RSI amongst other issues.

@LonginesPrime thusfar I haven't responded to any work emails other than to tell my boss I'm off sick. I haven't even read them, just seen the first line or so when it pops up as a preview on my Outlook list.

@cheesefield occu health are already involved and have been saying for months I need things put in place. Other than to just say that though, they don't get involved in whether or not work actually put them in place.

Yes I am suffering too so fully sympathetise

SandyY2K what's wrong with them requesting the items you state? Unless they're WFH long term they don't need those things at home.

They refuse to return to work even on a phased return...they say their condition would be worsened if they don't have those things...yet when they ask to work from home 2 or more days a week...they can manage just fine without them.

I guess I've become cynical over the years with these demands.

Ahh I see @SandyY2K so their WFH is a regular thing? That's totally different then and I can understand your cynicism. I think if someone is requesting those things and rarely, if ever, works from home then that's a totally different kettle of fish - but then maybe I'm biased because that's a similar situation to what I'm in now.

Stop checking your emails and xontacr your manager from your personal account.
How long have you been signed off for because daily contact sounds a bit much if it's longer term.

Daily contact is only required at my place of work for short term sickness. Anything over 2 weeks and contact is negotiated (usually weekly). It came off the back of the staff survey where people said they felt pressure to retun to work too soon and managers expecting constant contact was one of the reasons.

You know what @FormerlyFrikadela01 - it hadn't even occurred to me to use my personal email account until I posted here - how dull am I

This is my second full week of being off. There's no official policy in place other than to say "regular updates" but given their reluctance to put any adjustments in place, I'm worried they'll find any excuse to get rid of me - I mean how regular is regular... It does seem to have been expected by others who have been off sick though (though not my team, apparently my team had perfect attendance until I joined )

I'd assume that any emails asking me for work/training were from people who didn't realise I was off. Set an out of office telling them you'll deal with things when you're back and/or directing them to your boss or the person who is picking things up while you're off.

You do have a duty to "keep in touch" while you're off but not to work. In your shoes I'd check in daily just to delete the junk and deal with anything I can clear quickly and easily which might save someone who doesn't know the situation at lot of effort.

I forbid my staff from emailing colleagues who are work sick. If they are too ill to come into work they are too ill to respond to work emails.

@Bestseller the emails were from my manager!

You sound like a great boss @Seniorcitizen1

I would say one email stating your fit note expiry date is sufficient. They don’t need a daily email. I would send one now saying as discussed my expected return to work date is ... I will advise with 24 hours notice if this changes. I will not be emailing daily.