I work for a company who says they won't accept sick calls

[ElektraLOL]

I have an ongoing problem with a slipped disc in my back. It flairs up every now and then and I have a very physical job. So yesterday my back was hurting all day at work and today I'm in so much pain I'm going to the out of hours GP. I can't even drive. So I call in sick to work to be told they will not accept sick calls today because they are too busy. This is the first time I've ever called in sick in any job I've had. I physically will not be able to do the movements involved. I told them I'm self certifying and i will not be in.

IABU to think this is not usual workplace behaviour? I have heard from others that they will always try to bully ill people into work.

[ElektraLOL]

People may lie but I don't. I actually enjoy being at work and I always give 100% because I have a good work ethic and enjoy my job. They have known me long enough to know I'm a decent employee.

In fact, all of us are. Spas are very time pressured places where we have back to back treatments all day usually. People who are lazy/ prone to taking the day off because it's sunny tend to leave almost as quickly as they started.

[DrinkFeckArseGirls]

Are you employed or self-emplpyed, OP? I work in a similar set up but we’re all self-employed.

[ElektraLOL]

Employed

[Brilliantidiot]

Whilst it sounds bad to be told no sick leave, the problem is people lie (especially when the weather is good) and if clients are booked in they need someone to be there - can you imagine turning up to be told that the sessions you booked 6 weeks prior are cancelled?

Whoever is in charge needs to ring those clients and tell them, offer an alternative.
And yes people lie, and take the piss. But a blanket 'no one is allowed to be ill or injured' policy is ridiculous. It's not going to stop people getting ill, being in accidents etc is it? No matter how much they demand. If these things were in our power then hospitals and Dr surgeries would be pretty quiet!
Owners/managers need effective policies that accept that they employ humans that sometimes get ill or injured and cover the workload, whilst dealing with those who take the piss.
There seems to be an attitude that anyone who rings in sick is taking the piss, regardless of track record, regardless of what's actually wrong with them. And that devalues everyone on the staff, which doesn't exactly inspire people.

[DrinkFeckArseGirls]

Wow, I thought employees were better protected than that. I suppose health and leisure industry is like that whatever your employment status.

[ivykaty44]

but then they'll be very short staffed 🤷🏻‍♀️ they are already using agency.

I wonder why that is....

[ElektraLOL]

I'm definitely beginning to regret my decision to stay. I like the spa manager very much, but much of what happens is not her doing. It's those at the top of the hotel. The spa manager said that hopefully my back injury will be helped by reduced hours. My new rota doesn't come into effect until next week.

This injury goes back to 2015. But at that time I was not in a full time job. The stress of this place is way more than I think it's worth tbh. And I think probably the job does make it flare up. It's also carrying vast amounts of laundry all the time. There are always about 2/3 people injured having to be on reduced duties.

[ElektraLOL]

I have heard from my direct senior that they didn't cancel the treatments but instead loaded them onto the other staff so that the entire day was crazy and stressful. As it turns out that someone else was also off sick today. She did say though that I must stay off and rest my back or it will get worse. She said that there should be a plan in place for a situation like this.

Management wouldn't dream of stepping in of course - they were off subbing themselves no doubt...

[ElektraLOL]

Sunning *

[ElektraLOL]

My GP has signed me off for 2 weeks.

I think I'm going to have to leave this job because my back is no better today and this is obviously a warning. And I only have one body...