AIBU to not want constant contact with work when off sick?

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I guess I already feel bad for being off sick as we have a small team and have to cover for one another when off.

But I took sick last week and came home to bed..the following day the colleague who was covering for me messaged me to see how I was (he asked if I was taking another day or when would I be back)

Since then, he has messaged every day with stupid questions about work. Asking me about stuff he should already know.

And later in the week a second colleague messaged to ask if I was coming back that day. I felt put under pressure and it added to my already annoyed state.

I have been issued a doctor's note for another week, how can I get it across to colleague that I want no contact with work this week?

I genuinely feel that I didn't get proper rest last week as I've been made to think about work every day.

I guess it's not the company who has been in touch, but colleagues.

I don't make a habit of being off but I have had a bout off ill-health recently and kept going in and I think it has caught up with me.

Is it just expected these days that we put a workplace before our own wellbeing?

And AIBU to want to be left alone to recover in peace?

I'd send one reply "I've been issued with a sick note for another week. I'm actually quite unwell and would rather not answer work queries. See you when I'm back"

Some supportive messages are reasonable.
Calling you and messaging you about work is totally not reasonable at all.

I'd have a quiet chat with your line manager and says you appreciate the concern from some colleagues, but could there be a reminder to people not to contact about work when people are off sick.

Just don't answer. You're off sick - they shouldn't be pestering you.

YANBU. Ask your manager to address this with the team. Also, when you're back (appreciate won't help you now) look to get a team agreement that people off sick won't be 'informally' contacted by colleagues.

While you are still off I'd be tempted to just ignore any messages tbh though understand it's still annoying to hear/see them.

I'd speak to your manager and ask them to ask her or him those questions.

Where I work, you're expected to let your manager know when you're off sick. It would be seen as totally unacceptable if colleagues directly contact people off sick.

Block their numbers until you get back

Thanks, if he contacts me today I will tell him to speak to manager.

@AntiHop I contacted my manager three days last week to keep him informed and on the last day said I had a self cert for a week and another appointment not see doctor first thing this morning.

So he is aware I am off but he is also very passive and would rather not be bothered, which is why instead of taking on some of my workload he has handed it to a junior.

to see

To be honest, in most places I worked "sick leave" as such does not really exist, if you are unwell you are working from home - maybe at 50%, maybe at 80% efficiency, but switching off completely will be perceived as taking the proverbial. If someone insists that they are not to be contacted, people will assume the sick leave is for mental health reasons.

That’s really unhelpful @sympatheticswan - if you’re sick, and signed off because you kept working, block them for the moment and work on getting better. Working from home when sick is not taking the ‘proverbial’ and I doubt massively that people will instantly assume mental health issues.

*not working from home when sick

@SympatheticSwan, poor you. Sounds like you had some absolute cunts of employers/work culture in previous jobs.

Hopefully, you now work somewhere more reasonable, humane and less like a 19th century workhouse.

To be honest, in most places I worked "sick leave" as such does not really exist, if you are unwell you are working from home - maybe at 50%, maybe at 80% efficiency, but switching off completely will be perceived as taking the proverbial.

Just because you worked somewhere with shit management and shit sickness policies, doesn't mean other people have to accept the same thing.

I'm currently signed off sick with mental health issues. Is that a problem? Should I be ashamed of that in some way?

If you're signed off as too unwell to work, then you are too unwell to work - not well enough to "work at home" . How ridiculous.

If they are contacting you on a work phone, then switch it off. Otherwise don't answer and let it go to voicemail but first send a text to your manager and inform him that you will not be taking work related calls.

To be honest, in most places I worked "sick leave" as such does not really exist, if you are unwell you are working from home - maybe at 50%, maybe at 80% efficiency, but switching off completely will be perceived as taking the proverbial.

OK, so you worked somewhere shit that was run by total wankers. That doesn't mean it's like that everywhere. I've never worked anywhere like that.

OP, I agree with what others say - you need to have a word with your manager. But if your colleague messages you again with work questions, I also think you need to reply and say 'Sorry, I'm currently signed off with a doctor's note, so you'll need to ask [manager] if there's anything else you need help with before I'm back. I'm not feeling well and I won't be checking my messages any more while I'm off.'

If I'm off sick I'll do a bit of work if I can. Migraine / fever - nope. Heavy cold - no reason to not do a little, reply to a few emails, while resting. I seriously doubt that answering a couple of questions has deprived your body of rest OP

I'm off sick atm (week self cert and got sick note for a further 2 weeks) and wouldn't be able to work at all, why would I? I haven't got my laptop at home so couldn't anyway!
Hope you feel better soon OP. Work should not be pestering you !

@SympatheticSwan, no, we don't do 'work from home' in my company.

I have a sick line from a doctor saying I am unable to work, therefore I am also unable to work from home (I also have no system at home which means I can't access work emails etc)

It's my own mobile the colleague is messaging. He has messaged me again this afternoon asking a question and I have replied saying I am unwell, please ask manager.

He said he had asked manager and hadn't received a straight answer.

Which to be fair is shit on my colleague as we work to deadlines and he needed an answer immediately.

I am going to send the sick line in tomorrow and accompany it with a note asking manager to ensure no contact until my return as I feel like I am not resting as I should be.

Thanks for responses, much appreciated.

@otterturk that's not the point.

The point is I am off sick. Unable to work. And I have answered messages every day, including handling 'when are you coming back' when I don't know when I am coming back. It just feels like I am being put under pressure.

@ashtrayheart get well soon

That kind of crap was the nail in the coffin in my last job. I was on holiday but kept getting texts and Facebook messages asking stuff that wasn’t needed. It made me anxious and unable to relax. I started a job hunt.

please dont answer any more op. put them on silence, can you temporarily block the calls?

@Likethebattle I had the same in July when I was on a fortnight's holiday.

When I returned I mentioned it to my manager and he said he would speak to colleague.

He obviously didn't.

@EleanorReally they're WhatsApp messages from his personal phone to my personal phone.

I replied to his last message saying manager didn't give him a straight answer and told him what it was he needed to know. I added that I would appreciate being left alone now.

He probably thinks I am rude.

oh you can definately mute whatsapp messages
tell him you are about to sleep then mute for a week