To think I will be dismissed for sickness record?

[nojob]

I started a new job last October with 3 month probation. I was told in January that my probation was to be extended for 2 months 'due to absence' as I'm not fully trained up yet and haven't been able to demonstrate I can meet the required standard. They said they are confident that I should meet the required standard by the end of February.

I have been off sick for 10 days in total (2 days in November, 2 days in December, 1 day in January all due to very bad periods and 5 days last week due to a heavy cold.). Can they decide not to pass my probation even if my performance is ok? They haven't said anything yet but I get the vibe that they are not very supportive of sickness. I missed some important training when I was off last week. Should I be worried?

Two instances, not necessarily two days

It was more than 2 but...

Two instances can be two days if each instance is one day.

And it's fairly reasonable to get a warning. You're not being stoned in the marketplace!

Three separate instances!

If each instance they take one day off, once in Jan, once in April, once in September. That means 3 instances of 1 day each. Of course it could be more, it could also be 3 days.

A warning implies you've done something wrong by being ill for possibly a minimum of 3 days out of over 300. Yes I think it's unreasonable.

Yes I get that. I'm not sure what your point is.

It sounds like you want to cling on long enough to then take advantage of their maternity policy.

The thing that frustrates me about reading through this string is that the OP is the reason why employers have such tough illness/ discipline procedures.

What do you mean you don't get it Stealth?

I said 3 days and you reply "3 separate instances!" as if 3 days wouldn't count as 3 separate instances if taken as 3 separate days. My point was 3 days can be 3 instances. So I'm not sure why you tried to correct me there.

Ah I see sorry I was replying to daisypond

If you agree with me that 3 separate days can be 3 separate instances, why correct me when we agreed.

Oh sorry, I sent that last one as for some reason my other one didn't looklike it had sent

Two instances can be two days if each instance is one day.
Yes, exactly. But two separate days is worse than one instance of two days. That’s how it’s calculated generally. Having a single day off here and there indicates you are not really sick. Whereas having one instance of a few days indicates you really are. That’s how must companies weight it.

They do not need to give a formal reason to let you go at the end of probation so with that level of absence I would say depending on their sickness policy its highly likely they will let you go. At my place of work its a maximum of 3 periods of absence for sickness in a 12 month period or you are out, you’ve had 4 in 5 months. I’ve hit my 3 and despite being under the equality act for my endometriosis I’ve been given notice that any further absence will result in them firing me under capacity, this means that despite being in a car accident last week and hurting like a bitch I’ve still had to drag my ass into work on days when I could really have done with being at home.

So you’re purposely avoiding answering all questions about periods because you’re purposely TTC to purposely get maternity pay?

Please correct me if I’m wrong.

@johnmartinday

There's no requirement for OP's employer to follow a specific disciplinary procedure before letting her go unless they have a contractually binding dismissal process which requires them to treat employees with

I don’t particularly like the Bradford weighting system either for sickness but that is how it is commonly done. I’m astonished if people have never come across people ever being sacked from a job or not pass a probation period. That’s normal. I’m going to have a lot of time off sick this year, as I’m seriously ill, but I expect/hope my employer to be supportive. We’ll see.

I'd look at the Bradford formula. Imo you are well outside acceptable but any reasonable employer would give u the opportunity to explain and consider that.
Personally I've got loads of empathy with the period problem but as an employer
I'd want some sort of supporting evidence or plan to reduce further problems to extend a contract

The only way you can improve this is not being sick at all. You can't keep taking time off like this.
Periods are shit but they come every month and you need to get something sorted because they will sack you and based on your attitude on this post I'm beginning to think that they would be right to do so.
Thinking it's ok to have 2 days sick a month is ludicrous.
You were very lucky they extended the probation period, most places wouldn't have given you the chance.
Then you take more time off.
You have a lot of growing up to do.

10 days in 4 months for minor health issues isn't good OP. And it looks really bad when you are on probation where personally I wouldn't take any time off sick unless absolutely unavoidable.

You need to really think how you are going to manage your periods with work long term, as you can't keep taking time off every month, if indeed they keep you on after probation.

@GlitteryUnicornSparkles - that is really shit of your employer.

That’s a lot of sickness when you’re on probation. If you were one of my probationers I’d be extending it again and reviewing if I felt it was worthwhile taking someone who who has had such a lot of sickness in the first few months when normally people are trying their best not to be off. If you’re sick you’re sick, but I’ve got chronic pancreatitis and live in constant pain and have had 1 day in 2yrs. Yes I’ve had a lot more than that over 10yrs but I’ve been in the office with my suitcase when going for a surgery and I’ve been back in the office the day after coming out of hospital with a very serious bout of acute pancreatitis. Because I was worried about losing my job. I just can’t see how a period and a cold would make me take time off, and certainly not in the probation period. In all honestly I’d be worried you’d be someone who would be off a lot and cause a lot of admin for my staff.

I couldn’t just sack you though. I’d send you for occupational health assessment to see if there’s any underlying reason why you’re having such painful periods you need time off. In our place though it’s 2 days in 6 months to pass probation - so you’d probably be let go, as otherwise we are likely storing up problems. For our staff member who fell at the station and injured her leg we extended her probation and once recovered she wasn’t off again.

10 days sick is more than I've ever had in my working life of approx 25 years.... I wouldn't want to employ you (sorry, just being honest, it wouldn't be fair to the rest of the team).

The flu/cold was bad luck - hopefully that won't happen again.

But what if you DO get another virus like that? Will you stay home for a week again?

@GlitteryUnicornSparkles - do they not extend sickness triggers for someone with an underlying health issue? I have double the amount due to my chronic pancreatitis. So 6 occasions / 12 days.

The flu/cold was bad luck - hopefully that won't happen again.

But the periods are causing you two days off a month - funnily enough never on a weekend.