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?

Is this your first job OP? If not, what was your sickness record in previous employment?
What steps are you taking to reduce the problems your periods are causing you?
Don't you usually take 5 days to recover from a cold sufficiently to be able to drag yourself into work?
Do you have underlying health issues that make ordinarily minor ailments have heavier impact on you?

Bloody hell, do you even need to ask? I'm amazed they're extending your probation - I wouldn't.

We let someone go last year who phoned in sick on their 2nd week. It's a good indication of someone's work ethic.

Your on probation can get rid of u anytime. Look for another job and think about getting coil or going on pill?. Tbh my company give me 5 days sick pay per year ap owt over is unpaid I have used 2 since last may one was because I couldn't talk and need to talk in my job and other one was d and v x

@SkaLaLand You have a nerve telling someone to take more paracetamol and to get their 'behind into the office.' Some people really, really suffer from chronic period pains, to the point where they are vomiting (from both ends) and passing out. It is so ignorant to assume paracetamol is a cure all for everyone when periods can come with so many symptoms, other than just aches and pains. Usually the same people who say this also think that migraines are 'just headaches.'

People are correct to suggest that you go and see a GP, OP. First to rule out anything sinister, and also to get some evidence behind you that you are suffering to the point where time off of work is a necessity. If you haven't done this, then it's understandable why they wouldn't keep you on.

5 days off for a cold after they've already formally mentioned your absences is taking the piss. I'd be looking for a new job if I were you although if you don't get your periods under control you won't last anywhere for long

I run my own business. Unless you're absolutely awesome at your job when you're there, I wouldn't employ you. Reliability is so important.

Another here wouldn't have extended your probation!

That's a lot of sickness. If I were you I'd have been dragging myself in with the cold considering the extension.

I'd expect to be fired if I were you.

How old are you OP?

Sorry I agree that 5 days for a heavy cold would be worrying in its own right but on top of the other days sick really isn't good.
I would speak with them ASAP and check your policy.
I've worked with heavy colds before out doors in winter too. Plenty paracetamol, ibuprofen, loads of clothes tons of sleep when I get home. I usually just cut myself off from as many as I can to help prevent spreading. You've probably spread it already by the time you've got the symptoms anyway!

5 days off for a cold?? I'd be very worried if I was you sorry. I understand sickness cant be helped, I started a new job in november and had to have 3 days off, 2 when LO was sick and 1 when my house flooded and I'm worried about my sickness level. A whole week off for a cold is absurd.

5 days off for a cold. You are taking the piss. Do U not want to work? I would sack you.

Yeah sorry I'd have fired you by now. You were hired to do a job, not to sometimes do a job. It's not fair on your team to have to carry you, they have their own jobs to do.
My Bradford factor is the highest in the company and mine is 2. Yours is 160!

Yeah that’s too much sick leave OP. Really unless you’ve had d&v or some other serious illness you should be in work. Especially during your probation! Period pain and colds just doesn’t cut it. I’d be worried if I were you. Sounds like your work have already been more tolerant than a lot of places would be.

virginpinkmartini That was me - dragged myself in when I’d run out of my proper painkillers (numpty), fainted on the floor, came around, threw up in the waste paper basket, fainted again, had to brief my boss on a trip we were meant to be taking together while recumbent because I knew I couldn’t stand up without fainting again until the worst of it passed. It was awful. Then my lovely colleagues had to drive me home, bless them.

Sometimes a period is not just a period.... but there are options for managing them, you don’t have to just put up with them. You can bet your life a man experiencing regular pain like that would t be expected to just put up with it.

Please get yourself to the Dr for help with your periods, they can prescribe acids that really help to reduce pain and flow. If you get through your probation you still need to be sorting this out for the future.

If you had sickness episodes three months in a row due to bad periods, did you speak to to occ health about these will be better managed in future?
And why five days with a cold?!

Should they give me a warning first?

Not when you're on probation, no. You should have been able to work out that you were on thin ice without a warning, particularly when you took five days off for a cold after your probation had been extended due to previous absences.

it's not so much the number of dick days but the number of times you were sick. being once off for 10 days is considered much less disruptive than 5 times 2 days.

It looks like you were off with pretty every period since you started there. Whilst I get that periods can be awful, you cannot keep a job if you are off every month for a few days due to AF.

Agree that taking a week off with a heavy cold is taking the biscuit.

Can I ask how old you are? Is this your first job? Because if it is, you better wake up and smell the coffee. It doesn't work like that. It's not uni.

What are you doing medically in respect of your periods?

Sorry OP but if you worked for me I would terminate your contract. 10days off already is very excessive to a business, particularly a new job.

I do like the idea of dick days though!

besides, if you are employed less than 2 years you have no right. At all. they can let you go at any time without any fuzz.

I’m probably going to be fired tomorrow too OP. Sucks doesn’t it. Don’t know how I’m going to pay my rent.

Sorry op you wouldn't pass probation in my workplace. I dont think you need a final warning when on probation.3 periods of absence in my workplace within a year would raise an absence review, never mind within a couple of months.

We have someone lik this at work.
Young girl, skives a lot, only works a couple shifts a week anyway but just can’t seem to hack the job (it’s a very easy job).

She left after a year and got a job in a nursery, lasted one day, and started back here again.

Can’t believe the manger re hired her considering her sickness absence record.

But prices at least its all down to your manager.

Costs a lot to train a new employee so maybe they’ll keep you on anyway because of that.

In our firm they don’t seem to give a jot about fake sickies.

If I was an employer, I’d be issuing a warning if someone was taking sickies for having a cold.