To ask why my colleague has been off sick for weeks and is on the beach?

[waitandseee]

My colleague has had nearly a month off sick leave, yet on facebook, there are photos of her on the beach, and on days out at cafe's. She is paddling in the sea, looking happy and very healthy. Am I being unreasonable to ask why this being allowed by management?

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• * Edited by MNHQ ** Hi all, and thanks to all those who have replied so far. It looks like the OP has left the site and won't be back to update the thread. We'll let the thread run as it's an interesting discussion. ===========================

Unions only work if you're in a job you can't be immediately replaced in, nothing to do with how hard you work or how valuable your contribution to society; but teaching unions etc have power because you can't just replace teachers straight away. Supermarket unions are unlikely to be able to ensure employees get over SSP (many don't even pay until you have a not after x days off), because even though they work hard and it's not a job anyone could do well, they could find someone and have them start the next day. They aren't the answer for everything.

The union should be able to give you legal advice if you think you're being forced into work against your, and the other employees, best interests. They are not about going in and shouting "right, everybody out! Bref has depression but is being pressured to come to work"

And yes, if you're an engineer working on a tricky project and you're off sick, the liklihood is that you are irreplaceable for a while. And that is why the companies that employ such scarce resources shouldn't be overloading them and causing them, say, stress so they have to take time off to sort out their mental health. Etc etc etc.

Companies are sometimes their own worst enemies. In one of the places i once worked we got a new manager and suddenly first a lot of sick leave due to stress and then a huge turnover of staff. Which we had to recruit, train etc etc. And that costs money. In the end it was easier to get rid of the bully manager and not have those problems any more. But the companies have to be willing to face up to their issues and tackle them appropriately. Funnily enough, those types of companies are shown to have lower staff turnover, higher returns from maternity leave and employee loyalty.

Teachers are a good example actually. Many countries are running an education system that barely functions with absolute minimum staff. Instead of appropriate staff numbers with a bit of slack in the system for the predictable maternity/sick leave cover. But funnily enough, nobody seems to want to pay for that.

If someone’s sick and can’t work, it makes no difference whether they think others can take up the slack or not, they still can’t work.

and also.. sick or not, why on earth would they care anyway?
You don't even book your holidays around your colleagues preferences (holidays being authorised or not is another matter), because why should you... So why should sickies or sickness bring any care for co-workers?

My husband is now two years into depression and anxiety. We are not from the city we live in. He has just gone back to his home town for a visit, his friends have dragged him out to the beach, to have lunch and dinner out, his brother and sister took him kayaking (slow waters). he has to muster all his strength to go out the home. He hasnt published on facebook about this, but he has sent me and some friends photos. He looks happy and carefree. Only I know better.

Why does everyone think employers have lots of people they can call on who are fully trained and up to speed with what the absent employee is supposed to be doing? That’s just ridiculous in many smaller organisations that wouldn’t remotely have the luxury of this.

An organisation that can't continue (perhaps not at full capacity but to a reasonable extent) in the face of staff absence is not fit for purpose.

An organisation that can't continue (perhaps not at full capacity but to a reasonable extent) in the face of staff absence is not fit for purpose. Or is a start up, or specialist, or carrying huge numbers in the face of pandemic. Posting playing at the beach photos while those providing your after net is crass.

An organisation that can't continue (perhaps not at full capacity but to a reasonable extent) in the face of staff absence is not fit for purpose

Yes, organisations should have more niche workers, or trained firefighters or whatever the role is just in case more people than thought are off at the same time. Or back in the real world where that isn't feasible. I do agree that it isn't the person who is off sicks issue, but a sense of realism is possibly useful.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that they have multiple people employed for one niche role "just in case."

But a company should be fostering a work environment that doesn't send those niche employees off work with stress due to overwork and under appreciation and (most of all) stupid management decisions. No?

I get the pressure of being away from work for perfectly valid reasons and knowing that people are having to cover your (stressful - that's why you're away) job with no extra allocated resources. But again - if you're the colleague in that case, you really need to rethink your attitude if you're blaming your sick colleague for that. (inside, maybe. Articulating it, especially in front of sick and/or other colleague(s)? absolutely not)

Get the point about Startups etc - but again, if you're one of the owners you have to accept that a Startup is a hugely stressful thing. And you have to be careful who you employ, that they are robust enough to cope, but you have to be careful about overloading an employee who gets zip extra money/kudos if the Startup suddenly becomes something really hot and sexy that everyone wants.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that they have multiple people employed for one niche role "just in case."

But a company should be fostering a work environment that doesn't send those niche employees off work with stress due to overwork and under appreciation and (most of all) stupid management decisions. No?

Yes, this was what I meant.

And I agree about start-ups. I know people who work for young companies, who work hard and in questionable conditions (even though sometimes the money is good) because the company has grown suddenly beyond what it had planned for. The stress and strain is unreal.

Feck me I’m surprised at some of these replies.

I would absolutely encourage anyone in my team to come to me if they had doubts. I’ve have seen far too much piss taking - oooh ive hurt my toe so need the week off, i’ve got flu (for the 3rd time in 12 months) et

If its was legit I’d thank them for bringing it to my attention and say all is above board.

It’s a tough world at the moment. Only someone with very little grasp of the current economic climate would be posting feel good photos on FB when on sick leave. They’d upset the team and likely give the impression you might be happier elsewhere.

I would absolutely encourage anyone in my team to come to me if they had doubts.

I think that's terrible management.

Only someone with very little grasp of the current economic climate would be posting feel good photos on FB when on sick leave

OTOH i think the real problem here is having people you work with on your FB/other SM - or if you do not blocking them from things like this. That's the real problem here. Real friends wouldn't be so pissy about you having something (a day on the beach) when they have to work.