Feeling Harassed by work

[SortYourLifeOutMate]

I don't know what to do.

I currently work as a Nursing Assistant at a busy hospital. I've always worked 12-13 hour shifts.
I have a serious foot condition that requires surgery. I had surgery booked in that was cancelled 3 days before due to covid.
Since then I have been off work sick, due to doctors saying they don't want me working and making my feet worse before surgery.

Since handing in the first sick note, I have been non stop pestered by work to call, email etc.

My boss knows I suffer extreme anxiety and depression. Is this fair or should I call? Bare in mind my boss is very intimidating and hard to talk to. The constant 'asking to call' is not making matters better.

I don't know what to do. I just think if if was that 'urgent', why not email me to explain?

Or they could be in touch to day they have an admin role she could have until the operation.

OP, they pay your wage.

If they ask you to call - barring tragedy - you call.

Have you checked your employers' sickness policies? What is urgent may be their concern to help you keep your job if you haven't been keeping in touch.

In fact OP your user name is apt, and I'd act on your own advice on it. Start acting like a grown up ffs.

YABVVU. A problem with your foot does not prevent your mouth from speaking and your ears from listening? You sound massively work shy to me. Just engage with them, speak with them today, otherwise it will just hang over you and make you feel even worse. As others have said, they are paying you to do nothing, which you put at risk by not engaging with them.

I strongly suspect the OP is being a GF and this thread was just a big wind up!

Maybe what's so urgent is that you're at risk of redundancy and they are telling you of jobs to apt for.

I can imagine OP posting complaining that her manager ignored her whilst off sick and not letting her know of I yetnsl.jobs to pay for and wanting to sue them.

We then wonder why so many managers are stressed and despondent. They can't ever get it right with some people.

Funny how the OP isn't responding to this either – I'm particularly glad that I'm not her manager

You are being quite rude.

I completely get the anxiety but you need to answer the call.

They might be able to give you admin stuff to do at home, they might be calling to ask how you are or maybe a simple question.

If you check your sickness policy I expect that it states that you should stay in contact and update them.

I feel for your manager!

@user676432

Can I hijack this thread and ask a question to posters. A lot of you have said that most places expect a weekly phone call, I have been off 9 months and probably spoken to my manager about 5 times in that time, I only speak to him when I give in a new sick note about every 6-8 weeks. Is this ok or should I be contacting him more regularly?

In my organisation, as a line manager, I'm expected to make a weekly call to my staff whilst off sick if I don't hear anything from them. If I was off sick I would call at least weekly anyway as it is expected that employees do so, unless incapacitated in hospital, etc. I also think this is courteous if it's a long term absence of several weeks, so that managers can plan accordingly. To my knowledge this is fairly standard practice amongst employers. In your case it's really a case of what your employer expects of you - 9 months is a long absence and weekly calls may be excessive in this instance.

Just to be aware after nine months, for whatever reason, many organisations would have to start formal removal procedures

Check your employer's sickness absence and attendance policies. You may be at risk of having your employment terminated once your absence gets to a certain point. Seek union advice.

I am sorry but if someone is signed off sick they are not meant to respond to employers' random calls every five minutes especially if that employer is unable to state what their actual purpose is for wanting to contact the employee while they are meant to be off work...

All OP has said is they are trying to contact her. No wonder they keep calling / emailing if she will not respond.

If this lady has provided the right sick notes alongside an email each time stating that she is still not fit for work and her GP has extended her sick leave as time passes, that is all she needs to do.

Incorrect. You cannot just be signed off and have zero contact with your workplace. Most workplaces require the manager to have periodic contact with an employee for reasons already explained.

She cannot be forced back to work while she is legally signed off and should not be 'harassed'.

OP has not said they are forcing her back to work though has she. She has said they are trying to contact her.