Who is been unreasonable regarding colleague?

[user897324]

One of our team has been off work since March, just before lockdown. She had an operation and was due back in May. Every so often she will come into the shop (work in retail) to see us and every time colleagues comment on how well she looks and how she is milking it.
She came in last week when we extremely busy and a few colleagues got quite nasty about her visit once she had left. I feel sorry for her, she hopes to return soon and they have already made comments that they won't be going out of their way to help her when she returns.
Who is BU them or me?

@Piwlyfbicsly

She shouldn't be visiting the shop knowing that there are people who are working hard and busy. What for? It's clear that her presence is just teasing everyone who's stressed enough, why do it? Does she genuinely need being there? I sympathise with health issues, but her colleagues don't probably know her full medical history and they find it hard to understand why glowing her is not at work still.

When I was off long term sick a few years ago (also work in retail) I was advised by OH to try and go into my workplace several times before I returned to build my confidence back up and help reduce my anxiety. So maybe this person has been advised the same.

@FestiveChristmasLights

I think you are all BU for gossiping nastily about her and assuming you know better than a doctor who has the expertise, experience and training to make an assessment and has full access to her medical records.

No one would have any reason to gossip if she didn't come in for a chat while they're working

Are you all for real?

If I knew a colleague had been through an operation and months of recovery, I'd feel glad that they were well enough to be out and about and say hello.

Sticking your head round the door for five minutes is hardly the same as pulling a full shift on your feet.

It’s very difficult. We have a member of staff on long term sick. They are ill but we need to continually arrange shift cover - while paying a member of staff sick pay. So it’s a huge amount of admin work, and budget cost.

Which would be perfect and we would understand if she was ill. And she is - she is homesick for her home in another country. And many people are saying if she is so homesick she should resign and go home (no partner no kids no mortgage).

So yes, if we are paying you out of our budget to suffer from homesickness, when you can easily resolve this by going home, then I think the staff covering and the management paying out money, then there will be resentment.

In our case the member of staff isn’t popping in - that would make it massively worse.

@BathshebaKnickerStickers

It’s very difficult. We have a member of staff on long term sick. They are ill but we need to continually arrange shift cover - while paying a member of staff sick pay. So it’s a huge amount of admin work, and budget cost.

Which would be perfect and we would understand if she was ill. And she is - she is homesick for her home in another country. And many people are saying if she is so homesick she should resign and go home (no partner no kids no mortgage).

So yes, if we are paying you out of our budget to suffer from homesickness, when you can easily resolve this by going home, then I think the staff covering and the management paying out money, then there will be resentment.

In our case the member of staff isn’t popping in - that would make it massively worse.

Genuine question - how is she managing to be off sick for 'homesickness' . Is she signed off with depression rather, which is really not the same thing , although homesickness may be part ( and only part) of it