To drop a colleague in it at work?

[TooBored1]

A colleague had been signed off work for at least 6 weeks due to an injury (I don't know the details of the injury) so we are picking up his work as well as coping with our own loads during a very busy time. All fine and good and just what a team does.

Now for the AIBU - I happened to walk by a business earlier today and saw them in there, working. They were definitely working, at a job very comparable to the one they are signed off from. Think signed off from supermarket X, seen working in supermarket y type thing.

Would IBU to tell our manager?

Does it make any difference that the job we do together is M-F and this other job is their regular weekend job? As I say, the two jobs are virtually identical.

Part of me is furious that the rest of the team has been busting a gut to meet deadlines and cover their work for the last 2 weeks (and another 6 plus to go) but part of me says just butt out.

It rather depends why they are signed off and if any adjustments have been made. For example if job A involves heavy lifting and B does not or has agreed not to expect it temporarily and put them on till only, or if hours are less, shift pattern differs, can take regular rest-breaks. . The Fitnote would suggest any restrictions and adjustments if the person were able to return.

What's there reasons for the deceptions ?

I can see it’s annoying but I can’t see what you would gain here.

I wouldn't. You don't know the ins and outs of it.

Thanks, as I say I don't know the details of the injury but it was made to sound pretty serious and that they were totally unable to work - life changing was the phrase used.

Wfh would be very possible in our job - we are only in the place of work 2 or 3 days a week each and some staff are still being allowed to wfh 5 days a week. We also have staff who, when needed, have adjusted shift patterns, worked reduced hours etc

Eg when I hurt my back, I was able to work 2 X 2 hour blocks a day for a few weeks while I recovered.

You can be signed off from one job and still do other work. You may not know the full picture and so maybe best stay out of it

I thought if you were signed off on g to be sick, you couldn’t work at all, at any job.

Not your health not your business.

@PinkiOcelot

I thought if you were signed off on g to be sick, you couldn’t work at all, at any job.

You thought wrong then.

Id mention it to my line manager. I would leave it with them.

@PinkiOcelot

I thought if you were signed off on g to be sick, you couldn’t work at all, at any job.

No, I was once offered a fit note to work in one job but not the other. I didn't actually take it, but it can happen.

@CorianderBee

Not your health not your business.

Except it is the ops business as she is having to do extra work. No suggestion that the company has employed anyone temporarily to cover colleagues work.

You'd make yourself look a bitchy twat, in my opinion.

Unless you are their manager and have full access to their medical records and injury you know fuck all. It's none of your business.

If you are picking up extra work because of their absence this is something utterly different and needs addressing with your line manager.

Definitely tell your line manager!
People saying it’s not your business are wrong - it is.
If the employee is being signed off fraudulently then they’re not only committing a crime but being selfish towards their colleagues.
If they’re not then they have nothing to be scared of - so why would it be a problem if their side job became common knowledge?
Nothing to hide nothing to fear

It's perfectly legal to be signed off from one workplace, and able to work at another.

It's also perfectly possible that the reason you've been given for their absence is not the real reason.

Also to add - most full time contracts stipulate that any secondary jobs apart from the full time ones have to be disclosed to the employer.
So whether or not they’re on sick leave is secondary - if they’re working elsewhere without disclosing it then they’re in violation of the terms ...

No, best to leave it alone. Forget that you've seen them and just concentrate on something positive.

Tell your manager then leave it.

Thanks for all the replies - it's good to see all the views.

Part of me is very aware that my judgement is coloured by the fact they are a bit of a slacker when working - hours of personal phone calls / games of solitaire / random web surfing even when others are flat out. Last one to offer to help out others but quite happy to dump stuff on others (me) if they've got more than 3 emails to reply to.

It’s also possible that they may be injured and unable to work the full hours but able to for just the weekend - and it makes more sense to sign them off sick rather than make them come in for some small hours.
Either way why should it be a secret... if you saw them working more of your colleagues may have as well and they may speculate too

@TooBored1

A colleague had been signed off work for at least 6 weeks due to an injury (I don't know the details of the injury) so we are picking up his work as well as coping with our own loads during a very busy time. All fine and good and just what a team does.

Now for the AIBU - I happened to walk by a business earlier today and saw them in there, working. They were definitely working, at a job very comparable to the one they are signed off from. Think signed off from supermarket X, seen working in supermarket y type thing.

Would IBU to tell our manager?

Does it make any difference that the job we do together is M-F and this other job is their regular weekend job? As I say, the two jobs are virtually identical.

Part of me is furious that the rest of the team has been busting a gut to meet deadlines and cover their work for the last 2 weeks (and another 6 plus to go) but part of me says just butt out.

Not sure if your profile name has anything to do with your question but it seems to me that you're bored and looking for something to do. It's none of your business. Yes, it's annoying that someone seems to not be telling the truth but this isn't primary school where you go to the Teacher to report every naughty thing that happens in the playground. It's real life. Especially since you don't KNOW the ins and out of the whole situation.

@LateAtTate

It’s also possible that they may be injured and unable to work the full hours but able to for just the weekend - and it makes more sense to sign them off sick rather than make them come in for some small hours. Either way why should it be a secret... if you saw them working more of your colleagues may have as well and they may speculate too

They would certainly have been offered reduced hours, flexi working and adjustments etc. This is standard for our work place and I've been the lucky recipient of this previously.

Yes, why not try to tear someone else's life down, because they've put a colleagues nose out of joint, by grassing them up to management without knowing all the circumstances of the co-worker's health problem.

Tally-ho eh? Not your life potentially getting wrecked is it?

After all, people work two jobs over seven days per week for fun. It's not like they do it because they need the money or anything.

Fuck em, eh?

Hopefully, someone, someday can return the favour.

I would have approached the person doing their other job so he (?) knew I had seen him and said, loudly, that it was a lot of extra work covering for him when he had been signed off sick and see what his reaction was! I can't abide work slackers so I would definitely report to boss.

Tricky.
If this person is, say , a shelf stacker at X and has been signed off due to a "life changing " ( as you've said) injury but has been seen shelf stacking at Y then I'd be inclined to say something .
I know that MN is full of 'it's not your problem, who knows what's going on in their lives?" attitudes but some folk really do take the p**s.