To think colleague is lying?

[zaraaraz]

Colleague had an operation last year. We have to cover a Friday shift at work every 2-3 weeks. For the last few she’s done she is claiming that the hospital had a last minute appointment so she needs to go.

Aibu to think that hospitals done have numerous sudden last minute appointments that occur at the same time and always on a Friday? And that even if there was she wouldn’t always be the patient that the appointment was offered to?

It is when it’s creating more work for me.

That's not her fault, it's your managers' fault for not arranging cover.

[quote Mansplainee]@Teaandjam a member of their team came to speak to us to say they were suspicious. We looked into it and called the GP to confirm a fit note, and found out that they had doctored all of the fit notes and hospital letters. She had gone to quite some effort![/quote]
Unfortunately this is quite common. Managers are supposed to confirm fit notes every time they are received whether they say back to work or not, so you can spot this type of thing earlier. If it’s the first time you’re more likely to be able to get the colleague to change their ways via a verbal or final warning. We can also spot particular pressures and help them cope. If they did it a 100 times and were caught at the 101th time, they are so used to lying the only option is to fire them.

Assuming this shift is part of your paid working hours if rota'd then employer would I assume require proof of appointment. Bottom line is up to you to raise the issue with your manager and leave it to them.

@zaraaraz I think a lot of posters have missed the most salient point in your post - ‘’ numerous sudden last minute appointments that occur at the same time and always on a Friday?’’

I’ve never had last minute appointments that are always on the same day and same time - difficult to believe that that’s the only spot in the day that ever opens up...

@zaraaraz
Aibu to think that hospitals done have numerous sudden last minute appointments that occur at the same time and always on a Friday?

My physio appointments fall like this, quite often the exact same time and usually with only 3 days notice by text.

I could tell you either way.

We had a colleague who milked the system, had vague hospital letters and fit notes. The company worked on a trust basis until proved otherwise. She said she had cancer. Turned out she didn't.

But also, I can see it being true. You just never know. Really, it's not your business. But it's also frustrating when you are picking up the work.

@Mansplainee

I work in HR. We once had a member of staff who faked having cancer and wasn’t caught out for almost a year. So nothing would surprise me any more.

I’m an employment lawyer and I’ve had two separate cases involving employees lying about having cancer (both for different reasons).

Mind boggling.

I've been getting appointments at the hospital and physio with three days' notice for the last six months. The days don't vary because clinics and staff only work on certain days and times.

I've provided screenshots of texts, but it's not an actual requirement to do so - but as the timescale is significantly shorter than the minimum period for requesting time off in my contract, I'm happy to chuck them in with the form submission and always get them approved, even the one where they hadn't actually sent the original appointment text and I only found out at 8pm the night before when they sent a 'reminder' that I had one the following afternoon.

Random days are less frequent than regular ones in my experience.

She could easily be telling the truth. I broke my wrist a few weeks back and the fracture clinic was at the private hospital on a Tuesday. They didn't run any other fracture clinics. This was due to CV.

It could be true. The clinics that I need to attend are only held on Friday afternoons. My manager has never asked for proof though. Maybe I’m your colleague!

They weren't really last minute though.

One or two I would believe, but would be suspicious myself in your shoes. One or two times telling about appointments last minute given some people cannot manage diaries and/or have lost track of which week it is, but not every time.

I'm also suspicious at the frequency of the appointments. Suggest an informal conversation with your manager.

If it’s on the same day of the week at the same time then it’s more likely that it’s when the consultant holds their clinic rather than her making it up to get out of work.

@newnortherner111

One or two I would believe, but would be suspicious myself in your shoes. One or two times telling about appointments last minute given some people cannot manage diaries and/or have lost track of which week it is, but not every time.

I'm also suspicious at the frequency of the appointments. Suggest an informal conversation with your manager.

My physio appointments are three weekly at the moment. Same time, every time, as it's the only day she's at that particular place and it's easier for them to block out a bunch of appointments at the same time when booking the course, rather than having to wait for an appointment time to come through that I might not be able to make.

@Mansplainee

I work in HR. We once had a member of staff who faked having cancer and wasn’t caught out for almost a year. So nothing would surprise me any more.

We had a colleague who lied about his mom dying from cancer, who needed to go home for a month to deal with the funeral etc. Of course he was given compassionate leave etc.

About 6 weeks later he posted a picture of him and his mom on a day out together at a specific event that proved it was a new photo.

People are disgusting.

@Mansplainee

I work in HR. We once had a member of staff who faked having cancer and wasn’t caught out for almost a year. So nothing would surprise me any more.

Equally, I’ve had colleagues and even HR who doubted I had cancer because I looked well... It does go both ways and it was a horrible thing for me to deal with whilst going through chemotherapy.

@NCJuly2021 OMG that happened to me too! I had cancer and because the type I had wasn’t common in people in their early 20s, I had people doubt me.

It’s common for certain clinics to be held only on the same day of the week. It’s to tie in with the consultant’s timetable. For example, Mondays and Tuesdays may be days when he operates, Wednesdays are the clinic, Thursdays are the day he is private and Friday is paperwork.

Mansplainee
I work in HR. We once had a member of staff who faked having cancer and wasn’t caught out for almost a year. So nothing would surprise me any more.

Equally, I’ve had colleagues and even HR who doubted I had cancer because I looked well... It does go both ways and it was a horrible thing for me to deal with whilst going through chemotherapy.

Oh no, that’s really not okay, sorry you were treated like that. Even after the one who lied, I still trust our employees and don’t feel the need to check up on them. I’d rather be fooled by the occasional fraud than fail to support the people who need it.

My diabetic clinic is only on a Friday

Could be last minute as some clinics are only releasing slots a few days in advance due to Covid. Less appointments to cancel if someone has to isolate if they only fill the slots last minute.

*We had a colleague who lied about his mom dying from cancer, who needed to go home for a month to deal with the funeral etc. Of course he was given compassionate leave etc.

About 6 weeks later he posted a picture of him and his mom on a day out together at a specific event that proved it was a new photo.

People are disgusting*

I had a young lady working for me who had time off when her dad died, she’d been off for a week paid compassionate leave when she was unlucky enough to be in a the same pub as me & all the other staff out for work drinks - she was with her dad!