Work now tells everyone why you’re off? AIBU to think it’s a bit naff?

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At work we’ve recently appointed a new senior manager. They’ve brought with them a new sickness policy…

First; no more emailing in; you have to call his mobile directly and explain why you are going to be off.

Second; and this is the bit I think is a bit crap… and email comes out everyday with a list of who is not in the building and why, it doesn’t go into masses of detail but does say if someone is “WFH” “Meeting” or “Sick” for example.

This is supposedly so we can “support” in places where they might have a lot of people off, but AIBU to think this is a little crap; and is actually meant to encourage presenteeism… which is a bit irresponsible considering the pandemic isn’t over yet!

On the basis of GDPR are they allowed to circulate that someone has Covid or a medical appointment?? Sick leave is one thing but anything more specific is surely personal information?

I don’t see the problem.
If you know someone is WFH or isolating because of Covid it means they could still be contacted, if they are on holiday they shouldn’t be contacted but depending on companies dynamics it might be acceptable to send a whatsapp or email in case of an emergency, same for the medical appointment, they might have access to phone/emails on their way over there and while waiting.

Sounds reasonable to me.

Phone call to a manager rather than email is standard at my workplace as well. We also have to email each school we work in (peripatetic service).

I’m currently on sick leave after falling on stairs and on the start of term email, not only was the fact I’m on sick leave documented, but all my injuries were listed as well! I think that was a bit over the top.

They shouldn't be telling others why you are not in.

I wfh and had an asthma attack last Tuesday. Ended up in a and e but sent home with steroids and antibiotics due to a chest infection. I was too ill work all week as I just slept all day. My line manager was happy for a text as breathing and talking at the same time was difficult

My DH has introduced a similar policy as everyone is WFH (whereby previously all in office). They had complaints people were getting calls when they were unwell as other members of team unaware.

The logic about recording "sick" rather then say Annual Leave (Day 1 of 2) means that other members of team are aware that's the case and then will pick up tasks - rather then assuming someone is say on Annual Leave and will pick up on their return.

@drpet49

Ringing in sick is completely standard and normal.

I thought this too.

@Hattie765

People are required to call rather than text or email because it's harder to lie when talking to someone so people tend to take fewer sick days.

It's also a staff welfare issue. Anyone could send an email or text, so in extreme circumstances, they could have an abusive partner who is not allowing them to leave the house or has done them harm.

All our whereabouts are recorded in the online diary, WFH, in the office, visiting clients or annual, sick or medical leave. I don't see the issue and we're very cautious about not contravening GDPR etc so it's not breaking any rules.

I don't find it unusual apart from the list. We always phoned in if we were sick to the department we worked in. If you were unable to do this, you were expected to get someone to phone in for you. Ive never heard of the email list, but I think you would have to be rather careful what you put on it. Im not sure what it would mean Data Protection wise?

I don't see much of a problem.

Calling in is a non-issue.

Medical vs off sick vs AL is relevant, it means you're either definitely going to be in next day/may or may not be in next day/ will be in at the end of a well defined period.

Specifying Covid is a bit weird, but we live in weird times.

Sending it to everyone - well, it's easier than finding out which people might need you on the day so they can be informed. Depending on how your workplace works, it could maybe be restricted to your department or something, but if you collaborate with lots of different teams maybe that's not sufficient.

@BoredZelda

I would check but I am not sure that it doesn't breach GDPR.

Sigh. Why do people (even the ones who say they don’t know) spout GDPR for everything. Telling an office who is in or out doesn’t breech GDPR.

"GDPR" is the new "duty of care", it seems...

@Hattie765

People are required to call rather than text or email because it's harder to lie when talking to someone so people tend to take fewer sick days.

So it’s a clear indication that your employer feels you cannot be trusted and must give an account of yourself?

Our staff app makes available to view my co-workers rota, their booked annual leave, and their absences.

Their full names, in case anyone wants to social media stalk them.

There’s a board on the warehouse floor to show who’s absent that day out of the entire workforce.

It’s a modern day sweatshop/warehouse so absence is a big problem obviously, but workers take advantage of it because the company is desperate to have anyone in that day, even if you’re regularly skiving.

My office is incredibly flexible with working from home and hours - we have quite a few parents who will finish at 3 for school runs, and then will work later in the evening to make up the time - we also have offices in the US, so this can work really well. They're also very flexible with things like hospital appointments - need time off? Don't worry, just let us know and you can make up the time elsewhere (as someone with a chronic health condition - this is incredibly important to me). The ethos is generally, "You're adults, and we trust you to get the job done. As long as it does get done, then we can flexible." (Of course, if you don't get the work done, then managers will very quickly realise, and then that's a whole different matter!).

With this in mind, on our HR system (which everyone has access to), it always states who is on annual leave/sick. It doesn't state reasons, or what their illness is, just that they are sick. This helps as I know who I can contact during the day - if someone is WFH, no issues, I can message them; if they are sick or on leave, I leave them alone. In my experience, no one even gives the sick people a second thought as to why they are away, beyond a caring "Hope everything is okay."

This works for our office, but I guess it depends on the set up/ethos of the company - I can think of several work places (my old job, for example) where the sick people would be looked down on, and it could potentially be used against them.

My immediate thought was GDPR. I’d be surprised if the second list - medical/sick/Covid is compliant.

Some posters seem only to be reading the first list.

We have to call every day unless we have a GP note

Apologies if this has already been said but if you're off sick your diary is unlikely to show it, so it is important that thosec who might need to contact you are aware.

@Aprilx I said those three for example! Not that they were a definitive list!

I think it’s very helpful to know who is wfh and who is out at a meeting rather than sick or on annual leave or whatever. I don’t think there needs to be any more differentiation between covid/medical/sick, though.

@IntermittentParps Well obviously I started there. It didn't work.

The first policy is fine. Not so the second.

I think that's fine. I wish my work would do that actually when someone is off and I'm not finding out when they haven't turned up to a meeting

The ringing in thing sounds totally standard?
Our previous boss was happy with a text but new boss insists on a call and magically staff absence has massively reduced

Initially i thought you were meaning your manager disclosed the actual reason like Alice is off with diarrhoea etc and was abit
Where i used to work they would say if someone was sick as annual leave was normally planned in advance unless emergency annual.

Oh, that sounds completely normal to me.

I've always had to phone in sick by 9am or 9.30am, not email, when self-certifying. I think it's partly to focus your mind on that moment, so you go through the thought process of 'am I really too ill to go in today, or do I need to phone in', rather than emailing the night before, or in the early hours, as an 'insurance decision'. There's also an element of it being easier for most people to lie by email than in person, even if they're not giving much detail.

We always had visible diaries that included meetings, WFH or, if relevant, off sick. Means people won't / shouldn't be calling that person's mobile, or expecting responses that day and, if relevant, can let other people know that deadlines might need to be pushed back a bit.

I thought from your title, that you were going to say that the specific reason, the type of sickness would be shared. 'A had a UTI, B has severe period pain, C is experiencing a miscarriage and D is suffering from depression'. Now that would be unacceptable.

I thought from your title, you were going to say