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

[ContactTraced]

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!

Depends on where you work. I've always had to call in working in health care, and its just accepted by everyone. Managers are always nice, sympathetic and supportive and you feel you matter as a person who is recognised, not just a number on a payroll sheet

Phoning in sick is totally normal and reasonable imo.

I think the list would be fine if it simply distinguished between planned and unplanned absences, as suggested above.

@AlexaShutUp

Phoning in sick is totally normal and reasonable imo.

I think the list would be fine if it simply distinguished between planned and unplanned absences, as suggested above.

Sorry, I mean planned and unplanned absences alongside info like wfh, meeting etc.

@chocolateorangeinhaler

For all of you loosing your shit and quoting GDPR. Have you any understanding of it and had training in it. My guess is no.

Telling another colleague why you are off sick is a breach.

Telling colleagues that you are off sick or on annual leave is not a GDPR breach.

Not read the thread then? The list said things like "Covid" not just "off sick".

Calling in is standard for us to ensure that they've got the message and can organise cover.

He sounds like he is being a good manager. Phoning in sick is normal, and also gives him a chance to ask you what you are suffering from and how long you may be off and if you may still be available to do some useful work. He may be a bit of a new brush and therefore breaking up your old cosy work habits. Go with it, recognise a bit of a new way things will be. It will be more efficient, he wants to know what is going on and I am sure he will be discrete.

Pretty standard to call in with most jobs, I've never worked at a company where you could justemail..had to be a phone call.

We all know when a person is sick or has an appointment or on holiday in most places I've worked too..no biggie really..doesn't go into details why..its practical so they can find cover

The call in is not unusual.

The letting everyone know who is off sick is a serious breach of privacy. We had a system that used to show that and it was changed to just say "out."

The catalyst for the change was an employee getting a contagious disease that required a lengthy period off and quarantine at home. We all had to be tested also. Not Covid.

Certain people started looking at the system trying to figure out who it was when they had no right to know.

He sounds like he is being a good manager. Phoning in sick is normal, and also gives him a chance to ask you what you are suffering from and how long you may be off and if you may still be available to do some useful work.

All of that can be stated in an email to work also, if the employee knows at that point. There is no need for a phone call and discussion when the employee is unwell.

@MrsSchadenfreude

We have to call in, on the grounds that anyone could send an email or text, and they need to make sure it is you.

Just thinking this through....

If it's not you texting in sick, but someone pretending to be you, won't that become obvious when you turn up for work?

Or, if you mean that someone else might be legitimately texting in on your behalf to say you're sick, who cares?

@WalkingOnTheCracks
If it's not you texting in sick, but someone pretending to be you, won't that become obvious when you turn up for work?

I think it's more in case you don't turn up and no one finds out until its too late. Everyone at work knows I'd never email or text in sick, so if I didn't actually call, they'd know something was wrong. Hard to comprehend unless you've been in an abusive relationship.

[quote Treesandsheepeverywhere]@WalkingOnTheCracks
If it's not you texting in sick, but someone pretending to be you, won't that become obvious when you turn up for work?

I think it's more in case you don't turn up and no one finds out until its too late. Everyone at work knows I'd never email or text in sick, so if I didn't actually call, they'd know something was wrong. Hard to comprehend unless you've been in an abusive relationship.[/quote]
Ah, you’re right. That wouldn’t occur to me. My apologies if I came across as flippant.