To not like giving my symptoms to work over the phone when calling in sick?

[Velvetchocolate]

Does anyone else hate this or am I being precious?

@Sedai

As a manager I'd feel so bad if someone couldn't tell me what was going on. Say it was for a miscarriage or they were feeling suicidal, I'd want to make sure I could offer support like a referral to our workplace counselling scheme. If someone tells me flu and they don't want to say anymore, that's fine. For me it's not to be nosy or get you to divulge personal info for the craic but to make sure they're getting the right support. If they don't want to talk about it anymore then I won't push it but will make sure they know I can offer support if needed.

@Sedai

But surely you can understand that an employee might not wish to discuss their health issues ? A friend of mine had issues with IVF treatment and hated employers,asking why she wasn't able to work

Ha ha
Boss " xxxx isn't in today they are I'll "

What's wrong ?

"No idea they didn't want to say so no idea if contagious prior to today,if they are due back this week or if they need support.cannot arrange cover,sorry but they declined to give me any information "
😂😂😂😂😂

It's been proven that companies who have a daily sickness policy have a lower absence rate than those that don't so honestly I think it discourages people from taking the proverbial. Sick people will
still call in but if those making it up may not want the hassle.
I don't think it's unreasonable for an employer to know why someone is not in work other than I'm unwell

[quote Velvetchocolate]@DePfeffoff but how do they do that on a morning phone call?

So if someone rings in sick and you don’t believe them, what do you do? Accuse them of lying? I’m not being obtuse here - I honestly don’t see that the morning of sickness is the best time to have that conversation![/quote]
You do it by requiring them to give at least brief details about why they're off, rather than just accepting "I can't come in today, I'm unwell" or similar.

Ultimately, if the reason given is inadequate, the employer is entitled to say so and require the employee to come into work. That can't wait till they've had the day off.

Eg you are sent to the hospital as an emergency for tests and you have no idea what’s going on. Who would want to get into a long conversation as what is happening/symptoms/whatever when you dint know yourself?

In that situation, all you need to say is that you've been sent into hospital for emergency tests. Employers would, in my experience, be satisfied that a doctor wouldn't have arranged that without good reason.

We’ve found that absences are down 40% at my place since we started requiring director approval for absences.

We will challenge people over the phone if we feel that an absence can’t be justified or an individual is taking the proverbial (e.g. wanting multiple days off for migraines).

Some places need to know for infection risk. Food handling / health care etc - you also need to stay away if you've had a stomach bug for example until you've had 48 hours clear of symptoms. You may need to remind the employee of that policy as some don't seem to know.

Reminds me of when I was told by my midwife to self certify at work for a few days due to cervical erosion. Told work it was 'worrying pregnancy related symptoms' really don't want to be talking to my male boss about my cervix or bleeding.

@RocketFire7

We’ve found that absences are down 40% at my place since we started requiring director approval for absences.

We will challenge people over the phone if we feel that an absence can’t be justified or an individual is taking the proverbial (e.g. wanting multiple days off for migraines).

What’s taking the piss about wanting days off for migraines?

I'm with you op. I work hard; I'm never off and I feel like I should be able to say 'I'm too ill to come in today' very hard with my last boss who rang me midway through being signed off with significant back pain to see if I thought I was ok enough to come back before sick leave was up and work 'easier jobs'

There are lots of things that companies could request of their employees that would help said companies make more money! It doesn't mean they SHOULD do it. Just because companies seem bigger and seem more powerful and important than the individual doesn't they have more rights than the individual....it's ridiculous.
How are we meant to know when someone's coming back if they won't tell us what's wrong with them? Well.....you won't and if you will have to see it as another hurdle to overcome just like all the other hurdles you have to overcome in the law when you run a business.
People have a right to be off if they are unwell and there is no requirement to share information about how your body parts work to your employer.

@Velvetchocolate

Well, they aren’t in the office, are they?

But more to the point I am not a doctor and I can’t say what it is without a diagnosis. Only the symptoms. I can say ‘I think it is measles’ but only a doctors note can confirm this.

I assume you meant the person with the chicken pox wouldn't be in the office? They would have been in the day before and most advice, when it comes to chicken pox and pregnancy, is that the pregnant woman should contact her midwife. So I'm this instance, it would obviously be helpful for her to know.

@RocketFire7

We’ve found that absences are down 40% at my place since we started requiring director approval for absences.

We will challenge people over the phone if we feel that an absence can’t be justified or an individual is taking the proverbial (e.g. wanting multiple days off for migraines).

Your company " feels" that people should be working whilst they have a migraine? This is exactly why non medical people should have no authority to decide whether someone is well enough to work or not. If you make it uncomfortable for staff to be off sick by making them share more than they are comfortable sharing, of course you stop the fakers.......because they are uncomfortable, but you also make your hardworking genuinely unwell workers uncomfortable too!

@RocketFire7

We’ve found that absences are down 40% at my place since we started requiring director approval for absences.

We will challenge people over the phone if we feel that an absence can’t be justified or an individual is taking the proverbial (e.g. wanting multiple days off for migraines).

Sounds like a lovely place to work.

@JuicySatsuma85 are you sure its not legally required as I have never worked for anyone that i haven't had to fill in a return to work form or explain reasons when i called in, all though they may be brief ie headache, sickness bug and if you have to hand a sick note in it used to have why you were sick

I hear ya. I share a office with my manager and about 8 other colleagues. Manager will listen to voicemail messages when we're all there so everyone ends up hearing it. Knowing that, I'm more vague when I call in sick e.g. "gastric issues" rather than "diarrhoea and vomiting" - my colleagues can work that out for themselves.

The reason you have to call before 7 am is so they know your not in for the day and work can be covered etc
You don't have to give all details just keep it brief , i am unwell i have heaadache , cold , stomach bug , sore throat etc
Its your works policy so you have to do it or leave but its most works policy
There are lots of reasons they need to know and your example with measles is you would say I think I may have xxx but i have a drs appt so will confirm
People that work in catering if they have a sickness bug can not return for a set period so it must be noted

@RocketFire7

We’ve found that absences are down 40% at my place since we started requiring director approval for absences.

We will challenge people over the phone if we feel that an absence can’t be justified or an individual is taking the proverbial (e.g. wanting multiple days off for migraines).

Thank god I don't work there - what a shithole.

@RocketFire7

We’ve found that absences are down 40% at my place since we started requiring director approval for absences.

We will challenge people over the phone if we feel that an absence can’t be justified or an individual is taking the proverbial (e.g. wanting multiple days off for migraines).

So you think your director has enough knowledge of health and illnesses to decide if someone needs several days off for a migraine??

Well I have news for you. He is talking shit.
Amd if you believe you know just as much as HCP to decide whether someone needs some days off WO DOING ANY MEDICAL TRAINING, then I’m sorry but you all need to give your a head a wobble.
I also hope you will never be actually ill. You’ll be surprised at how crap this is…

@RocketFire7

This is what the NHS says about migraines
“Migraines can severely affect your quality of life and stop you carrying out your normal daily activities. Some people find they need to stay in bed for days at a time.”

Just for your information really.
Next time you have someone suffering from migraine, maybe ask yourself if you know fuck all about the subject before playing doctor.

@RocketFire7 - absences may be down, but do you have a high staff turnover by any chance?

@worriedatthemoment

The reason you have to call before 7 am is so they know your not in for the day and work can be covered etc You don't have to give all details just keep it brief , i am unwell i have heaadache , cold , stomach bug , sore throat etc Its your works policy so you have to do it or leave but its most works policy There are lots of reasons they need to know and your example with measles is you would say I think I may have xxx but i have a drs appt so will confirm People that work in catering if they have a sickness bug can not return for a set period so it must be noted

It isn't a case of, it's works policy so do it or leave. A place of work could make anything its policy....it doesn't trump the law I'm afraid. If you rang in sick too late in the day or refused to disclose your illness, the company couldn't sack you .....so, people don't legally have to comply.

@RocketFire7

I’m a company director and we expect all staff to give a detailed description of their reasons for requesting absence.

The directors will then work with HR to decide whether or not to authorise the request.

We use the information provided over the phone, as well as absence history and planned duties to decide whether or not to authorise the request, so we do need to ask.

Why do I feel like I've read something like this before somewhere?

@Velvetchocolate

Yes - ‘why are you absent’ ‘Because I am not well enough to come to work.’

should do it, surely?

Not really.

You might have chickenpox and that affects your colleague who is 11 weeks pregnant because she hasn't had it before, or another who is taking immunosuppressant medication/his partner is having chemo.

There could be several people off with something that turns out to be the result of a poorly maintained air conditioning system. Somebody in the canteen might not be following proper food hygiene practices. There could be a boiler giving off carbon monoxide and it's not noticed if everybody who has time off is unwilling to say their symptoms. At the more ridiculous end of the spectrum, there might be somebody adding laxatives or worse to the sugar tub because they're pissed off about something or just an absolute minger who doesn't wash his hands after he's had a shit and then digs around in the communal biscuit tin for his favourite custard creams.

Sometimes people are taking the piss. But on the other hand, being able to say to someone 'you've had five migraines and seven 'tripped over', two 'sprained wrists', 'burned face and chest with coffee', one 'fell downstairs' and two cupboard doors you've walked into over the last fifteen months. We're worried that you are either unwell and need to see your GP in case these are all connected or these are not accidents' can be something good.

Having a 'none of your business' option sounds good in theory, but in practice, it can make things harder.

Now, that doesn't mean it's OK to send an all staff email notifying everybody of your medical or social circumstances or your health should form part of the office's general conversation - but telling either your line manager or, if it's something awkward or embarrassing, being able to tell somebody else (I'd tell my LM 'Women stuff, I've explained properly to Naomi' but she would be told 'I flooded all through my clothes on the way in, so had to go back home, clean up and change', for example) does enable employers to also be more supportive and responsible employers.

It isn't a case of, it's works policy so do it or leave. A place of work could make anything its policy....it doesn't trump the law I'm afraid. If you rang in sick too late in the day or refused to disclose your illness, the company couldn't sack you .....so, people don't legally have to comply

It would be rash to rely on that. If you never say why you're off sick, or produce a medical certificate, and if you have a lot of time off sick, ultimately employers can conclude that they have no evidence that you actually have been off due to your illness and start investigating more closely with a view to disciplinary action.