I got a sick note to go on holiday

[Marleymerm]

Last month I worked at least 40hrs of overtime when my boss kept asking me to "stay late" or "just come in a few hours at the weekend" as we had a deadline approaching. I worked it and wrote it all in my time sheet, I work in an office so we don't have clock ins or anything.

Anyway, I got paid last week and got nothing for my OT, I asked my boss who said he only asked me to stay to help, he never actually agreed to pay me for it and he was asking me to "help the company" like we all should be doing.

I thought about fighting it but people in my office are petty and those above me would probably make things difficult for me. So instead I got a sick note from my doctor for 6 weeks for stress and booked a holiday. I've been honest with my work that I've booked the holiday and said it's to help with my stress, now my boss is saying this is clearly out of spite and he'll be giving me a written warning. However if he does that he'd have to formally admit to not paying me OT. I do feel nervous after realising I actually get full pay when I thought I'd only get SSP and now I'm worried my boss is going to take it further.

It’s not about that. She didn’t bother to check with the boss and have it confirmed if it was paid or not.

this feed is for ‘everyone’s’ opinion whether you agree or not.

That’s a whole working week extra OP has worked. It’s loads. And as a manager, if I saw that someone had been off sick for 6 weeks when they were applying for a new job, I would wonder what sort of shit show they had been working in to need that time off. I had to take 7 weeks off with stress in the summer, and I would have lost my mind if I hadn’t had that time away to recuperate.

She shouldn't have to check with her boss whether she's going to be paid minimum wage for the hours worked though. That's like having to check whether your boss won't nick your handbag while you're in the loo.

@Mumsy2022 let me just clarify. If you’re at your place of work, doing work, you shouldn’t have to check you’re going to be paid!
You go to a place of work, you carry out said work, in return for said work you get paid. That’s the most basic requirement of an employment contract.
It’s usually a given expectation.

You sound like complete arse.
Just my opinion.

You all twats working for free to have your martyr status confirmed are the reason why employers think they can fuck about like this.
Because there is always that one people pleaser martyr dummy who will happily oblige for free so they can self pat their back for how good girls they are.
Get a life.

Good on you.

40 hours overtime during a month really isn't that much though

On what planet is doing 40 hours additional time for free not much?
It's a whole week's work of hours being done for free.

How bad have working conditions got in the UK for us to now think that doing an extra week's worth of work 'isn't that much?'

We really need a huge rethink of work life balance in some sectors!

(And yes, I regularly do a lot of extra work, without pay. But I am not daft enough to think it should be the norm, especially for anyone who is paid an hourly wage and not in a management type job.)

I’m not an arse, for your information. But the OP sounds like she’s lied about the time off with stress as a good excuse to get her boss back for not paying her! And you’ve got the audacity to sit behind your screen and call me an arse! That’s actually laughable.

Taking the piss out of mental health isn’t right, there’s genuine people off with stress where they’re suffering badly, it’s a killer. Lying about it to annoy your boss and get him back for not paying is disgusting, why not go and see the boss to discuss it first. Yes if you are genuinely stressed fine! Lying about it looks bad.

Anyway, you’re entitled to your opinion, I’m entitled to mine, this is after all a ‘discussion’. You don’t have to like what I say & vice versa.

Have a lovely day, enjoy bonfire night.

Ok dear, well enjoy your day.

Nope, teacher prior and local authority now…it is expected that we work extra, without overtime, in fact my current contract is worded ‘and as many hours as the service demands’.

Some very incorrect and dangerous information and immoral views on here. Please seek proper advice OP which will be based on your employers attendance management policy.

40 hrs over a month is just over an hour extra each day. It's hardly a lot. Good grief!

5 days a week over 4 weeks = 20 days So 2 hours extra per day
Even allowing for the extra 2/3 days to make it a calendar month its a lot closer to 2 hours than 1.

Typical working week - 37.5 hours
More than a full week unpaid overtime

I repeat my point from my previous point - we should NOT be accepting unpaid overtime as the norm.

Unpaid voluntary overtime is, (rightly or wrongly) an accepted way of working in many jobs.
Unpaid voluntary overtime at your employer's request that takes you below minimum hourly wage is a criminal offence.

I also think the OP has handled it very badly.

Sure, but she works in an office, they had a deadline looming so were working together to meet it. The op should have clarified in advance that she wouldn’t work above her hours unless paid. Her boss clearly thought they were just working as a team to meet a tight deadline. Miscommunication both sides. He should have told her dhe wasn’t getting extra.

i don’t think taking 6 weeks off 0n the sick and going on holiday is the answer. It will be clear to the boss the op is there just for the money and won’t do a moment extra without it. Which is fair enough.

I don’t work set hours, I will often work a shit load to get something done, but a few weeks later might do very little and have flexibility to do whatever I need . Much depends on what you want from the working relationship , however I am not paid by the hour.

@Applesandcarrots absolutely this! Well said!
The world will never change with these idiots in it.

Don't think you've ever got employee of the month have you?

Anger management may be worth considering after that tirade!

I can see why you did what you did but you went about it all wrong. Don't do unpaid work again unless you want to. It is perfectly fine to say no to overtime, ask whether it is paid or if you will be given time off in lieu instead. Also you shouldn't have said you were going on holiday. It just doesn't look good. You might want to find a nicer employer. I have never done work for free. I either get TOIL or overtime.

With regards to the written warning you can join a union and ask them for advice or contact ACAS for advice.

Not sure if already mentioned here but regardless of whether right or wrong you have a sick note now and have been signed off with stress. Your boss would be extremely foolish to discipline you for that. If he does then speak to HR and if they don't have your back speak to ACAS. Good luck.

Are you in a union?

If not, why not??

If you are, contact your rep.

Are you in a union? If not, I would join one now as you will need to be a member 4 weeks before they can help you with a work issue. Check any wording in your contract and any policies on overtime. You can not be disciplined for being off work sick so if that happens, put in a complaint. Unions and ACAS will be able to give you personalised advice.

You've not done anything wrong, your boss is a dick..Whoever said 40 hours OT is not much (unpaid at that) must be a slave driving boss themselves. And is pretty normal to be given 6 weeks for stress these days..Your only mistake was telling your boss you're going on holiday, not because it's wrong, but because he's sounds like a vindictive little prick.

I think the trust has now broken down between you and your boss and you need to look for a different job.

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Are you a trade union member?
Either way you need to raise a formal grievance about the refusal to pay the overtime.
Personally I think that telling your boss you got signed off for stress so you could go on holiday was really stupid. YANBU to do it, YAB stupid to tell him.
Perhaps use some of that 6 weeks to look for another job. Sounds as if you've been unhappy there for some time.

I'm sorry you're getting a lot of stick OP! Doctors are trained medical professionals - if he signed you off for 6 weeks for work related stress, he did so in the opinion that you required this period of leave to recuperate. I would seek advice from your union (if you have one) and raise the threat of the warning to HR as being detrimental to your overall wellbeing at this time. I hope you get the rest you need on your holiday!