To go to HR?

105 replies

Inasec24 · 11/12/2022 09:23

I was off work on Friday. DD had to be collected from school early on Thursday (by DH) due to being ill and we needed to keep her off. In addition, I have also been ill all week and felt rough on Friday, so it was part sick day part family leave.

It wasn't a pleasant day - we are in an area with a high number of Strep A cases and I was worried about DD, ill myself, and logged on to my work email because 1. If I don't work a bit then I would be swamped when I get back- my work doesn't get covered exactly, it just builds up and 2. There is a safeguarding element to my job so missing emails is too risky.

My colleague on my team emailed asking for a meeting with me and a few others. I replied yes, a meeting is a good idea - if you book it in Outlook then you can see all of our calendars.

My line manager then replied to me with everyone else still copied in saying "can you do this please, we are all quite busy here today".

Now I know that I was on my email but I felt asking me to do something for someone else when I am off sick/on family leave was out of order. I replied saying yes I would be happy to when I'm back in - to clarify I am off sick/on family leave today so just checking emails when I can. I feel like the email sounded resentful that I was off work. I am very rarely absent - the last time was summer.

Leave it or speak to HR?

OP posts:

thewayround · 11/12/2022 16:06

Exactly. Original post didn’t specify public sector. Didn’t specify that “my sector” within the public sector. And for the legal entitlement bit incorrect.

RosesAndHellebores · 11/12/2022 16:24

It didn't quote legal entitlement either.

Regularsizedrudy · 11/12/2022 16:41

RosesAndHellebores · 11/12/2022 13:02

I am HR and a Manager. As a manager I,'d have said if you were sick to put on an out of office and not to work. I'd also have opened a sickness absence record for you.

My team would have told you if you were sick you shouldn't have been working.

My view is if you are looking after a child it's compassionate leave if paid and it's difficult to work. If you are sick, you shouldn't have been working. Both types of absence should be logged.

Grey areas arise when sickness isn't logged formally. Flexibility is great if everyone in the team is great; takes one tiddle taker to end it.

It sounds like you were seeking not to record the absence and then couldn't be as flexible as your boss wished.

Having said that, if you are dealing with such insurmountable volumes it is causing you stress, you need to raise that with your manager and they need to seek advice from HR. You may need a stress risk assessment, EAP access, support from the OH people. There may need to be a reallocation of work. I think this is the real issue.

That’s not compassionate leave. Compassionate leave is for things like recovering from a bereavement or trauma. Looking after a sick kid is care for dependants leave.

girlmom21 · 11/12/2022 16:43

RosesAndHellebores · 11/12/2022 16:24

It didn't quote legal entitlement either.

No, but you said its your view that it should be - and clearly it shouldn't.

Tandora · 11/12/2022 16:56

OP I understand why your manager’s email bothered you- it was passive aggressive. But he was letting you know that he was annoyed that you were off work on slightly nebulous grounds (were you sick yourself , or were you asking for leave to care for your DD?) and then had the cheek to instruct another member of staff to organise a meeting in a directive and condescending manner. If you go to HR , you will only cause more trouble for yourself - questions might be raised about the amount of time you are taking off and whether you have legitimate grounds/ are keeping up with your workload.
. HR work for management.

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