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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think colleague is taking the absolute piss?

98 replies

ChristmasTreescars · 31/12/2022 16:49

Had about 6 weeks off work with long covid, I’ve had to do so much extra work because of it. Now she’s posting all over social media that she’s gone away to Norfolk for a getaway.

OP posts:
Sparklesocks · 31/12/2022 16:52

Is she still off sick or feeling better and celebrating Xmas?
Thats rubbish you’ve had to pick up the slack but more the fault or your manager/senior team not bothering to find cover rather than your colleague’s illness.

Sparklesocks · 31/12/2022 16:52

*of

OhBitchPeas · 31/12/2022 16:53

Who's been off sick?

And now she's taking annual leave? I'm guessing she needs to take it before April?

ilovesooty · 31/12/2022 16:54

Are you suggesting that despite her sick note, she is fit to be in work?

Whowhatwherewhenwhynow · 31/12/2022 16:57

How do you know why she’s off? Could it be for something else and your just not privy to that information (rightly unless you’re her manager).

She may well have recovered over Xmas with time at home and away from work.

Possibly she is well enough to travel and enjoy a get away but not for 8 hrs of work.

BackBeatTheWord · 31/12/2022 16:57

She might be taking the piss but I don't think we can say just from the fact she took a trip to Norfolk.

I know someone suffering from long covid who becomes exhausted if they try to concentrate on work for over an hour (they're self employed and not geting sick pay so highly motivated to try) or if they walk or stand up for long enough to get to town (45 minute trip). They've been on certain trips away but just build in time to rest - they booked a cottage in the UK her husband drove and she often stayed home while her DH and the kids went out. Sometimes she'd join them on trips but they'd have to leave early even if it was just a low key cinema trip followed by a restaurant meal. She posted pictures of her and the family enjoying their holiday and a random SM friend would nevr know she was unwell but she certainly wouldn't be able to return to work.

ThinWomansBrain · 31/12/2022 17:06

When I had covid I initially went back too soon, and ended up taking more time off because I'd overdone it. When I returned I really couldn't focus for more than four hours a day, probably about three months before I was OK.
Thankfully I was working part time, and switched my hours to five short days rather than three full ones.
You don't say how far Norfolk is, or how she travelled there, but I don't see why she cant rest and recuperate in Norfolk as opposed to anywhere else.

It's not your colleagues fault that your manager hasn't resourced her absence adequately.

imalreadygone · 31/12/2022 17:07

ChristmasTreescars · 31/12/2022 16:49

Had about 6 weeks off work with long covid, I’ve had to do so much extra work because of it. Now she’s posting all over social media that she’s gone away to Norfolk for a getaway.

Oh naff off you can be too sick to work but able to lounge around ona boat or whatever in Norfolk.

sleepyfelines · 31/12/2022 17:08

YABU.

It's not her fault she was/is ill and you've had to cover extra work- your manager should've been organising someone to cover for her.

Going away on a relaxing holiday is far different than going back to work. She may have already had this booked before she became ill, she may have had annual leave to use, she may have been persuaded by someone who said a change of scenery etc would be good for her. You don't get to judge what people do to make themselves feel better.

I recently had three months off with mental health problems. I'd already booked a few weekends away that happened to fall in my sick time and a fortnight in France that was two weeks after I went back to work. My supervisors/colleagues fully supported it because health is more than just being physically able to get out of bed/the house.

CherApparent · 31/12/2022 17:09

It's as if "working' and "being on holiday" are two very different things...

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 31/12/2022 17:10

Norfolk?

Yes, taking the piss.

You can’t go to Norfolk if you’ve been off sick. Everyone knows they won’t let you in. Clearly she was lying about it.

HallieBo · 31/12/2022 17:12

So you're assuming she wasn't sick? Not really your call to make. She could very easily have been really sick, and now she's not sick. Is she not allowed to go away now because she WAS sick?

Ginandtoner · 31/12/2022 17:13

Don’t do extra work you aren’t paid for
not your problem colleagues been off sick & a holiday is probably exactly what they need

NoWeaponsOnTheTable · 31/12/2022 17:14

YABVU.

I think she's an idiot for posting her business on SM but she can do what she wants.
None of your business why she is off or how long for.
Unfortunate that you have to shoulder extra work because of it but that is up to you to address and your employer to manage.

Vitriolinsanity · 31/12/2022 17:18

Everyone knows to never post on SM if they're signed off sick and go out of the house. Schoolgirl error.

In the Olden days I worked in a bank. Cheques written by staff came back to the branch. Everyone knew to withdraw cash if they were swinging a sickie, but there was always one numpty that would write a cheque in Top Shop Grin

ILoveeCakes · 31/12/2022 17:20

Sick leave and holiday leave are two different and separate things though, aren't they? Maybe don't follow people on SM if you will get upset by their posts.

Spudina · 31/12/2022 17:20

One of our secretaries was off sick with stress and was posting all over Fb pictures her having a great time, whilst the others covered her work and themselves became stressed. When you are off ill, there are often things that you can do, as it’s not like being at work, and having to focus etc. But rubbing peoples faces in it is the issue.

Sarahcoggles · 31/12/2022 17:22

Sorry OP you'll get destroyed on MN, because most people here believe it's OK to be off sick for as long as they like, and no one can ever complain. I suspect there are many vocal posters on here who are just the kind of annoying work slackers you describe.

Fairyliz · 31/12/2022 17:23

This is MN so of course every one is totally dedicated to their job and never has time off unnecessarily 🙄
They are also employed in places which have a constant supply of experienced, knowledgeable staff who are delighted to come in and work at short notice for an unspecified amount of time.
To answer your question, she could be taking the piss people often do. She’s clearly a bit dim posting about her break knowing colleagues will see it.

TimBoothseyes · 31/12/2022 17:24

Maybe she was using A/L before coming back to work? If you're struggling with the extra work why don't you speak to whoever you report to about it?

TimBoothseyes · 31/12/2022 17:26

posted too soon

TI often wonder why people give colleagues access to their SM. None of mine are able to see what I post and I have no desire to see theirs either.

TimBoothseyes · 31/12/2022 17:27

TI??? *I

Axlcat · 31/12/2022 17:30

The fact that you’ve had to pick up extra work is not her fault. It is up to your manager/the company to make sure there is adequate cover for sickness and that those covering are not drowning.

Original poster
ChristmasTreescars · 31/12/2022 17:30

ILoveeCakes · 31/12/2022 17:20

Sick leave and holiday leave are two different and separate things though, aren't they? Maybe don't follow people on SM if you will get upset by their posts.

It’s not holiday leave. She’s gone on holiday whilst on a sick/fit note.

OP posts:
YouWouldNotBelieveIt · 31/12/2022 17:30

She's a CF and a loafer