To think this doctors note is ridiculous

[Bluesjies]

Okay this employer has always been a bit lazy but we’ve just had to put up with it.
She does around half the work of other colleagues but we’ve never been able to do anything about it as she does just enough to avoid her being sacked.

Anyway we allocated her a few tasks to do which include several in person meetings (can’t be virtual on this occasion for various reasons).
We knew she didn’t like attending meetings as she prefers just working from home so wondered if she’d say she was sick on the day or say she was not well enough to not work from home.
We can’t avoid attending meetings forever. She’s more than competent when she is in them. I think it’s just she lives an hour from the meeting place and she doesn’t like the commute, getting up early etc.
We do try to have teams meetings where we can but it’s not always possible.

Anyway the meeting on Monday has been arranged and she informed me she could not attend as she was having pain and struggling to walk 🙄”. I replied the meeting isn’t for four days. Will the pain be better then? She didn’t reply but then a couple days later submitted a doctors note saying she needs to work from home until her maternity leave (in 4 months) due to pelvic pain.
There’s not much we can do here really if there’s a doctors note. Or so I thought.

I happened to see her walking perfectly well down a road near her home today so I do have evidence she’s more than able to mobilise.

AIBU to think her note is just nonesense and challenge her on her perfect walking ability? I don’t know why these GP’s write these notes out when it’s not the truth.

Or am I best to silently seeth and get on with it.

Can you explain who 'we' are?

This is a management problem if everything you say about her is true.

Are you a manager?

And assuming you're not a doctor, you will have no idea about her condition even if she can walk near to her home now and then.

Yes management. ‘We’ as in the team managers and senior managers.

YABU. And unprofessional to boot.

Do you mean ‘employee’?

You leave it quite a while before mentioning that this woman is pregnant. Do these problems pre date the pregnancy? Many heavily pregnant women do struggle with pelvic pain and it’s no joke.

If she is working at 50% output of her colleagues why isn’t she on some sort of a performance plan?

Anyway, YABU because a doctor is highly likely to have medical insight into this woman’s condition and has written that note in good faith. Meet with her and discuss her capabilities and any necessity work related adjustments. Use HR to manage her performance and try to sound just a little tiny bit professional.

I had severe pelvic pain (PGP) from half way through my pregnancy and at times was left completely bed bound. Equally, at times I felt absolutely fine and pain killers would kick in and you wouldn't even know I had it. So it's still entirely possible that she's telling the truth.

Pregnant women are pretty untouchable. Is the risk of her claiming maternity discrimination worth it? I wouldn’t bother…

In that case I'm cringing for you.

This. You are not overseeing her personal medical care. With an attitude like yours, you can see why she might not want to share every detail.
Also, she might be able to walk 200m up the road, without any pain/limp/whatever - but coming to work (with an hour's commute) and home again, mat well be too much.
But, you know IT'S NOT YOUR BUSINESS. That's all.

YABVU and tbh quite an unprofessional, uncaring and unkind manager.

No wonder she's not motivated if the management are like that!

Pelvic pain during pregnancy is bloody awful. I used to have to wear a support belt and could manage short periods on my feet. It is entirely possible that she cannot manage her commute at present.

If she is doing enough work to not get fired then her performance is none of your business if you aren't her manager which I assume you aren't? Also how do you knkw the personal information on her sick note?

Have you had pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy? I have and it's hard to avoid mobilising altogether, but if too much is done in one day it's agony the next, so unless you have had it wouldn't really expect you to understand. A note from the GP you can't really argue with

If she's pregnant I don't think there's anything you can do, you will need to tread very carefully and get HR and legal advice. She may be swinging the lead, but because of the pregnancy your options are limited to non existent.

If you desperately want her there pay for a cab to accommodate her pelvic pain.

her poor performance is something separate and should be addressed with her

Yeah we probably won’t do anything to be honest. Just letting off steam on here 😂

OK. As her manager but by the sounds of it with more senior managers who are happy that she doesn't need to be on a performance plan then you need to really watch out that you don't end up being such a that that you face a pregnancy discrimination claim.

If you are the employee reading this then I recommend you make sure you are aware of pregnant then screwed website!

I am a member of the management team.

Glad her pain is a laughing matter for you

She's pregnant! Wind your neck in.

I never understand managers/employers who post about their employees on MN. It's so incredibly unprofessional and makes them look rather incompetent.

Also seeing someone walk down the street doesn't make you qualified to diagnose them or accurately comment on the condition of their health. I had some twat decide that I was perfectly fine because they saw me go(limp) into a shop 5 minutes after leaving work due to severe back pain, I went to the corner shop to get Ibuprofen. The pain and associated problems became so severe, my spine quite literally felt like it'd snap, over the next week that I ended up staying in hospital and still have long term issues as a result. But no, apparently I was fine.

What an absolutely awful post. You'd better hope your employee isn't on here or she may sue. Terrible.

Oh I totally get it! I’d be annoyed too! Hopefully she won’t come back after Mat leave!

We all think she needs to be on a performance management plan.
She’s been on a few previously but it’s SO difficult to actually end someone’s employment in public sector that they’re really not worth your time and effort.
So now she kind of does just enough to not be sacked.
Prior to pregnancy there was no doctors notes or sick leave though..to be fair.