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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel annoyed work call when signed off

67 replies

Omfds · 29/09/2023 09:54

Iv been in sick leave and my boss is calling me constantly
every day
sometimes for the same information
it’s made me feel so anxious as she is saying I haven’t given her information that I have and it makes me worry about being blamed
I feel like handing my notice in which I don’t want to do but I feel like I can’t do it anymore

the only thing is in a message I did say I didn’t mind because iv been so worried

OP posts:
IamSmarticus · 29/09/2023 09:56

Turn your phone off or ignore it. If you are signed off sick then you are not working.

WHALESURPRISE · 29/09/2023 10:11

Send one email with all the information they need then cut contact

rwalker · 29/09/2023 10:55

The problem is you told her you didn’t mind
so she won’t think there’s a problem

ether tell her or put up with it

PickledPurplePickle · 29/09/2023 11:07

Just tell her that while you are off sick you are not contactable and then block for now

Why on earth did you tell them you didn't mind

AlohaRose · 29/09/2023 11:26

Send your boss a message saying that while you indicated you didn't mind being contacted, the level of contact is too much and you now need to sign off and focus on getting better.

Newestname002 · 29/09/2023 11:33

@Omfds

Your boss should have more common sense and, I wonder what the company policy is about frequently contacting an employee who is sick? Doing this makes it hard for the employee to switch off and focus on healing. However, you've also given mixed messages, which is not helpful to you.

I would do what a PP suggests; send an email to your manager with the information they requested (which also gives you an audit trail if needed later). I would also put an out of office message on your work to email and work mobile if provided, then don't log into your website to emails again until you're ready to go back to work. Turn off your work mobile until you're back at work. If you are being contacted on your personal smartphone, mute them until you are ready to return to work.

Have you been signed off work by a GP or gave you self-certified?

You take care of your health OP. 🌹

Original poster
Omfds · 29/09/2023 12:07

I meant for the first few days after fromsick leave not 2 weeks later!

OP posts:
Original poster
Omfds · 29/09/2023 12:08

I actually did send an email handing it all over she is asking me stuff we already discussed.
signed off by GP

OP posts:
WereYouListeningToTheDudesStory · 29/09/2023 12:12

It's been a while but I remember this making me really unwell. My manager also used to want to have a conversation first thing in the morning so I'd not be able to sleep properly either.

Is it possible you could set all calls from work to go straight to voicemail?

cushioncovers · 29/09/2023 12:23

So have you turned your phone and emails off op?

LookItsMeAgain · 01/10/2023 15:54

Send an email to your manager saying something like this:
"Hi Manager,
I'm currently signed off sick from work by my GP. The daily phone calls are not helping my recovery. I have handed over all of the information on the day to day operations that I oversaw to X and Y is also familiar with them. I will keep you informed as to my recovery but in relation to queries relating to work, I'm not going to be able to answer these for the time being but X and Y should be able to. I appreciate your support in this.
All the best,
Omfds"
Would that work do you think?

WagonWheel1234 · 01/10/2023 17:59

My understanding is that it's illegal for work to be contacting you while you're signed off sick. You could check this - if you're not with a union, maybe the CAB could help clarify the law? Is there someone you could ask to help sort this - a friend or nice colleague?

Good luck - I hope they start treating you better x

Coop21 · 01/10/2023 18:01

I was the complete opposite, I was off sick for 3 weeks and never heard a word from my manager, I logged on a few times just to check emails from HR and I had an email from her asking me to correct something that had happened when I was off, I sent her an email explaining that it wasn’t me and that was it. The policy in my work is that welfare checks have to be done every few days and I didn’t hear peep, I ended up emailing in my notice( due to health reasons) and it wasn’t acknowledged for over a week, she then emailed me again knowing that I didn’t regularly check asking me to make contact with her. Then next I knew HR had emailed me stating they would be sending out a letter. I ended up speaking to her manager who was furious and has put in an investigation as she also done it to another member of my team. I would check to see what the policy is for being off sick.

Imisssleep2 · 01/10/2023 18:31

Report to HR, your on sick leave, being contacted constantly is not on and should be addressed.

Newestname002 · 01/10/2023 18:37

LookItsMeAgain · 01/10/2023 15:54

Send an email to your manager saying something like this:
"Hi Manager,
I'm currently signed off sick from work by my GP. The daily phone calls are not helping my recovery. I have handed over all of the information on the day to day operations that I oversaw to X and Y is also familiar with them. I will keep you informed as to my recovery but in relation to queries relating to work, I'm not going to be able to answer these for the time being but X and Y should be able to. I appreciate your support in this.
All the best,
Omfds"
Would that work do you think?

Good note. Once you've communicated don't undermine yourself or your GP by responding to their contacting you. I also thought it was illegal for your employer to badger you regarding work queries/processes whilst you're off sick, but no doubt an HR person here can advise on r maybe Citizens Advice. 🌹

Pudmyboy · 01/10/2023 18:37

A sick note is a legal document as far as I am aware so your boss should definitely be leaving you alone!

Tenthousandthing · 01/10/2023 19:08

Acas have a helpline that you can ring to clarify your rights at work. I was involved in a situation where a member of staff brought a grievance after being contacted while signed off. If you're in a union, talk to them.

BeagleHound1 · 01/10/2023 19:11

Your employer has a duty of care to check in with you that you’re getting the help you need and are safe but if they are doing this daily that isn’t reasonable and as others have said you should be able to tell them
to stop and schedule a call to check on your progress and when you plan to return and most importantly how they can support that

Imsureitsprobablymebut · 01/10/2023 19:17

What is the actual policy Re. Manager contacting you under ‘Duty Of Care’ guise ?

They don’t contact you on weekends/evenings/annual leave/mat leave/Secondments/Sabbaticals (theirs or yours!) so why is there a ‘duty’ during sick leave when you need to be left alone ?

Also, be careful of the ‘Hi X, how are you feeling? Hope you’re ok ? Please can you answer the following…………….’

rwalker · 01/10/2023 19:22

Imisssleep2 · 01/10/2023 18:31

Report to HR, your on sick leave, being contacted constantly is not on and should be addressed.

Bit shitty to report someone to HR for contacting you when you told them it was ok to contact you

LT1982 · 01/10/2023 19:24

Omfds · 29/09/2023 12:08

I actually did send an email handing it all over she is asking me stuff we already discussed.
signed off by GP

So she is asking information about work, not about your illness? If that's the case she's 100% out of order.

I read your original post as she was calling about your illness

EaudeJavel · 01/10/2023 19:27

If you are well enough to post on MN, surely you are well enough to answer a quick question?

Most people would be happy to help, if it's just a quick phone call, when they are sick, unless they are in serious condition in hospital.

Being off for a bereavement, or even a holiday, would be a completely different matter.

CleanQueen123 · 01/10/2023 19:28

It's definitely not illegal for your employer to contact you whilst you're off sick. In fact most company's absence policies will state that regular contact should be maintained.

However, you should agree the method and frequency of contact. Your manager also shouldn't be discussing work as such. Contact should be about your welfare, treatment, timescales for recovery/return to work etc.

Daily calls are certainly too much. What on earth do they think has changed in the 24 hours since they last spoke to you?!

Brefugee · 01/10/2023 19:29

EaudeJavel · 01/10/2023 19:27

If you are well enough to post on MN, surely you are well enough to answer a quick question?

Most people would be happy to help, if it's just a quick phone call, when they are sick, unless they are in serious condition in hospital.

Being off for a bereavement, or even a holiday, would be a completely different matter.

utter piffle.

OP, keep referring back to the mail you sent. Tell your boss not to call you and you will let them know when you are going to return. Until then, you are incommunicado.

Echio · 01/10/2023 19:31

I'm clearly at odds with most people here but I find the militant 'off sick = zero work' a bit of a nonsense in most cases because sick leave covers a whole array of things and levels of illness, including plenty where you are not confined to bed and really would be fine taking a 15 minute call but not able to sustain a full day at work. I've had sick leave for various things over the years - mental illness = agreed no work contact, but recovery from an operation / spells of vertigo, etc = fine to take a scheduled call or answer a couple of emails. It's never been an issue.

In this case the contact is causing difficulties for the OP though so they simply need to retract their offer of help and say 'I'm sorry I misjudged my illness because I was anxious not to let anyone down. In fact it's now clear it's going to make my recovery longer so in everyone's interests, I do need to stop helping out, thanks for your support'.
Problem solved, no biggie.