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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:
EaudeJavel · 01/10/2023 19:39

Brefugee · 01/10/2023 19:29

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.

Show quote history

why would anyone make a strong point to show how replaceable and how unwilling to help they are.. is beyond me. I am guessing you are a 9 to 5 on the dot kind of person?

OurChristmasMiracle · 01/10/2023 19:47

work should only be contacting you to check on your welfare and potentially towards the end of your fit note to see if you are able to return and if you are whether there is any adjustments they can provide to make it easier for you to return.

lilmadmel · 01/10/2023 19:50

Here is the information you requested. If there is anything else you need in the future I’d prefer an email and that way I can reply if I have the energy as I am still feeling pretty unwell at the moment and I am struggling to find the energy for x amount of calls every week and I am worried it will extend my recovery time.

And cc in HR if you have one. if not next manager up.

AbbeyGailsParty · 01/10/2023 19:53

I stood in for someone on long term sick leave and company’s legal dept said contacting them could be construed as harassment and lead to them resigning and claiming constructive dismissal. They were very firm about it, no contact at all.
Contact ACAS if you’re not in a union.

mandlerparr · 01/10/2023 19:57

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.

Except they get to choose when they are on here and they also aren't pressured to be on here.

mandlerparr · 01/10/2023 19:58

I would tell them that the constant stress of having to do work while sick is prolonging your illness and that the doctor may order you to rest for a few more days to make up for it.

Tilllly · 01/10/2023 20:03

Ring her back at 8pm
Or on a Sunday afternoon

cansu · 01/10/2023 20:03

Be clear. Send a message explaining that you are unwell and wish to concentrate on recovering. Say I am not able to take calls or respond to emails during my sick leave.

stonedaisy · 01/10/2023 20:04

Grievance needed, particularly if you're off with work related stress

SofiaSoFar · 01/10/2023 20:06

As usual plenty of utter rubbish being posted regarding sickness absence on MN.

A sick note is not some sort of 'trump card'. There is nothing remotely "illegal" about an employer contacting you when you're off sick.

OP, you firstly need to check what your contract says and secondly have a discussion with your manger.

Brefugee · 01/10/2023 20:09

EaudeJavel · 01/10/2023 19:39

why would anyone make a strong point to show how replaceable and how unwilling to help they are.. is beyond me. I am guessing you are a 9 to 5 on the dot kind of person?

Show quote history

Far from it - i have been known to finish at 5, but i start at 8 and am usually there until 6.

I'm also rarely sick. But when i am, i'm off work because I can't work. And my company respects that and don't contact me outside of asking how i am.

supplycaptain · 01/10/2023 20:10

Just send her an email and state the increased frequency of calls are causing you stress, can she only email you urgent things, and anything else will wait until you return to work?

im a manager and wouldn’t dare ask work queries to someone on annual leave, let alone sick leave. Easily get into hot water by doing that

rwalker · 01/10/2023 20:14

stonedaisy · 01/10/2023 20:04

Grievance needed, particularly if you're off with work related stress

And when they investigate the grievance and do a fact find they’ll refer back to OP saying it was fine to contact her

you don’t jump straight in with grievance you start by trying to resolve it with your manager ( tell them you don’t want to be contacted) then if you don’t get a satisfactory resolution you then go to grievance

if you start a grievance procedure they’ll have to do a fact find then a resolution meeting so kind of defeats the object of not wanting to contacted by work

all this could be very easily resolved by just telling not to contact her

this is a problem if OP making by saying it was ok to contact her

Brefugee · 01/10/2023 20:17

what you could do, OP, if the calls are really frequent is tell them to restrict the calls to one a day - give a time period? - and that they should gather all the questions for that one quick call.

From a manager's perspective? processes should be created so that a sudden absence can be covered without bothering the absent person (who wouldn't be able to answer if they had gone under a bus)

It is good for managers and colleagues to try to work out what they should do, but that requires more effort than just calling the sick person. There's a balance to be struck between "is it going to take us 6 hours to work this out where OP could tell us in 20 seconds" or "can we handle this, even badly, without bothering our sick colleague"

Merryoldgoat · 01/10/2023 20:25

What is she asking about?

I have some business critical responsibilities (payroll/tax payments/audit etc) and have been unwell at various points and absolutely would expect to take calls about those things.

Less important things then ‘no’.

My boss absolutely respects my leave or sickness but on occasion I have to get things done.

Nat6999 · 01/10/2023 20:31

When I was off long term sick before I finished work, my manager was ringing me regularly even after my pay ran out, she also rang me in the middle of the school holidays when I was term time only. The amount she hassled me made me even more sure I wasn't going back.

EaudeJavel · 01/10/2023 20:35

and you wonder why some people get the minimum statutory sick pay (which is nothing) and why some people get paid the full amount even on sick leave

Beachwalker66 · 01/10/2023 20:38

I voted YABU because you told them it was OK, and you continue to answer the calls…

Gwenhwyfar · 01/10/2023 20:39

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

No, it's not OP's fault. In a relationship with a boss, it's hard for an employee to be anything but helpful and polite. It's up to the boss to not be contacting her all the time.

Gwenhwyfar · 01/10/2023 20:41

"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."

Fine for you maybe, but not for others.
It's good stress management not to work at times when you are not supposed to be working. Just reading an email or taking a call from a superior can raise your blood pressure.

Gwenhwyfar · 01/10/2023 20:43

"why would anyone make a strong point to show how replaceable and how unwilling to help they are.. is beyond me"

Are you saying sick people should be working on sick leave in case they get sacked?? What a shit attitude!

"I am guessing you are a 9 to 5 on the dot kind of person?"

As everyone should be. Work your proper hours (emergencies excepted)!

Gwenhwyfar · 01/10/2023 20:45

Beachwalker66 · 01/10/2023 20:38

I voted YABU because you told them it was OK, and you continue to answer the calls…

Some people find it difficult to say 'no' when there's a hierarchical relationship so I find that a bit victim blaming.

Cakeorchocolate · 01/10/2023 20:47

They're entitled to, and should really, keep in contact to ensure you continue to feel part of the team and check on your welfare.
Daily, however, is far too often.
And when I was on long term sick, I didn't even like contact every few weeks. It made me feel completely pressured.

Without going into details on why you're off, have you told them you are not OK with contact being so frequent?
Tell them you need time to rest in order to get well enough to be able to return.

If you're not comfortable raising it with them directly, is there an HR dept you could address it to? Maybe you could ask what the company policy is on contact during sick leave as you're being contacted daily and finding it's making you worse / not giving you the time to switch off and rest like you're signed off for.

Yants · 01/10/2023 20:48

I don't have a problem with an employer contacting someone off sick for a specific work related query, but what is unacceptable is the constant "welfare" calls that some employers engage in, which is just a thinly disguised attempt to harass you into returning to work.

topnoddy · 01/10/2023 21:19

Imisssleep2 · 01/10/2023 18:31

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

Why does nearly everyone on here think every work place has an HR dept ?

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