Page 2 | to expect HR to leave me alone when I’m on sick leave?

Stopwatching · 2023-10-06T20:02:24+00:00

I’ve been off sick for a few weeks and have now been signed off for another 5 weeks. HR want me to attend a teams call so they can update me individually about a team reorganisation which was announced this week. I have already seen the PowerPoint presentation slides so I know my job is not affected so AIBU to expect HR to leave me in peace until I return from sick leave?

Littlegoth · 06/10/2023 21:42

Is it a large restructure? From what you’ve said it makes me think that this is going to consultation, in which case there is a legal requirement to inform you. Where I’ve been involved in consultations in the past, we’ve preferred a face to face announcement or update (and then sending out an email reiterating the salient points). If someone couldn’t attend or dial into the announcement, either due to long term absence, maternity leave, sabbatical etc, we would always have a conversation with them to ensure they were fully informed. Sounds normal to me.

PikachuChickenRice · 06/10/2023 21:43

Littlegoth · 06/10/2023 21:42

Is it a large restructure? From what you’ve said it makes me think that this is going to consultation, in which case there is a legal requirement to inform you. Where I’ve been involved in consultations in the past, we’ve preferred a face to face announcement or update (and then sending out an email reiterating the salient points). If someone couldn’t attend or dial into the announcement, either due to long term absence, maternity leave, sabbatical etc, we would always have a conversation with them to ensure they were fully informed. Sounds normal to me.

This OP.
Also slides don't always tell the whole story.
Your job could be safe for now but at risk in the next round (taking place shortly after this).
Your job role could have changed markedly.
Etc.
You are naive to think that just seeing your job on a slide means that everything is OK.

Given that they haven't disturbed you for 1.5 months now why are you getting so upset about one phone call?

What are you really upset about?

You think HR love wasting their time calling you if they didn't have a good reason?

@berksandbeyond may not have been polite but they have a point. It's up to you if you want to be 'left in peace' only to find out that you no longer have a job, or it's changed dramatically to your disadvantage but you cannot complain about unfairness then.

Original poster

Stopwatching · 06/10/2023 21:46

PikachuChickenRice · 06/10/2023 21:43

This OP.
Also slides don't always tell the whole story.
Your job could be safe for now but at risk in the next round (taking place shortly after this).
Your job role could have changed markedly.
Etc.
You are naive to think that just seeing your job on a slide means that everything is OK.

Given that they haven't disturbed you for 1.5 months now why are you getting so upset about one phone call?

What are you really upset about?

You think HR love wasting their time calling you if they didn't have a good reason?

@berksandbeyond may not have been polite but they have a point. It's up to you if you want to be 'left in peace' only to find out that you no longer have a job, or it's changed dramatically to your disadvantage but you cannot complain about unfairness then.

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I’m worried about saying the wrong thing as I am feeling very ill at the moment so any interaction is difficult for me

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fetchacloth · 06/10/2023 21:48

I was off sick for 4 months a couple of years ago and I had monthly calls from both my line manager and HR. In both cases I had a week's notice of these calls so no problem with that.
I was in a senior role with two reportees so I felt that was reasonable really.

PikachuChickenRice · 06/10/2023 21:49

Stopwatching · 06/10/2023 21:46

I’m worried about saying the wrong thing as I am feeling very ill at the moment so any interaction is difficult for me

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Then have a trusted colleague or union member with you - or ask for some more time after the call to reflect on next steps.
But an email update is a worse idea. If you're struggling with interaction and perceiving things - something in writing is more likely to be misinterpreted.

Sorry you're ill but just as you cannot help your falling ill during a restructure they cannot help the fact that it occurred while you're off. They still need to keep you informed.

If it makes you feel better - they should be outlining a clear action plan, whether it's your job role changed, offered redundancy, etc. You can always think on this. It shouldn't be a vague, political game playing call where you 'say the wrong thing'. You should always be given time to consider no need to reply straight away.

Original poster

Stopwatching · 06/10/2023 21:51

PikachuChickenRice · 06/10/2023 21:49

Then have a trusted colleague or union member with you - or ask for some more time after the call to reflect on next steps.
But an email update is a worse idea. If you're struggling with interaction and perceiving things - something in writing is more likely to be misinterpreted.

Sorry you're ill but just as you cannot help your falling ill during a restructure they cannot help the fact that it occurred while you're off. They still need to keep you informed.

If it makes you feel better - they should be outlining a clear action plan, whether it's your job role changed, offered redundancy, etc. You can always think on this. It shouldn't be a vague, political game playing call where you 'say the wrong thing'. You should always be given time to consider no need to reply straight away.

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Thanks, that sounds fair enough

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catgirl1976 · 06/10/2023 21:57

YABU. Your work have to inform you of reorganisations where you could be at risk of redundancy and they’ve got a duty of care to your well-being.

im in HR - we arrange weekly well-being calls with people on sick leave. If this is too frequent we can reduce the frequency to what is reasonable in the circumstances and obviously if someone’s in hospital or something we’re not ringing them up but there has to be regular contact to discuss supporting the employee both to recover and to return to work and where there’s a disability to discuss adjustments etc.

Original poster

Stopwatching · 06/10/2023 22:10

catgirl1976 · 06/10/2023 21:57

YABU. Your work have to inform you of reorganisations where you could be at risk of redundancy and they’ve got a duty of care to your well-being.

im in HR - we arrange weekly well-being calls with people on sick leave. If this is too frequent we can reduce the frequency to what is reasonable in the circumstances and obviously if someone’s in hospital or something we’re not ringing them up but there has to be regular contact to discuss supporting the employee both to recover and to return to work and where there’s a disability to discuss adjustments etc.

I have been in hospital for the past month but HR don’t know that.

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LegendsBeyond · 06/10/2023 22:12

I’d just want to be left alone too. You’re ill, so you shouldn’t have to attend meetings. You need time to rest & recover.

catgirl1976 · 06/10/2023 22:12

So you’ve not told your line manager you’ve been in hospital for a month?

Original poster

Stopwatching · 06/10/2023 22:14

LegendsBeyond · 06/10/2023 22:12

I’d just want to be left alone too. You’re ill, so you shouldn’t have to attend meetings. You need time to rest & recover.

Thank you

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Original poster

Stopwatching · 06/10/2023 22:15

catgirl1976 · 06/10/2023 22:12

So you’ve not told your line manager you’ve been in hospital for a month?

Nope, should I have done? I’m out now.

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404usernotfound · 06/10/2023 22:21

Stopwatching · 06/10/2023 22:15

Nope, should I have done? I’m out now.

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Yes, you should have done.

I hope you start to feel better soon OP.

Tell them you’ve been in hospital, and for how long, and that you don’t feel well enough for discussions at the moment. Maybe suggest they contact you in a month. If you don’t tell them, they won’t know.

PersianStar · 06/10/2023 22:22

Well yes, they aren’t mind readers! Who wouldn’t advise their employers they’ve been in hospital?

Original poster

Stopwatching · 06/10/2023 22:25

PersianStar · 06/10/2023 22:22

Well yes, they aren’t mind readers! Who wouldn’t advise their employers they’ve been in hospital?

It didn’t seem to be any of their business as I was signed off sick already

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Mumof2teens79 · 06/10/2023 22:27

We have a clear policy, long term absence will kick in at 6 weeks and regular check-in would start to be expected...depending on the reason for absence.
We also hclear consultation policies that would require managers to carry out in person briefings on topics such as restructure.

Original poster

Stopwatching · 06/10/2023 22:27

404usernotfound · 06/10/2023 22:21

Yes, you should have done.

I hope you start to feel better soon OP.

Tell them you’ve been in hospital, and for how long, and that you don’t feel well enough for discussions at the moment. Maybe suggest they contact you in a month. If you don’t tell them, they won’t know.

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Thanks for your kind words

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Original poster

Stopwatching · 06/10/2023 22:37

Mumof2teens79 · 06/10/2023 22:27

We have a clear policy, long term absence will kick in at 6 weeks and regular check-in would start to be expected...depending on the reason for absence.
We also hclear consultation policies that would require managers to carry out in person briefings on topics such as restructure.

The restructuring briefing was done on a Teams call via a PowerPoint listing the people whose roles were disappearing. Brutal.

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Startingagainandagain · 06/10/2023 22:50

OP I am off sick at the moment. As well as sending my fit notes I did inform my employer by email that something serious had happened to me, that I needed urgent hospital treatment and then updated them to say that I had moved to daily visits/monitoring by healthcare staff at home.

Basically I wanted to make sure they were aware that this was something that would require some time to recover from and that I was not in a place where I could do any catch ups with anything work related.

It might be better for you to make them fully aware of what you are going through and make it clear that you are not physically or mentally able to attend any meeting, even virtual.

Original poster

Stopwatching · 06/10/2023 22:56

Startingagainandagain · 06/10/2023 22:50

OP I am off sick at the moment. As well as sending my fit notes I did inform my employer by email that something serious had happened to me, that I needed urgent hospital treatment and then updated them to say that I had moved to daily visits/monitoring by healthcare staff at home.

Basically I wanted to make sure they were aware that this was something that would require some time to recover from and that I was not in a place where I could do any catch ups with anything work related.

It might be better for you to make them fully aware of what you are going through and make it clear that you are not physically or mentally able to attend any meeting, even virtual.

Thanks, that does sound sensible. Hope you feel better soon

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Bearcub101 · 07/10/2023 10:58

I was asked the day after I came out of hospital to attend a department meeting. My job was gone along with the whole department. The day before half of us had been safe. Things changed overnight.

Original poster

Stopwatching · 07/10/2023 11:42

Bearcub101 · 07/10/2023 10:58

I was asked the day after I came out of hospital to attend a department meeting. My job was gone along with the whole department. The day before half of us had been safe. Things changed overnight.

Sorry to hear that, hope you are doing ok now

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Bearcub101 · 07/10/2023 11:45

Stopwatching · 07/10/2023 11:42

Sorry to hear that, hope you are doing ok now

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All good thanks. Walked away with a healthy redundancy that paid off debts and money to spare. Did go straight into another job that wasn’t great, but met my husband to be there. So worked out for the best!