To call in sick at work

[Katypp]

I have already posted this in the Work topic but posting again for more responses.
I found out yesterday that my job is at risk of redundancy. Not wanting to go into too much detail, I am in a team of seven, all with different specialities but no-one sticks to these and everyone basically mucks in and does everything. On certain shifts this general work is required for the whole time.
I have been told that my specialist area is no longer required and the company needed to concentrate on the other things my team (including me) do already.
I am the only one in the team at risk, so I am pursuing this as unfair.
In the meantime, I am looking for advice about calling in sick from today. I was on late shift last night (after the bombshell in the morning - meetings etc done before I actually started work) and had to spend seven hours doing the work that was not my speciality area and the very work management have said they want more of, hence getting rid of me.
Am I reasonable to call in sick citing stress on that basis?

I think calling in sick is the opposite of what I’d be doing. It’s never nice being in this position, but it happens. Carrying on as normal is probably the best approach

Honestly I think that people who go on 'stress leave' because they're annoyed with company or don't like certain parts of their job or for any other reason other than genuine burn out give everyone who is genuinely unwell a bad name.
It's why in real life these days there can be rolling of the eyes jn many companies around stress leave instead of sympathy .

If it's a done deal and you're not fighting it do what you want, stay home and lick your wounds. If you're going to argue that despite your specialty job role being redundant, you have the same qualifications and ability to do the role the rest of the team does and you plan to lodge an objection, I would t be calling in sick.

that could just be you @Crazycrazylady

@HakunaMatiłda Nope, there are 2 or 3 who have been there less time than me.

@Pelegrinfalcon I am not a member of a union. The rep will be involved in the collective consultation meetings but after that I am pretty much by myself, which I am fine about.

@LittleMooli I have never taken sick leave so am a way before triggering the absence policy

@rwalker I have asked for this and just got a vague response thar said they had concluded my job was not needed but it was no reflection on my ability, output etc. I intend to ask for it again, along with the company's redundancy policy (which they don't have so will presumably be following Acas rules)

That's actually disgusting and certainly in breach of employment law to target those with potential disabilities

I did not say you had. I was responding to someone else. Your conclusion is faulty unless there is a reason you are saying that - there are many reasons why you may or maye not have been correctly identified as being at risk. You won't find out, and you won't if they are correct or not, if you flounce off sick. And you will have a sickness record if you sign off sick!

You may think that spiting your employer now is fine because they are getting rid of you (from your perspective). They still hold your reference over you, even if they do let you go. A reference that will potentially now have sickness recorded on it, and there are ways and means of writing a factually correct reference whilst also writing a poor one.

But that was never my point. My point was that if you are geuinely too stressed to go to work because you are sick, then fine. But if you are lying, and that is certainly what you suggested you were doing, you do yourself no favours; and you are part of the problem that leafs to the tarring of everyone who ever really does have stress at work to the extent that it is making them genuinely ill as also being liars.

If you've only been there two years I wouldn't expect it to be overly generous so don't get your hopes up (industry dependant).

If you honestly feel too stressed to go into work then yes call in sick.

Tbh I am surprised by the responses here given how work-shy posters have been on similar threads on ‘not doing other peoples work’ and ‘not doing past their contracted hours.’

You can call in sick and cite stress. But, management will know what you’re up to. And it reflects badly on you. It’s your choice - I wouldn’t, but I hate people using stress as an excuse which it sounds like you’re doing here.

Sounds like you all should have been put at risk if the roles are sufficiently similar. Could you do their jobs with very little training? The legal advice may help you negotiate an enhanced package or get them to rethink. Don't give up just yet.

How is it "unfair dismissal" when it's redundancy because they have to cut costs and your specific role is going?

Tbh I am struggling to grasp why pps don't think I might be stressed by my situation!
I have been signalled out unfairly, I am the oldest in the team, I will struggle to get another job in my industry, I have a massive mortgage and two teenagers (including one miles away at uni with a very small maintenence loan)
How can anyone not be stressed by this? I did not call in sick and I won't again today, but I think some of the 'malingerer' 'pisstaker' 'not properly stressed' comments are frankly bizarre

Soupdragon. I have been told my ACAS and my solicitor thar the lack of selection process could lead to an unfair dismissal claim? Have you read my original post re my 'role'?

This ^

If your job description says you do a specific task and has not been updated to show you are an all rounder now, it will be tough to prove that you have been specifically targeted. It sounds like they need to reduce headcount and targeting a certain skill is a good way for them to do this easily.

It is awful as it always feels so personal. As you have only just been there just over 2 years it is highly unlikely that you redundancy will be much at all. Please do not think you'll get a big pay out.

It is tough OP but chin up and look for a new role. Good luck

The weekend is imminent. OP will have her couple of days to process things anyway.

im wondering how aware management are that you all muck in and do each others roles.

it doesn’t help in reality OP, but it’s the role being made redundant, not you. Unfortunately it’s the one you specialise in so of course it’s you going.
i say this as it’s something management will probably say to you in response to the idea they’ve singled you out.

how much of you’re role consumes the time of the team?
sounds like management have decided your role duties will be absorbed into the other 6.
technically that’s probably illegal, but I expect the other 6 will be relieved they still have a job and will (grumble but) accept it.

Hi @ImCamembertTheBigCheese can I ask if you are a employment expert or lawyer? Because if you are your post is concerning as it directly contradicts what I have been told by Acas and an employment solicitor.
Not being rude just trying to gather the counter-arguments my company will no doubt put up.
I have been told that the fact I am doing a lot of general work and that everyone is a 'specialist' in name only means that everyone should be in the pool not just me.
I am inot expecting a big payout - I already have my predicted payout. I am considering trying to negotiate a bigger payout on the basis that the selection criteria is unfair.

The management allocated tasks so they are well aware I do more than my specialist role. On some shifts, I am expected to do 100% general and no specialist tasks whatsoever

of course I have.

I can - and do - do their jobs with no training. I have been in the industry for 30+ years and have pretty much done all the roles at one time or another.

So you don't think that the fact that everyone has a 'specific' role but no-one carries out their role exclusively (and in some cases, not at all) means that the selection pool should be bigger than just me?

Sounds like ageism?

As far as I understand (ohs job was made redundant last week) consultation is only required if more than 20 are being made redundant, so it doesn't sound like it's personal. It's the job they don't need anymore not you. You need to separate the two. You should get two weeks salary I think if you are on a statutory package. One month a year plus any holiday you haven't taken. Remember to sign on straight away.

As far as I understand (ohs job was made redundant last week) consultation is only required if more than 20 are being made redundant

incorrect. if more than 20 are affected, then there needs to be a collective consultation and the timelines are different. For less than 20, the company still needs to consult but not collectively.