What do I do? Can they force me to attend?

[ShalommJackie]

I'm off sick at the moment. Partly due to a grievance I have put in against my senior leadership team and partly due to having cancer surgery this week.

Government guidance surrounding my job and the application of it in practice is about to change and therefore my job is about to be so much harder, the meeting to discuss the implications and procedures etc is on Friday. I'm having cancer surgery on Thursday and will not be staying overnight

My manager has decided I need to attend this On a teams meeting but the issue is I'd be the only person to attend via zoom and I am unsure as to how much pain I'll be in.

So aibu to say no, I will attend a catch up session if needed?

Unfortunately, yes!

OP

no one else has said this, go to ACAS!!!

Good luck with everyhting.

Thinking about it OP, the timing of the meeting is suspicious in itself. I know they'll have a lot of other factors to consider, but it feels like they're setting you up for failure. Timing the meeting so that in theory you could attend but in practice you really shouldn't feels like bullying to me, especially in the context of other problems.

@ShalommJackie I haven't read all of the replies, so someone else may have suggested it, but can you ask them to do a Teams recording that you can access when you are well enough. That way you receive the same briefing but when you are able to properly take in the implications.

For the most part union's don't give a stuff about the workers. They are only there to protect the business. Once you are better, OP please try and find another job.

I couldn't believe it when you said it was NHS
Retail is also awful for this. If you'd passed away they'd still try and issue a disciplinary meeting.

Make sure you dr states 'cancer surgery' on your sicknote, as sometimes they put really vague things like 'surgical procedure or just 'toe surgery' which can at times minimise how serious your situation is

IME unions are run by and for workers. They can be absolutely brilliant. HR can be an incompetent shitshow.

I really hope this is the case for OP.

My union rep is incredible. He has no problem interrupting and getting them
Back in their box

@Jaboody , Unions are for the workers

You really have got to believe how bad it is in the NHS. We had a meeting one day and our lovely middle class manager actually had the gall to stand there and say do not do gardening or any heavy lifting, decorating etc at weekends if we were risking injury to ourselfs meaning days lost sick. She actually advised us to employ people to do these type of jobs

She was telling this to an office of the lowest paid staff within the NHS

WTAF. Who are these emotionally dead fuckwits you work with?
I hope your surgery and recovery goes really well OP. That should be your only focus right now.
That is the only thing your work should also be saying to you right now.
You are not going to be up to a bloody teams meeting or anything else the day after surgery. xx

The one I had was rubbish and not allowed to speak up or for you.
That's disgraceful I hope you or someone said well pay us so we can afford all that.
What a charmed life she must have.

I suppose because we are women we are expected to soldier on.
You know its probably the same as a c section and you should be up moving about etc etc and unloading the shop from tesco. sarcasm

Why can't they record the meeting on teams so you can watch at a later date? That way you wont miss anything.

This is really common practice in my workplace (NHS), not sure why they haven't thought of this.

@ShalommJackie

They are bullies and behaving horribly. I'm so sorry they're doing that, it really isn't fair or decent behaviour at all.

As others have said, your union should help. Alos, why not get a fit note from a doctor for 3 months (max allowed for first one I believe). You really have to get away from those toxic people to have the time and calm you need and deserve.

Inhumane, that's what they are.

My dr actually called me today and has done a sick note for 3 months. I told him what had happened and he was disgusted. It feels good to have people on my side xx

They are asking you to attend a meeting a day after cancer-related surgery?

Are they insane?

The hospital will give you a sick note with details of how much time off you need to recover properly.

Also frankly if you have cancer the last thing you need is the additional stress that your workplace is causing you.

Speak to your doctors and make it clear your managers are jeopardising your recovery and ask them to sign you off accordingly for as long as necessary.

@ShalommJackie
3 months
Brilliant

Hope the procedure went well and you can relax and recouperate a bit now.

@ShalommJackie

Hi OP. Thinking of you: hoping your procedure went well and you are on the road to recovery. Thank goodness your GP gave you such a decent sick/fit note. Hope you are resting now and not responding to any communications from your manager/employers. Time to focus on you. 🌹

@ShalommJackie Well done your Dr! Not surprised he was disgusted; we all are here too xxx Look after yourself and stuff the bullies.