Can anyone help? Please!

[ShalommJackie]

Yes I know it's AIBU but I really need help with writing an email.

I'm going to be completely outing but I honestly couldn't give a shit right now.

I work for the nhs and I've had a fair amount of time off for cancer treatment and biopsies etc. my manager cancelled my stage 1 sickness meeting because she was sick and then rearranged it for the day I had a biopsy so i couldn't attend.

So she did my stage 1 sickness alone and then sent me a 3 page letter, saying that the department is getting complaints because I'm not there to respond to emails or answer phone calls. Basically blaming me for being off and all the complaints are down to me being off with cancer.

My unison rep has said absolutely not and I'm to send my manger an email that says she needs to wind her neck in and that complaints in the department aren’t my responsibility whilst I’m off awaiting a change in plan for cancer treatment. But how the hell do I do that in a professional way??

Please help me!

Difficult without knowing what was in her letter, but maybe something along the lines of:

Dear Boss

Thank you for your letter. I am sorry to read about the impact my ongoing cancer treatment and work absence is having upon the department. Please understand that my health has to be my top priority at present, and I will therefore continue to attend all my appointments, in the hope that I will make a full recovery.

I would be grateful if departmental managers could be informed of the circumstances of my absence, so that I do not have the added worry of having to justify my absence, as I’m sure you can appreciate this is distressing.
Thank you for your continued support,

Signature

@Astonetogo thank you! She literally blamed me for complaints that are being made because I'm not there to follow up emails or phone calls

How stressful for you OP - I hope you’re ok. Agree with something along the lines of the letter suggested above (possibly a little firmer in tone - eg “As I’m sure you will understand” rather than “please understand”), and I’d also cc HR and the union rep in when you send it. Best of luck with your recovery and don’t let a bunch of arseholes cause you further worry. Best of luck with your recovery 💐

If you have to be blunt with her, maybe something like:

I have confirmed with my union and HR that it is not my responsibility to respond to phone calls and e-mails while I am away on sick leave. I am finding this very stressful and would appreciate if you could direct these complaints elsewhere while I am not in work. Many thanks for your support etc…

Assuming you're correctly following the Sickness Absence Policy, I'd attach a copy and say

Boss,

Thank you for your letter. During my cancer treatment I have followed the Sickness Absence Policy attached and I will continue to do so.

If there are complaints or issues to be dealt with while I'm on sickness absence, I will not be working and other arrangements will need to be made to deal with them.

I have spoken to my union rep who has confirmed I am following the correct process. As I am sure you understand, dealing with cancer is stressful enough so I would kindly ask that you direct your concerns elsewhere as I am unable to help while I am off sick.

KRs,

Thank you all so much!

I don’t think I’d write a letter. Rather request a meeting with HR, union rep, manager and you present and ask for her to explain her letter. Your rep and HR will not allow her comments. While treatment or investigation is ongoing you will need to have other absences therefore you need that documented at this meeting and agree a reasonable target for attendance, otherwise you’ll just get escalated to next stage at next absence. I can reassure you that HR and your rep should make sure this is nipped in the bud.

I would write a letter tho so it's documented

But include the request for a meeting in it
Then you're showing willing

OP- have you complied with processes around leaving a voicemail message, or forwarding your calls to a coworker? And an out of office on your email or forwarding them?

Do you need to confirm with your manager how they want you to do this?

They might have a point if calls and emails are just going unanswered, but ask what exactly they want you to do to manage this.

@Tilllly
a formal meeting with HR is documented. A letter from OP may not be since it is not required within policy and the manager may feel it’s not relevant to keep.
The manager MUST write to the OP, that’s policy and why she has received a letter this time. OP is not expected to reply via letter. She is expected to arrange a meeting to discuss as a letter from OP means nothing. It’s just her opinion. She needs a formally documented discussion including her manager/HR etc. to bear any relevance.