HR calling me on my day off

[Notsurewhatithink]

I have been experiencing some health problems which require reasonable adjustments in the workplace. I thought I was managing this well with my line manager. Today, however, I received a phone call out of the blue from the person who does our HR, to discuss "support" for me, as I had expressed "needs" to them (I have a formal diagnosis, which I think shared with management). However, I do not work on Wednesdays and the caller ID did not come up as my work, so I answered as I was concerned it was my son's school.

AIBU to be pissed off to be called about work-related issues like this on my day off? It can absolutely wait until tomorrow. I have not had more than half a day in a row off for this condition (or a full day for anything else since February), so it's not like I am never in work for them to speak to me! I was in the library with my toddler and now I am fucking paranoid they're trying to cut me loose!

@Notsurewhatithink Well do you want their support or not?

They've called you once. Hardly getting "railroaded".

I understand OP. I do think it’s fine to state your boundaries. Some people don’t mind being called by work on their day off and others do.

I would see if you can arrange a meeting with them in one of your free periods. If they call you on your day off keep saying it’s inconvenient and you’ll arrange a convenient time to talk when you’re in school.

Whatever your preference- having a private work conversation in a public library with a toddler is not a great idea. You won’t be able to concentrate and you are supervising a small child.

I would guess this is the case every week on your day off so they need to understand that it’s not the best time to speak to you.

One phonecall - on which you were perfectly capable of telling them it was inconvenient to speak and could catch up when in work - is hardly railroading.

They're trying to help you!

It doesn't take an unusual level of assertiveness to say you're off work and ask to pick up the conversation another day. You're overreacting and imagining devious motives to ordinary things.

Hi Op, I say this with a lot of kindness as I understand your condition probably stops you from seeing things clearly - but I don't think them offering support is disingenuous just because its unprompted. As hard as it is to see when something overwhelms us, I'm sure their intentions are in the right place.

Because it is statutory requirement once someone discloses their long-term condition.
If you think that your performance is not up to scratch, then that's a separate matter. But if you know you are performing at the same level as previously, I really don't see why you immediately jump to a conclusion that they have an ulterior motive.

It sounds like you're going through a lot at the moment but this would be quite standard at my workplace to check in and make sure you were happy with the risk controls in place, that your line manager was supportive and whether there was anything else the organisation can do. Not anything sinister.

It's fine not to want to talk on your day off but I imagine they called you then so you wouldn't be in class, not to railroad you or catch you out.

Hope you get sorted

Firstly, they are trying to help!
If it was about your actual work then I understand you being annoyed for getting a call in your day off.
However, it was to offer help and support. I wouldn’t have got upset about being phoned on my day off for that.
Secondly, you were the one that phoned them back! If you had bothered checking your voicemail you could have made the decision to leave it until the next day. You would have also been more prepared for the conversation if you had listened to the voicemail first.

As HR I would always speak to someone about reasonable adjustments when there was plenty of time to do so. It would not occur to me that there was a performance problem or a hidden agenda. It would be all about the welfare of the employee.

Dont read too much into it.

I would have felt entirely different about it if I had asked for support. Offering someone support unprompted is disingenuous

They'll have boxes to tick. Health and safety, wellbeing, whatever.

To be frank, if you didn't want anything 'done' you should have kept your diagnosis to yourself.

If today (Wednesday) is your day off and you want a break from work talk, why are you posting here about it.

I bet none of the replies so far are from anyone who works in a school. Schools are known for being toxic so I understand your reservations. Has anyone mentioned your performance? I’ve seen a few colleagues in the last few years be pushed out over health conditions, all dressed up as Performance Issues. What is your actual SLT like? Are they supportive? Did they initiate this or is it a case of simply following procedure?
Keep a record of all communication and contact your union if you start to feel unfairly treated.

You school has a HR lady on site do they? Never known it

YABU - let it go

Thank you for this. No, no one has mentioned my performance. SLT was supportive when I disclosed my condition, but that was three months ago. I am probably just being unnecessarily suspicious, but that's based on past experience (I asked my then LM for a meeting to discuss workload and I rocked up to find the HR person there to take notes; off the record "advisory chats" that could be construed as bullying etc etc). Said former LM is now the HT so I'm not overly confident I will get a supportive hearing...

Seriously considering bringing the union in, as I don't trust a meeting to discuss support for me won't, intentionally or otherwise, turn into a meeting about performance.

Offering someone support when they have disclosed an issue (health or wellbeing) is not disingenuous, it's what a good employer does to look after their staff. You don't have to take the support but your employer has done the right thing to flag it with you.

Someone who manages contracts etc? Yes, it does. Maybe not formally HR but definitely the closest we have to it.

But I disclosed it three months ago and was already getting the support I felt I needed?

They called your personal number when you were most likely to be free and more able to ensure you had privacy to take the call.

I don't want to have conversations in the day where anybody could walk in, Year 9 could overhear or I've got a data drop deadline.

Because it's all I can think about now and I process issues by talking about them. My 2yo and 7yo are unlikely to be particularly interested though and my husband was in work🤷🏼‍♀️

That's you. I don't want to discuss work on my day off. I don't think either of us is unreasonable, just different.

Nope, it doesn't for someone who is well. I am not well.

HR can't win.

Other scenarios where they would be accused of nefarious behaviour could be 'I disclosed the need for accommodations and HR never reached out to me to discuss', or 'HR called me on a day I was teaching class, how could they expect me to be available?'

Don’t call back random numbers if you don’t want to speak to them!

Would you be happy for HR to phone you on a Sunday afternoon when you are more likely to be free? As this similar to what you are suggesting?

If you are not full time it is reasonable for HR to check your non-working days. I am not surprised to read of your suspicions.

Surely your day off is the one day you are likely to have tome to speak freely. It is not ideal, and presumably the voicemail requests a call back at your convenience.