To find work absence procedures frustrating?

[Whoareyouanyway]

In my place, even if you are sick you have to speak to them on the phone. You can email text etc. But you still have to physically speak to your line manager even if you're unwell.
I just don't understand why. Or if it's an emergency, I suppose if you are in hospital and physically unable to speak in extreme circumstances that's different.

Just don't understand this level of distrust that employers have, does anybody else have this in their contract?

Same in any work place I’ve worked in. You must phone in unless you physically can’t phone eg basically in a coma, dying etc.

we then have to phone in on day 3 day 5 and day 7, then check in once a week thereafter!

Yep, agree, it’s crazy. We have to call between 7.00-7.45. So if you’re up all night sick you’d better make sure your alarm is on!

This is pretty standard. Blame the piss taking skivers!

If they've read a text/email explaining, I don't see why they then need a phone call? But what do I know.

Nope .. I just send mine a message, no need to talk to anyone.

Fair enough if it's a long term absence and they might want to find out as a one off when youre coming back etc. But having to ring every day of the illness is too much.

I think it's pretty standard, and it's been the case everywhere I have worked.

It's not necessarily about distrust, it's also so the line manager can make sure you have the right support in place if needed (employee assistance programme, reasonable adjustments etc)

I just find it so cringey 'Yeah I'm fine thanks, just in the middle of throwing up/diarrhoea atm'

Anywhere i’ve worked you’ve had to ring. But tbh that was more ore less the only option in most of my jobs pre mobiles. Nhs twenty years always have to ring every bloody day unless a dr sick note.

I worked somewhere that did this, based on data that indicated having to phone in personally discouraged skiving and reduced absence levels.

The return to work is a pain in the arse too. I get they want to check you've got support in place and any adjustments etc. But they are a nuisance.

It's standard practice in NHS to have to speak to line manager. It's not as simple as just being off sick. May have work needs to be passed on, need to give reason why we're off, idea of timescale etc.

They do it because it’s unpleasant, it’s a deterrent if you’re faking.

I agree it’s ridiculous. My current workplace don’t expect a call - email/text is fine.

In my experience sickness issues are either related to an individual or endemic in a shitty business.

Neither of which is solved by making people call in.

We have a very low sickness rate and have no daft requirements because people are treated like adults.

'Just don't understand this level of distrust that employers have, does anybody else have this in their contract?'

They probably read Mumsnet before they wrote that into your contract. It astounds me how many people on here think it's perfectly acceptable to call in sick for no reason at all. We had one today who had been told they may be fit to go back to work, (post an operation), after a couple of days but wants to book 4 weeks off! The distrust is there because so many people are dishonest.

Thankfully I can just send a WhatsApp. I rarely take time off but when I do, I would be really too unwell to have a chat on the phone! Surely if you’re throwing up you wouldn’t be expected to call would you? This sort of controlling and mistrustful approach would make me want to work elsewhere.

for me im similar, how is a text any different at least with text you can send it eg 2am so then you know they have it

I can totally understand there are dishonest people and it's a deterrent, but it's just tarring everyone with the same brush. Glad to hear not all places are like this.

It also means like PP said you have to make sure you're up early even if you've been up all night vomiting for example.

Tbh as a line manager it can be quite entertaining.
I used to have a member of staff who was "sick" pretty much every time his favourite football team had won the day before. I could never prove he was lying but the stories he was coming up with got crazier as time went on, and he would put on this stupid raspy voice like he was speaking his final words on his death bed. He was a dickhead for doing this, but the bad acting was also amusing.

This^
I think it's considered good HR practice to speak to employee who's off and when they return. It's because it's easier for people to take the piss if they just send a text and then never have to speak to anyone about it while off or on their return

I get it, I just feel like it punishes people who are genuinely sick. Last time when I had a stomach bug I had to still set my alarm for 6:30am and it took me a while to get through to my manager on the phone. I could've done with a lie in.

I had to did this too, back when I worked in the NHS. Calling in sick for MH issues can feel impossible. How do you word it? I tried to plead my case that when I was unwell, I could not even get out of bed, let alone make a phone call. My partner of the time offered to call them for me.... and they would not accept him calling.

Yes, and I bloody hate having to speak to someone. I'm not off sick often, but I actually get anxiety before phoning, and I'll put it off for up to half an hour before I've plucked up the courage. I know I sound soft, I just don't know what it is?

I know someone who triggered absence warnings because one they had a car crash, once they broke their foot and another was something else perfectly valid and all with proof. However it meant they had to get a formal warning for absence.

Because it’s much easier to send a text or email so suits piss takers much better than having to speak to someone. It’s a shame for genuine employees but blame the lazy skivers that have led to employers being mistrustful in the first place

YABU