To think your work should leave you alone when you're ill?

[Thatsnotmynameee]

I was off sick last week. Rare for me to be off, last time before last week it was 4 months ago and then 6 months before that one. I told them why I was off (standard illness) and when I would be back (few days) my manager rings me at lunchtime that day to "discuss my absence" what is the need for this?? I missed the call because I was asleep (because I was ill and been up most of the night being ill) it just seems like complete overkill. Let people rest ffs.

How long have you been off? Have you followed the absence reporting policy? Also having been off twice in the last 10 months you might have triggered something in the absence tracking... none of us can answer but there will be a million different reasons they have tried to reach you depending on individual workplace policies

I was off for 3 days, I'd followed the policy and I hadn't triggered on any kind of diciplinary/warning system.

Did you ring every day to phone in? We have to do that, not just the first day of the absence

Three times in a year would trigger most companies absence policies. If you haven’t trigger any official ones it sounds like your manager thinks your taking the mick and is going off piste. I’d find the HR policies on sickness and point them out to them.

We have to ring in/check in every day if not signed off by a GP. Can't remember it ever being different. It's supposed to be before 9:30 too

You being off sick isn't rare tbh...maybe this absence triggered absence process as 3rd time in 12 months

That pattern would have triggered an interview with HR in one place I worked. Have you checked the policy?

That's also true, it's more than 10 days in total where I work.

However, being able to wfh has really improved things. They are quite happy for those with colds to stay at home to work rather than spread thee germs

Wow that's ridiculous. They don't believe someone could get ill 3 times in a year??!

You being absent isn't rare if you've had three in the last 10 months. Rare would see a frequency far lower than that.

I wouldn’t say your sickness record is rare- I get sick 2-3 times a year and I defo have the most sickness out of my colleagues

OP you said it's 'rare' for you to be ill yet you have been off 3 x in 12 months. Yes it would trigger an absence review in most companies.

Funny enough it's there to make sure there's nothing underlying which could mean you need additional help & support that you haven't already flagged. It's not a witch hunt.

I’m amazed that you are surprised at that. Some places I’ve worked that would an automatic warning with a further warning for anymore sickness in 6 months and dismissal if there’s another following that one within a set time period.

I'm not sure your definition of rare matches everyone else's? I think they are right to just check in with you. In fact if it is just "standard" illness I'd have pulled myself together enough for 10 minutes at some point for a quick handover email.

Supportive contact I believe it's called. Check your own workplace policies, but yes it could well be that your manager was obliged to contact you. Particularly important if sickness looks to be becoming an issue. Presumably you'll be expecting to be paid as normal, it's not much to expect, a few minutes of your time on the phone.

I think people are arguing a bit of a moot point really. Regardless of triggering absence thresholds, the manager shouldn't have been ringing her to discuss it the first day she was off sick.

Its quite unusual for healthy adults to be poorly enough to need to be off work for 3 days, and ill enough to miss work 3 times in a year? I have only had one day off sick in around 3 years & i have young kids.

It is most definitely not 'rare' for you to be off sick if the last time was only 4 months ago. Rare is once every few years.

It would absolutely trigger a sickness review in my workplace.

OP has said they 'rang work' but that doesn't mean they let the manager know directly. As a manager if a message hadn't been passed on and someone hadn't turned up for work I'd certainly be calling to find out if all is ok.

Same in my old workplace. Infact 2 periods of absence triggered an absence review and a written warning. Twice were actually for deaths of family members so not even an illness. We were expected to go in even if we were ill 🤦‍♀️

However ridiculous, if that's what is in your handbook that's what they need to do. All you need to do is explain and you're simply cooperating.

Rare for me to be off, last time before last week it was 4 months ago and then 6 months before that one.

Sorry but that is not rare, and am not surprised your employer is checking in with you.

I would think being ill 3 times in a year was rare.

Lol...if you think this then I'd hate to know the sickness rate of your colleagues

@Thatsnotmynameee rare for the wrong reason. How long were you off each time?