Holiday photos on Facebook whilst off sick

[TeaAndBrie]

Really interested to hear opinions on this one.
Staff member off long term sick (fully paid as local gov) due to mental health issues, signed off by GP for 4 months so far.
staff member is friends with manager on Facebook.
staff member has been uploading photos of holiday abroad on Facebook.
i would not expect someone who is on LTS for mental health reasons to never leave the house etc
Holiday photos seem a bit much though - especially when manager and other colleagues who can see these pics are having to pick up all of the work whilst he is away.
YABU - let them have their holiday, it’s good for them!
YANBU - let them have the holiday but would be better to have have pics on SM

God they’re brazen aren’t they!

Hmm see it could be recommended to have a holiday for mental health reasons however personally I wouldn’t post all over social media

Well it's the manager presumably that needs to have problem with it so just leave it to them.
If it breaches contract then she'll be spoken to and disciplined.

Either way I'd just forget about it. It's not affecting your workload or ability to do your job is it?

I personally wouldn't post pictures of a holiday on SM if I was off sick. But if she knows the manager will see she's either foolish or she knows it's not an issue.

I wouldn't do it because I'd be too sick to either go away or post anything. But not everyone is the same.

Its unwise to post on social media because people are judgemental, but I see nothing wrong in going on holiday. It might be good for them and it's different to dealing with everyday life. After all, the Victorians used to prescribe the seaside to unwell people, so must be merit in it

id say a holiday is great for MH recovery, I can see why maybe for her own sake to avoid judgement they maybe shouldn’t have posted pics but in terms of how it affects you I’m not sure?

You see this drives me a bit mad. It’s happened where I work on many occasions.

In each case I don’t mind them having their holiday and agree it might be good for them but it seems so rude to post about it on SM. In my case these colleagues time off sick has meant significantly more stress and work for me so to see them boasting about their amazing time maybe with #sorelaxed or something really boils my blood!!

My mum was very much of the mind that, if you were too ill for school, you were too ill to go out, and I have had to unlearn that attitude, to a certain extent, since developing mental health issues.

I can see how someone might be too mentally unwell to work, but would benefit from a holiday - but posting the photos on social media seems unwise.

From the OP which you've presumably just read....

"other colleagues who can see these pics are having to pick up all of the work whilst he is away."

Maybe the holiday was already booked?
Maybe it is the best thing for their recovery?
Maybe it was the job that led to their MH challenges?
Maybe having judgemental colleagues contributed?
Maybe they can do what they like while off sick?

Would you be equally as judgemental if they had a physical health problem and needed time off to recover? Or is it just mental health that gets your knickers in a twist?

After my dh had a breakdown he was advised to go away.
But he didn't post on social media

This is a problem with SM.

yes, a holiday is really good for your MH unless crowds and socialise are an issue.

But to post it all over SM is disrespectful imo.

They're only unwise to post pictures because of the judgement of people like you, and those on here who think this is somehow wrong.

The person is off with mental health issues and has every right to be away from home, otherwise known as a holiday. You are not the GP. You are not occupational health. You are not the manager. You do not have to be satisfied that this person is off legitimately, as that has already been established positively. Mind your business, and climb down off your judgy steed.

for all of the people who have asked why it affects me - I am the manager!
Holiday was definitely not pre booked (I approve their leave)
I wasn’t judging, I was just curious as it’s not something I’ve come across before.
I will check policies etc tomorrow
i agree that time away can be really therapeutic and I did say I don’t expect them to not leave the house etc
its the SM thing that feels awkward and that’s what I was asking about as things are so terribly stretched at work and I know this will be seen by the whole team so wanted an impartial (as much as possible for AIBU!) opinion

I had TWO holiday one year when I was extremely unwell mentally. I hadn't planned to be, and they'd been booked ages before, but life happens and I was instructed by my work and my GP to take some time off.
I was very worried that I would be judged and sniffed at, but luckily I have kind and understanding people in my life, so went.
They helped hugely and it probably were part of the reason I could go back to work sooner than expected.
And yes, I did put some snaps on SM so people could see me getting better.

Ok sorry. But then the manager needed to organise a temporary replacement as the person is off for months regardless of whether they're on holiday or not.

Haha that’s great - we don’t have budget to fully staff the team as it is - there is no hope of getting a replacement!

A holiday when on sick leave is absolutely fine - might help speed the recovery in some cases. Nobody should have to sit staring at the four walls all day just because they're unable to work.

Posting one's holiday snaps all over the socials, on the other hand, is just daft.

a holiday sounds like exactly what your colleague needs.

and you sound like you don’t have a clue about mental illness

very poor practice to be Facebook friends with your line reports

Are they still on full pay?

I would try very hard not to let it but it would piss me off tbh, thought I wouldn't verbalise that.

I’m pretty sure there’s case law that says this is fine. Posting over social media is unwise maybe but it’s ok to go on holiday when you are off sick.

A holiday whilst on sick leave can be totally legitimate. It's not as though they're off with a broken leg and being pictured water skiing. If they are off with mental health issues, a holiday may be beneficial. They are, perhaps, imprudent to post the pictures, as it open them up to judgy fuckers.

Yep, off on full pay for up to 6 months and then it would go to half pay.

I understand Mental Health and support them to do things to enhance their wellbeing - it’s the SM posts that I was asking for opinions on.

It's not their fault staffing is so short that others have to pick up their work.

But on the other hand, I think holiday photos on SM are distasteful when you're off on long term sick.

A restful holiday while off sick is fine.
A holiday of any type when struggling with mental health is fine.

What would be unacceptable is an activity holiday - climbing, strenuous hiking, skiing etc when off with a bad back

They’re off on sick leave for 4 months for mental health reasons. You don’t have the budget to replace them. Your team is already stretched and I’d probably argue stretched for a while if a team member has been signed off for mental health reasons for 4 months.

So honestly, what are your options? Spend time you don’t have looking through policies about social media use (but presumably they aren’t criticising workplace so will unlikely fall fowl of that) to have a long drawn out grievance procedure (because local gov) to maybe get him fired and further demoralise your team. Or let your unwell team member enjoy their holiday and hope it benefits them in the long run and they are back after 4 months and not signed off longer. For any team members that feel it’s unfair, remind them the sooner he is back, the sooner the load is shared and continue to make a case for his replacement, even when there is no budget so at least your team know you’re trying.