Off sick for years

[BoredandStuck]

Someone I work with has been off work sick for over two and a half years now. That seems a really long time without them being sacked or let go. Has anyone else come across anything similar or longer?

It sounds like he didn't win anyway.

We had someone being paid past the six months full, six months half pay for two years. They stayed on full pay until their death. They had a brain tumour and were receiving treatment so couldn’t work.
The circumstances of someone else’s sick pay is none of your business.
Be grateful you’re not in their position and have good health.

You have no idea about the state of my health

Yes. My colleague who has terminal cancer. They're keeping her on the books so her husband can get the death in service benefit. Hth and probably does not affect you in any way shape or form. It's called being a good employer

Btw colleague has never been replaced and between us other 3 colleagues, we are more than happy to pick up her slack. Because she's dying.

That’s what you took from my comment? I thought your post was about your colleague who’s been unwell for years.

I don't understand why people are being so rude to the OP? Yes concerns about her workload should go to her employer but it is relevant to that conversation to know potentially how long the situation might go on for and if most companies have time limits!

OP hasn't asked for health information or accused the colleague of faking it or getting an easy ride etc

I presume they are in non pay by now so why have they not got someone to cover?

I had a colleague off sick for 10 months because of the impact on her mental health because of failed IVF. The company got no cover in because her sick notes would last a month or so, then the day it expired she would give one for another month. She was made redundant in the end (along with loads of others), so not sure how much longer she would have been off. It did feel like she was just reluctant to come back in, as she had not been doing well in her role either (prior to IVF), though I have no doubt her mental health was bad when it failed.

Thanks

While I think it's lovely that your colleague has support, I don't see why that translates as you being happy to pick up her work. It isn't her you are doing a favour for, it's your employer. Who will now have realised you are able to cope with one less person in the team so they don't need to replace them.

That's fine. We were overstaffed anyway and my colleague is irreplaceable.

Then you aren't in the situation of picking up any slack are you?

Apparently it can go on indefinitely. This recent story is jaw dropping. 15 years on tge sick on £67000 a year then he tried to sue because he didn’t get a pay rise! https://www.businessinsider.com/sick-leave-years-sued-ibm-no-salary-pay-rise-failed-2023-5

Second time this has been posted on this thread.
It seems a lot of people did not realise that Income Protection Insurance is a thing. And yes, it can go on until retirement.

The chap in the article lost his case. He was a CF to try, but that is not to say everyone else that is claiming their salary through the same scheme is a CF too or is somehow taking the piss.
My best friend has been on it for nearly 10 years, but she would rather have her health and old job back.

Agreed, it is just part of the employment benefits package so it should be used when required.

But OP and colleagues have been covering this work for 2.5 years without raising an issue.

Someone in my NHS department has been off for three years and our employer cant do a thing about it as the union is involved. She's basically incompetent which they can sack her for except everytime her competency is bring tested she goes off sick again so the process cant be completed.
We cant replace her until she goes so the rest of us have to pick up all her work. Its exhausting as its a small busy department.
Ive done countless hours of overtime doing her work and Im a year from retirement and can do without this kind of burden.
She knows exactly how to play the system.
She tells me she has long covid but that doesn't prevent her doing all her hobbies such as running and competitive sports because she loves to ring her friend at work and tell her what a great time she's having.

The NHS seems to be rife with this. My son’s partner works in it and yes she has two examples of people being off for years

The process absolutely can be completed when she's off sick. It's a reflection on the incompetence of your employer that it hasn't been done yet. Not an uncommon story though.

It could yes. If its affecting your workload you need to speak to management. Guesswork about the absentees personal situation, or trying to find comparisons, won't achieve anything, because no two circumstances are the same, so thats really totally irrelevant.

Yes this is a poor management issue. Not a legal impediment

Except it might not be appropriate for this particular individual? Again its a case of not knowing someone's actual circumstances and assuming just letting them go is the answer?

It’s not due to sickness. It’s due to being incapable for work. If you have a job you’re meant to turn up and perform the role. If you can’t, that’s a problem. Accommodations do need to be made for disabilities.

Ive no idea if letting her go would be appropriate. But, if this is an accurate description of this employers capability process...

She's basically incompetent which they can sack her for except everytime her competency is bring tested she goes off sick again so the process cant be completed

... then the employer has a flawed capability process.