To text colleague on their rest day?

[Carlie97]

The office is closed today. Colleague has been unwell, though wfh. I line manage them. There's a meeting tomorrow that I will need to cover and get supplies for, meaning I will have to set off much earlier to get these supplies and get the meeting set up, therefore earlierto bed for me tonight. I asked colleague to text me today to let me know if they'd be in tomorrow so I can step in and sort the meeting but they haven't text. Aibu to text them on their day off to check in with them?

If you both agreed that she would confirm with you today, you could send her a friendly text. I know, when you're sick though, it's hard to know how you'll feel and it could put her recovery back too stressing about it. You could try get someone else instead. So you have someone hand who could help you in case she's not in. Contact her first thing in the morning if you are leaving it til tomorrow

If they are wfh they are not off sick and so can’t see any harm you messaging and they should be expected to reply. It would be different if they were too unwell to work at all and actually off sick.

If you line manage them then you'll know whether they'll react normally or claim this has caused literal actual distress.

This would be perfectly fine in my workplace and we'd all be a bit wtf if someone moaned about this.

I have to work and cover. It's not being a martyr, it's just working. I find some comments on here really odd.

Thank you 😊 I've been really nice and understanding telling them to not rush back to the office until they're up to it.

If they are wfh of course you can message them

In my workplace if I was off sick but had a big meeting coming up that I was responsible for my line manager would absolutely message to check in about it and I wouldn't mind. People obviously feel differently tho looking at the responses on here

I think it depends on the person tbh. There's some people no matter how trivial the text from a manager they'll either be anxious or pissy about it. But generally, no I don't think you should contact them on a rest day.

Ya, I think if it was mentioned already, then you could give her a text. You could say something like 'Hi, hope you're feeling better. Just giving you a friendly reminder about the meeting tomorrow. Now, if you don't feel up to it then that's absolutely fine, no pressure but if you could please let me know by the morning, it would be much appreciated so that alternative arrangements can be made. Thanks again and get well soon x'.

I see no harm in it really. Either that or first thing in the morning

If they are WFH today you can contact them. If this is a day off for them... it is Sunday... then leave them alone. Yesterday they were WFH, so you should have got your act together and messaged them yesterday, asking them to let you know if they wouldn't be able to come in on Monday. That's old fashioned isn't it? But I do believe that if someone who isn't at work should be left alone. Unless they are some high powered, high paid individual with massive responsibilities.

If it were me, I would msg but to tell them i was covering it. That way they dont feel pressured to decide or answer tonight, and you know where you stand.

'Hi Hazel, just a quick msg to say I hope you are feeling better. With regards to the meeting tomorrow, just wanted to let you know that I will get the supplies. I just didn't want thinking about it on your first day back. If you are better and coming in then fab, look forward to seeing you and if not then hope to see you soon. Best wishes, Nicky'

If you are wondering whether you should text a colleague who's potentially ill on a Sunday (when presumably they wouldn't be working anyway) then you almost certainly shouldn't!

You are making quite a mountain out of this op. Do not text, ring in sick yourself and go and get your emergency bloods done. Meeting can either be postponed to later in the day once you arrive or go ahead minus you and the supplies....is it food and drink or stationary? Either way I'm sure it can be done without.

agree with Wanda above that your bloods are your priority. the meeting can be postponed. that will give you time to check in with your colleague about how they are too. if you need to get stuff for a meeting it should be done on company time not your unpaid time. can you send someone out tomorrow during the day to get whatever it is?

Me and my manager regularly text and ring each other on our days off/evenings to have a quick chat about work.
But we also go out for work drinks etc and so we’re pretty friendly.

Am I correct in thinking that if she’s in, then she will take the meeting and you won’t need to go in early or get supplies etc - if so, then I would absolutely text her and it’s poor communication on her part that she hasn’t done this herself already.

If it simply means that you’ll just have to get additional supplies, then I would just do this anyway.

If she doesn’t reply, then I would assume she’s coming in and can take the meeting.
If she doesn’t turn up and hasn’t communicated this to you then I’d be giving her disciplinary action.

They had agreed that she would text OP today but hasn’t yet.

I agree that they should have agreed for it to have been done yesterday by the end of the working day but it would have been rude of OP to text yesterday if they had agreed for her to let OP know today.

If they’re working, albeit from home, can’t you call them? Much quicker and more effective than hanging about hoping for a message.

I don’t mind if my
manager has to text me on a day off, because sometimes I have to drop him a message. It’s fine once in a blue moon and as a colleague with my boss, I wouldn’t see him struggle with an easily answered question within my specialisms and vice versa, for the sake of a quick text.

Actually, OP, WonderingWanda has it right.
Take a breath. You don’t sound like you are doing too great. Do you need some time off?

Neither of us were working yesterday. I spoke to them on Thursday during working hours (we were both working that day) and we agreed they would text me today to let me know if they would be in or not.

I do but I can't. I've had a really shitty 12 months with my mental health and had a few weeks sick. Anymore time off sick would be very much frowned upon I think, although they were all supportive when I was off before. I'm finding it difficult to cope with life.

OP just text them.
You need to know.

I’m a line manager and absolutely would not do this. It winds me up if my direct reports contact me at the weekend to say if they’re off the next day!

Even if they were supposed to be sorting a meeting and couldn't make it so giving you a heads up that you'd have to get up early and go do it?

I was glad I asked in the end as it meant I could plan my journey and where to get the supplies en route. My colleague is also not the best in communicating, so best I knew yesterday than he didn't text me this morning and I'd have to go out of the office to get stuff. It all worked out ok in the end.