AIBU to be fed up with colleagues repeatedly off sick?

[IngridsLittleToe]

I'm going to get my arse handed to me and I don't care. Sick staff....I'm so over feeling sympathetic. I'm not talking really sick staff...I'm talking repeated back ache/gynae problems/migraine/back ache/sore throat/cold/depression/back ache/sinusitis/cold/sore big toe....

They have been on repeated sickness absence management and pull it back from the brink each time. Only to start all over again. Years and years of this. The rest of the team have to pick up the pieces, cancel their jobs to cover someone else's and the sickie doesn't have any loyalty at all.

The whole time they are sick they manage to socialise and do a voluntary role. Any attempt to manage the sickness is met with claims of bullying and then they go sick with anxiety.

All on full pay.

AIBU to think they are shamelessly playing the system and should be sacked

Hmmm, it’s the opposite actually

A week at a time……and then again a few weeks later.

Then let’s add the credibly of a fit note from the GP which recent research has highlighted the concerns with.

Your posts seem to indicate you think I’m devoid of empathy for people who are genuinely unwell.

You’d be incorrect if that’s the assumption you are making and in equating having a low tolerance for people who demonstrably abuse sickness policy with not being in favour of supporting people who face significant health challenges.

You can socialise and not be fit for work.

Yeah this makes me crazy too. People in so many industries now find this, public private, third sector, industrial...

I like most others also think there needs to be good support for people who are really sick, but holy fuck that is not what is going on in a lot of cases. Between the fear of HR and the actual laws, it is massively difficult to just fire people like this.

My sister, who works at a much more high end kind of place than I do, told me they only fire people there when it would open them up to liability if they don't. In every other case they pay them to leave because it is easier and often cheaper.

My db has a small business and has been thinking of taking on a few employees as things are getting more time consuming, but he's reluctant to hire. I wouldn't have credited it as a young person, but these days I do wonder to what degree employment law can in fact end up suppressing job creation.

We only have OP's view on this.
Not the medical records of this employee, her reports from OH, her sick notes from her GP.
Just froth from OP.
And she did mention health conditions that she thinks is swinging the lead, so you can surely see why that got some people's back up.

Something needs to be done as it is rife in the public sector and unfair on the tax paying public.

Do you want to know why we’re “triggered”?

Because we have genuine chronic incurable illnesses.

It took me 18 years for gynaecologists to properly investigate my pain. Instead of fobbing me off with hormonal contraception and referrals to psychiatry, because of course the pain must have been “all in my head”. Y’know the chronic pelvic pain, back pain, leg pain, heavy bleeding for weeks at a time, chronic fatigue.

It took me 18 years to finally get a diagnosis of endometriosis.

Years of having to have to take long periods of time off work because I would be screaming in pain, ruining bedsheets, mattresses and clothing from the blood.

But yeah, go ahead and call me a “bludger” a “lazy bastard” that I’m “triggered” whatever makes you feel better about yourself duck ☺️

This illness and the symptoms have made me suicidal multiple times since I was a teenager. But after reading that comment- I would much rather be me than ever be you with this vile mindset.

ODFOD
I had lots of time of sick, but I actually loved my job and was absolutely devastated when I could no longer do it.
But yeah, I am a "bludger" or whatever.

I haven’t spoken for you.

I’ve voiced my own opinion on a public forum (arguably more respectfully than you have).

Ironically, you incorrectly assume I have no idea what it is like to have a chronic condition and how difficult that can be to manage in a workplace context.

I didn’t realise that sharing my health condition was a pre-requisite for posting nor that it was a vital factor in legitimising my perspective 🙄.

Aww is it not relevant because it doesn’t fit your vile agenda?

Yep. Buh bye ducky 😆😘

If people are so sick that they can't do their job anymore than they shouldn't have that job anymore, and the employer should be able to fill the role with someone else.

You said the following, which are sadly all untrue:

You have medical appointments to attend. You have a diagnosis. - I had 17 years of my adult life without a diagnosis. So you can imagine how hard it was to prove to various employers that I was truly unwell.

All legitimate and easily evidenced. - Unfortunately not easily evidenced at all. Gynaecologists are incredibly uneducated about endometriosis, never mind GPs! Some of the stuff my GP would quickly jot down on my Fit Notes for work were shocking.

in addition to that, I would assume your absences don’t always coincide with being allocated work that’s not your “favourite” or being put on a performance plan for poor performance. - Sadly also untrue.

Likewise I’m sure you return to work when you are well enough to do so, not when you’ve hit x many days of annual sickness that trigger HR intervention or the week after the annual sickness accounting period resets. - Untrue.

Forgive me but I am shocked at your views if you also sadly suffer from a chronic incurable health condition.

Of course sharing a health condition isn’t a pre-requisite for posting here, I would have thought you would have had more of an understanding however. I guess not.

There are protections though. You can't just sack someone for being off sick.

She doesn’t have to go because she is sick. That’s discrimination I’ve been off sick for years

You are up late. School tomorrow.

Is this making you feel better about yourself?

For someone to find another persons distress amusing is truly concerning.

The system is there to support the people who have real need.

It won't last forever if people are able to take the piss like this. Eventually it will be unaffordable and the people paying for it - the other staff, clients, and perhaps taxpayers - won't accept it.

Jesus.

Of course they can be legitimate issues.

It wouldn't be useful to shirkers if it wasn't the case.

They are also easy to fake as a chronic issue at work.

That is why piss takers will claim to have those issues.

If you are not a pisstaker, then it doesn't apply to you.

My point is how does one differentiate me to a “piss taker”? Especially since I’ve only had a formal diagnosis for the past year.

Before I had my endo diagnosis how would anybody have been able to tell I was ill or a “piss taker”? How would anybody have been able to tell I was “faking” a chronic issue or not?

I think that if multiple employees are off sick for months at a time for "spurious reasons" then their manager needs to be having a word with themselves.

Lol what? Why is the NHS exempt? My friends works in NHS HR and says abuse of the generous sickness policy is rife.

And all paid for out of our taxes.

I have been on both sides of the coin.
Have u name changed op ? I get you are venting but do people from work know you are on here ? People have a way of finding these things ...please be careful x

This. But think of the poor business owners! Don't run businesses that you cannot afford to run. What disgusting attitudes to staff , especially disabled staff or those with long term illnesses.

Ah so you’re one of these sick note people

Unless you are medically qualified to make this judgement....you shouldn't be making it. Are you medically qualified?