AIBU to think informing ten colleagues while off sick is unreasonable?

[eestameen]

I was off sick yesterday with a serious migraine. First time I’ve been off from work with illness in almost two years and first time at my current workplace (started 3 months ago).

I checked the HR manual and it said I had to notify HR and my Manager before my usual start time of 8am. Set an internal and external out of office.

I did this and then told my Manager I would follow up with what projects I was working on and what work needed to be done that day

I emailed my Manager this list and included who I was working with, i e who might expect work from me that day. It was over 10 people.

Logged off and laid in bed in a dark room. At 1pm I get a response from my Manager saying it is my responsibility to inform each individual I am working with that I am unwell and off work.

AIBU to think it’s crazy to expect someone off sick to have to email over ten people and also be monitoring emails? I am worried as this makes me look really bad!

That's bizarre. I would not expect any of my staff to do that.

I just need a quick message to say they are ill and then take care of the rest.

I’m a manager and all I expect is a message to tell me they’re off and why. It’s a bonus if they have already cancelled their own meetings or whatever but really there should be systems in place so a manager can see anything critical that needs to be done. You can’t rely on someone being able to function in relation to work.

That’s how I’ve always found things to run

I voted yanbu but now I think if it, if I’m off sick I do email separately someone Im
due to work on something with that day, to postpone. Don’t just inform the boss

Yeah I would not be emailing 10 colleagues while I’m off sick!

Yeah I would not be emailing 10 colleagues while I’m off sick! Never heard of that- usually just ring your line manager to inform them?

Yeah I would not be emailing 10 colleagues while I’m off sick! Never heard of that- usually just ring your line manager to inform them?

Absolutely not, this is part of their job as a manager.

No way would I email 10 people, def unreasonable. Text the boss who presumably has access to your calendar. Other work can wait, if extended sickness then could provide a work update if fit enough but the world won’t stop if not!

We get a list sent round at 9 am of who is off sick that day. So you know not to direct stuff to them, and their buddy knows to take over the tasks.

So. You expect your employees to come to work sick?
Terrible managers honestly.

Its why these days there's no loyalty. Who wants to be loyalty to a company that doesn't value you.

I worked the whole of covid. I was respected and treated very well.
I respect my work place massively.

I had a migraine today. Texted boss to tell her. Was far too sore and dizzy to log on ans email anyone. The only time i managed to get out of bed this morning was to be sick

No. But if I were her manager I wouldn’t want to be given a list of to-dos from her when she emailed in sick. If she’s well enough to email me, she’s well enough to email the relevant people with tasks that need covering or to cancel her own meetings, it would take her long.

Because I’d get sacked if I didn’t notify someone I was unwell and not working? 😂

Of course, but you should be letting all the relevant people know, not just one and job done.

My husband is a teacher and says it is less work to just go to school!

I think what’s got her back up is you sending a list of people that she is then expected to inform and relay your message to. You could have just cc’d them.

And I am 90% sure when she says inform them she means cc them, not a personal email to each.

I once had tonsillitis, I woke up when my alarm went off and text my manager to say I was sick as feeling awful. Went back to sleep and woke up 10 hours later to her asking for a full handover 🤣 In total I slept for nearly 24 hours according to my Fitbit.

She also didn't see to believe I was ill and said I won't get sick pay as I'm in my probation period (in contract it said it was discretionary). I sent her a photo of my prescription for antibiotics and she didn't bother replying.

Luckily I was friends with the girl in HR who said she would never stop someone being paid for sick unless there had been some recurring issue. She actually laughed when I told her about what a power trip the manager was on.

Some people are just delusional I think OP. They don't understand that you can be very sick.

If I had a migraine I wouldn't even remember where I worked as my head would be a mess. But if I was off with a broken leg I might be able to cc everyone I mentioned .

Oh gosh, no. How ridiculous expecting someone with a migraine to contact individual colleagues and deal with the responses. Madness

in my place, with my highly effective and competent manager, it eould go like this:

”Sorry, I’m Ill today and won’t be working”

Then , I would put on an OOO saying I’m unavailable.

Manager would reply, “very sorry to hear that- get well soon”. The end.

You went above and beyond supplying the names and contact details for people who might need to be informed. This is literally why your manager is paid more than you.

Also, the sheer ridiculousness of the teacher employer expecting a lesson plan when you’re in pre-op. Just say no. No-one will fall over if a lesson plan is not forthcoming, anyone taking a class should be able to occupy rhe kids for a period/session/day. Exception being maybe if it was their last couple of lessons before a public exam. Many workplaces (particularly educational ones in my experience) have VASTLY over-inflated senses of urgency and crisis, and overly rigid approaches.

It was so much better in the 1980s when a teacher absence day was a day to do colouring, pretend play and dressing up. No-one died.

I had to email my manager in my old job if I had a migraine. I mean my email would be barely legible as I get visual disturbances and looking at a screen is horrendous, but technically I did email her.

The most surprising thing about being off work with a “serious migraine” is that you were able to send anyone an email! And here you are the day after posting on Mumsnet 🤷🏻‍♀️

Best CC so everyone has the same email including manager. Keep it short, say you’re poorly. Do not be contactable or do follow up emails.

Exactly, because that’s what managers do don’t they?

I think by including the list of people, it would have come across as you suggesting that the manager needs to get in touch with them. Manager pushed that back on you.