To disagree with my mannager about if diarrhea is reason to WfH

[HonestPenguin]

How bad would diarrhoea need to be for you to work from home?

I have had bowel surgery, and from time to time I get what I would consider to be severe diarrhoea. As an example, over the last 24 hours I have been to the toilet 14 times. It’s all very watery, and I feel some nausea and just vaguely unwell.

When talking to my manager, I explained that from time to time I may need to work from home more than expected, as a result of the bowel surgery and the severe diarrhoea I sometimes experience. Her response was to say that we all get stomach bugs and that I need to meet the expectation.

Well her point is stupid as people shouldn’t be going to work with stomach bugs either.

I think the issue for a manager is that its an open cheque which isnt great for employers who cant or dont like staff to wfh. I would probably look at calling a formal meeting to discuss your medical situation with evidence, and explain your needs. I would also want HR there.

Manager sounds awful. If I had been to the toilet 14 times I would feel whacked and sore. If ur job was completely office based, u wouldn't go in. Saying you will work from home is a compromise. Can u get some sort of documentation to support you in this? I had a friend at work who would have a couple of days off every few months due to this issue. Management knew she had a colostomy bag and supported her in this matter. This was probably 10 years ago. Think the culture in many places has completely changed. Hope u find some resolution.

This needs a formal request for reasonable adjustments to be made based on a medical need. Id request a meeting with your manager and HR. Send your medical evidence and if possible a doctors letter to support. Equally if you are needing the toliet that many times a day are you able to work effectively? Or should you be off sick..

Yes this.
I have a team member who has a bowel condition. WFH when needed is part of her reasonable adjustments after her occupational health assessment. You need to ask for one for your own protection.
To answer your question - any diarrhea is a reason to WFH IMO. You cannot be running to the toilet in the office every time you need to go! That's unpleasant, humiliating and risky.

Ask for an Occupational Health referral. Your manager is not medically qualified but they are. Sorry you are experiencing such dreadful symptoms x

I wouldnt even bother with a formal meeting. The manager sounds awful. Total lack of empathy which a formal meeting won't fix.

I bet it won't be the first thing she is difficult about.

Quiet quit and look for another job. Don't waste anymore energy than necessary on this one.

ETA - agree with going over her head to OH/HR to get what you need in place. But stand by my point above.

You need a doctor”s letter confirming that you have what can be classed as a disability like my colleague with Crohns

Id go over her head to HR. You could, armed with doc letter or without, ask to see occupational health who are likely to back you up with adjustments you need.

If you need to dash to the toilet that often, how on earth could you safely manage a commute??

I think these are certainly acceptable grounds to work from home.

I agree, it has to go via occupational health/ HR and a reasonable adjustment needs to be put into place.

I don't think your manager is wrong, just very clumsy. I think what they tried to say is either you are too ill to work and have to stay at home or you are well enough and meet expectations as your contract states.

See GP. Get confirmation letter or email. See OH. Get reasonable adjustments made and documented

I don't think that is what she tried to say at all.

[it would seem / my gut feeling is that ] She is yet another manager, in a managerial position who hasn't has the experience, nouse or wisdom to be in such position.

This is such a basic mistake, one should know these things by the time they are promoted into such positions.

OP was this manager promoted too young and inexperienced or something?

Sligytest hint of the squits and i'm off work; i'm not shitting myself for anyone.

Would it be much different in the office compared to trying to work from home? Do you have a long commute? I guess they could say that you’re too unwell to work at home too.

The issue is when people wfh all the time in situations like this to avoid triggering sickness policies.

I have had a staff member do this. She has IBS and says she needs to wfh a lot for this reason. In reality the days she wfh, she is ill, she barely does anything. But she does not log it as a sick day because she insists she's "working from home" so it's invisible on her record and sickness policy cant kick in. It's been really difficult for me as a manager. HR are really struggling with it as we have retail staff who feel its completely unfair corporate staff can wfh & effectively dodge the sickness policy.

Surely you can see from online presence and output whether the colleague is actually working or not?

I would say that you shouldn’t be working at all on those days.

The alternative is that you take those days off sick.

What is your company sick pay policy like?

Speak to HR.

this is a medical requirement.

Shes an absolute arse (pardon the pun). I think you need to speak to HR

Hr and get stuff in writing.

You need to speak to occupational health and get it written into your contract as a disability/medical need.

Quite frankly you should be off sick with physical symptoms that are so severe. Which is probably what OH would say.

No she shouldn't be off sick with diarrhea if she can manage it at home and continue to work. Advising someone with a chronic condition to take the day off sick every time it flares is a fast track to the person being dismissed on health grounds.

Ypu shpuldnt have to have a meeting to discuss your bowel movements! How insensitive of ypur manager

they should be able to handle this sensitively, discretely and apply a fair judgement. Which they obviously cannot