Off sick and manager wants to have a catchup?

[Applerumbles]

I’ve been off sick from work with MH issues for well over a year.
My line manager has just emailed to ask tor a catchup call to see how I am and what they can do to support me.
I can’t face talking to him (or anyone really) so would it be ok to say that I’m not well enough for a call and that I am still getting medical treatment for my illness?
Im not sure he should be contacting me if I am off sick and providing fitnotes?

Ok thanks for the clarification.

Regardless, tou are within your rights to request another method of communication. The longer you put it off, the worse you are going to make it for both your work and your own mental health (voice of experience)

Yes, that’s a good point. I’ve realised from the replies on this thread that I can’t just ignore it however bad I feel. Hopefully the union will support me by reviewing my contract and the terms of the income protection insurance.

Huh.

If that’s the case then why are you still on the books there?

Are you looking for a job more suited to your disposition?

I’ve been assessed as not capable of any work at the moment so my aim is to get fit enough to go back to my job.

All the more reason to meet with your manager so they can support you to get fit enough to return and enable you continue to claim insurance in the meantime. I imagine the insurance company will require you to engage with your employer as a condition of the payout, but without meeting them you won't know what the t&c's are.

Yes very reasonable of them to ask for a catch up. It’s probably in your sick policy that you have to keep in touch. If you really can’t face it, you could suggest communicating by email

If you have been off for a while year and you refuse to even talk to your employer on the phone I would think they could dismiss you as you are refusing to engage with company policy on sickness and you are incapable of doing your job.

It seems you know full well you will never feel ready to return to your job but are stringing out not telling them just to get insurance money. It sounds dishonest to me. If you can't or won't go back you should tell your employer so they can dismiss you and get another employee.

That is absolutely terrible “advice”.

There is absolutely no dishonesty. She was insured against a health event. That health event happened. Therefore she is receiving the payout from the policy.

For the moment - but the OP has no idea how long that will continue or whether engaging with her employer (inc Occ Health) is a condition of the payout.

Yes, as I advised upthread.

But the absolute worst thing to do would be to say “I’m not coming back - I resign”

Of course she shouldn't do that. She might find that continuing to refuse to engage takes away that choice though.

I haven’t refused to engage and I will engage now that they have asked me to do so.

Your OP and subsequent posts indicated otherwise, but I'm glad you're going to engage with your manager now.

I don’t think they did. I was asking for advice about whether I had to engage with my manager and the consensus is that I do.

My dh went through this. He was very ill.
Initially contact with his employer was via me. We then did some calls jointly.
He did return to work but unfortunately too quickly. The second return was successful and phased. He works part time now with adaptations.

What are the terms and conditions of your policy? Yes many do cover you until state retirement age but only while you’re still employed by the company & after a year many will often try and pull the trigger. Having said that I know my last company has kept at least employees on the books for 20 years so they can claim on the company policies so they may be willing to just keep you on provided they can touch base regularly.

I would suggest talking to your manager, tell him / her about the inpatient treatment, explain that you are still unwell but work with them about when you can begin to talk about transition slowly back into work. It will / should be a slow transition and guided from your GP’s fit notes.

If you feel you can’t return then you probably need to plan for your company firing you (and ending your policy). Before you tell them anything assess your finances, eligibility for benefits, begin to explore other types of work & then start from there from there.

Excellent advice.

You said in your OP that he's requested a meeting but you couldn't face talking to him and asked if he should be contacting you given you're off (and from memory you've been for nearly 2 years with no contact). That seemed to indicate you didn't want to contact him.

It's good that you are planning to respond though - that way, you'll have a clearer idea of where you stand and you can both work on a plan to support you back to employment.

I don’t want to contact him but that’s not the same as saying that I’m refusing to engage with him.

I'm very glad - nearly 2 years without any contact with your employer isn't good.

When is he calling you OP? Maybe write a few notes down to structure the conversation? Things like what a typical day looks like for you, treatment you are undertaking and milestones you want to achieve? You can then steer the conversation towards the income protection scheme and raise some questions around that. Don’t be afraid to ask directly what it would mean if you didn’t return and what options you have e.g returning on a very phased return ( I think OH need to be involved with that).

Check what welfare benefits might be available ( PIP and contribution based ESA for example).

nothing arranged yet.

Surely thats why a face to face meeting should be required. Interacting face to face will give non verbal information to the Employers in real time. Phone calls initially would have helped as written communication can be edited at leisure.