Working while on sick leave

[dancingthroughthedark]

If you are signed off sick from a job when you do a similar job voluntarily in your spare time. Can you continue to do the voluntary work? Would you need to make your employer aware you were doing this?

I wouldn't of thought this was allowed. If you're able to do volunteer work you can surely do your paid job, even if it's a couple of hours a day?

Depends on why off sick such as creating travel issues which apply to paid employment but not volunteer role.

It entirely depends on why you are on sick leave and what your paid employment is.

I assume you're signed off suck due to stress at work and the voluntary job isn't stressful so you feel you can cope but it's dangerous territory where roles are very similar.

It isn't me . I am also a volunteer and am concerned the organisation could get into trouble. I cannot seem to find the answer online and wanted to know if there were legal concerns before approaching the Committee. We are a small organisation depending heavily on the time of our volunteers and the expertise they bring. It's not stress it's long term treatment for a serious condition. There are no travel implications both offices are on the same street.

I don't think the charity would be in trouble but your volunteer could potentially be dismissed by her employer.

I wouldn't have thought there are issues for your charity but there could be v serious issues for the volunteer whose employer might take a dim view should they be aware.

I'm not sure the employer would be to impressed and I imagine the employee could be disciplined.

As others have said there are no issues at all for the voluntary organisation. The individual's employer may not be impressed but it depends on why they are signed off. It may be that they can't do their regular job but, despite the similarity, can manage the voluntary job, e.g. because it is less demanding. But any issues are between the individual and their employer. Nothing to do with the voluntary organisation.

Hmmm. Part of our first call protocol asks the staff member ' do you have a second occupation?' So there must be some implication but not sure if this is for SSP purposes or more to do with contract of employment. I don't have a second occ but I have just been asked that question.