Sick leave contact

[ceasar04]

Hoping someone can help me...

Background
I am currently signed off work for the second continous period for hyperemesis. I was signed off from 6 weeks pg to 12 weeks and then returned under the fit to work note for 8 weeks. My medication stopped working effectively and so I have been signed off again since end of June, GP signs me off 4 weeks at a time.

I received a letter dated 2nd August asking me to attend a review meeting (about my sick leave) on 7th Sept. This was sent to me before my current sick note (which runs out on 17th Sept) was issued so I assumed meeting would not be going ahead .

So I sent a letter in last week saying obviously I wouldn't be attending meeting but had my Mat B1 form ready and an query about holidays I need to take.

Now I had a holiday booked in August ages ago before pg and we did go on it even though I was signed off. It was ok but was very sick on plane and had a few days where I couldn't get out of bed but was holidaying with family and DH so actually had alot more help and support than here! Work knew about holiday as had booked AL ages ago and also had had a chat with HR bloke (know him quite well) about how I would manage if we did go away. This was during period when I was back at work.

Got a phone call today.

HR: hello how are you feeling?
Me: The same, sick meds not doing alot
HR: Did you enjoy your holiday?
ME: Erm not really was sick throughout.
HR: Oh you did manage to go abroad then?
ME: Yes

HR: Well just ringing about your letter, why can't you come for meeting in tomorrow?

Me: Well its 10am in the morning which is usually very bad time and also I have no idea if I will be ok to even get out of bed.

HR: There is an expectation that you attend reviews when you are signed off sick

Me: Is there? (never done this before) Well not sure if I will be able to attend.

HR: Can you ring us before 9.30am if you aren't coming in?

ME: Yes of course.

Have paraprased !!

All in all has left me a bit confused and stressed but wondering.....

1. Are you supposed to attend meetings about being off sick when you are signed off?

1. Have I done something wrong in actually going on holiday while signed off? I was encouraged to go by midwife and GP who felt it might actually do me some good to relax.

1. Am I being paraniod in thinking that HR was trying to catch me out?

Feeling all worried and stressed and SICK

Any advice would be great x x

Sorry for mammoth post!!

Yes you are meant to attend review meetings - if you were/are well enough to go abroad you're well enough to attend a meeting.

Nothing wrong in going on hols while on sick leave - you can be well enough for a hol but not well enough for work

Don't think HR were trying to catch you out - if your sick leave is genuine then you've no need to worry or stress

1. It's normal and good practice when off long-term sick to have review meetings. You were wrong to just assume it wasn't going ahead I'm afraid(it's not actually clear why you assumed that?).

Sometimes meetings take place at work, however if you are too ill to go into the office at all, then you should say so and ask them to come to your home or to a different venue. You've obviously left it very late to request that, so if you can go in you should. If you are not up to it, that's fine, phone as HR said, say you are of course happy to take part in a review meeting however would prefer they attend at your home. If you're uneasy about the meeting for any reason (you shouldn't be), then you could ask whether someone could be there with you. But honestly it's not a bad thing, especially with pg-related illness.

1. No.

1. Yes, probably!

it's reasonable that your work is asking why you can't attend the meeting yet you managed to get on a prebooked flight, there and back. do you see?

when the letter said 10am did you suggest an alternative time perhaps? or could you rearrange it for later on in the day?

Thank you lal123 for reading the huge post and responding.

Yes sick note is totally genuine, some days cannot move without being sick and have been hospitalised twice. Also was with this employer for previous pg so they are fully aware of my HG. The condition is just so varied from day to day, some days can be almost back to normal and then others horrendous.

I was worried about the holiday thing though, I am a bit of a blabbermouth and often don't think before I say things so would be an easy person to catch out!!

Feeling happier already thanks again x

What lal123 and ruddynorah said as well actually, yes. They may raise an eyebrow at least initially at the fact that you were well enough to travel abroad but not well enough to travel into the office. So if you can either go in or arrange it later in the day that might lower the raised eyebrow!

You are entitled to annual leave when you are off sick.....the leave gets recorded as annual leave instead.

You have to keep in contact. My employer negotiates a location for a meeting suitable to the employee....usually at home, at a cafe or at work....this takes the stress out of the situation....a neutral location is often better.

flowery bean bag I assumed it wouldn't be going ahead because letter was sent before my current sick note so when letter was sent I could have been back at work by tomorrow.

ruddynorah I wasn't exactly "fine" while flying, was very sick in airport and on plane, and on the side of the road several times when away but as I said there were lots of family travelling with us so I was well looked after. Easier than puking in a bush in a park while trying to hold onto a 2 year old or wrestling 2 year old out of supermarket trolley so I can run to toilets to be sick (that was my Saturday morning and this afternoon)

I did ask for a later time and he was fine about re-arranging and if I'm not up to it tomorrow then thats what I'll do.

Thank you for your replies x

scurryfudge I did wonder about that but I am totally fine with them taking holiday as AL not sick leave.

I am finding the whole being off sick difficult anyway, realistically I am not fit to work but a little voice in my head is saying but you're only pregnant you silly woman get thee to work! Everyine thinks your'e a big fat faker...

Who can't spell...

Meeting went very well today, no mention of holiday at all...my paranoia obviously.

But big thanks to everyone who posted, made me feel alot more confident going in x x