Advice please, upset and angry!

[LittleNoona]

This could be a really long post, but for the sake of quickness I'll just lay out the bare bones of it.

I was off sick last week, for the whole week. On the Thursday I went to the Gp in the morning, then to a supermarket to get my prescription, then home.

One of my colleagues has reported to my team leader that they saw me at a different place at a time I was at home.

I now have a disciplinary meeting.

Can I ask who reported this - it's a blatant lie

You can ask but it's unlikely they'd tell you. It's to stop you going and decking them one before the meeting or intimidating them into withdrawing their accusation. I know your accusation is rubbish, but the employer won't know that yet and there will be cases where someone has been seen somewhere they shouldn't have been.

Do you have an appointment card for the GP (unlikely) or your receipt when you paid for your prescription, or the medicine pack / bottle (which will have the date on)?

They have to prove you were somewhere unsuited to you being ill - the shopping centre or the beach or something. Tesco's won't be unexpected because you still need to eat.

Ok, so I understand they won't tell me beforehand - but will they afterwards?

I genuinely was sick - posted here about it and was worried about taking the time off.

I have my medicines - printed labels with date dispensed. But no time!

I'm gutted someone I work with could blatantly lie about me like this - don't know how I'm gonna manage next week

Email the doctors and ask for them to reply with your appt time ?

You have been invited to an investigatory meeting took put your facts across and investigate the allegation.

You can prove your doctors appointment by asking the gp and by receipts in the supermarket, sheesh you can even tell them all about the programme you watched whilst allegedly playing volley ball whilst off sick!

It's down to them to provide proof that they know for a fact you are lying.

You went to the go who gave you medication what more is there to say?

Hope it all goes well

Thanks. I have a feeling I'm going to get dismissed though.

I've had quite a bit of time off with migraines which they aren't happy about, even though I told them at interview that I suffer with them frequently.

Unfit to WORK does not mean unfit to leave the house. It is none of their business where you were or what you were doing as long as you weren't working at the time.

I had a similar situation, signed off work with depression caused by work, GP told me I had to get out and about as locking myself away would exacerbate the situation. Someone told my boss I was out all night on my birthday. I wasn't, I was in, but even if I had been it is none of their business and they have no right to ask.

Speak to ACAS, if you have a fit note that states you are unfit for work that's

Oops...

...The end of that.

Thanks all

I'm going to find this week difficult I think.

I've remembered that actually I was where this person said I was. I had popped to the petrol station as DP was at work and the car needed petrol for him to collect dd that afternoon.

So, now what?

The person who saw me. Would have seen me clutching a bottle of water as I felt so nauseous. I hadn't bee n 24 hours clear of diarrhoea the time, and paid at the pump so didn't go in.

Shit.

So you were at a petrol station? So what? As a previous poster said you have been signed off as unfit to work, not as unfit to leave the house!

Are you a member of a union? If not speak to ACAS and see if they can point you in the direction of some leaflets etc. You should have the option to bring a friend or trusted colleague with you for support - useful if they can take notes etc for you so you can concentrate on what is going on.

Would it help to write everything down so you have some notes to refer to in the meeting?

Point out that you were less than 24 hours clear of diarrhoea. Explain that you have been feeling really stressed and worried about this and you feel that there is a malicious aspect to this allegation. If they get arsey, ask them to clarify exactly what you are supposed to have done wrong and can they show you the bit of the sickness management policy that you have breached.

How awful for you - how petty of whoever reported you

Of course you needed petrol and to go to the pharmacy.

Did the doctor sign you off sick? If so you would have been unable to go to work without invalidating the business insurance.

Thanks - the dr did not sign me off.

I have a feeling that because they are unhappy with my absence levels they will use me being seen out as a way to get rid of me.

I will contact ACAS and see what they say, unfortunately I'm not a member of a union. If by any chance I still have a job on Monday I will join a union ASAP!

Oh, and just to add, I work a 4 minute drive from my home, and the supermarket is about the same distance in the opposite direction, so it's not like I was far from home - I couldn't have been incase I needed to get back to the loo