Can you get a verbal warning for being off sick?

[Crutchlow35]

DH started in February. He has been off yesterdya and today with an allergy come skin infection which has resulted in cream, steroids and antihistamines. He is going back tomorrow and has been told to attend a back to work meeting and either be spoken to about being off or receive a verbal warning.

He has been to OOH twice since last Friday and his own dr yesterday. He saw the HR girl yesterday so she saw the mess he was in but still threatens this tomorrow?

Is his attendance generally a problem?

Is it deffo for a verbal warning? Back to work meetings are perfectly normal and most larger organisations have them. It gives the hr dept the chance to manage sickness appropriately.

I would find it very harsh if this is your dh first time off sick if he gets a verbal warning! However it would be their company policy?? I am surprised if it is.

They also have a duty of care to not only your dh but to other employees in the workforce. Your dh could be highly contagious for all they know!!!

100% other than annual leave. Never been late either.

It does sound like a normal Return to Work interview to me - in which case there should be nothing to worry about - just explain the situation and what he has done to help make it better.
If he is worried he needs to get a copy of the Sickness absence policy - it may be in an EMployee Handbook

He has been told by HR he could face a verbal warning for his absence. He is very stressed about it naturally. It is a big American firm and yes, his issue with not going in yesterday until he had spoken to his gp was he didn't know if he was contagious.

Might be a big American firm but still governed by UK employment laws!

I wouldn't worry at this stage. It could be a statement they read to everyone to ensure that they are able I dosh the verbal warning out if required. I would be extremely surprised if a large organisation would be so frivolous in handing out warnings.

Unusual to give formal warnings for one day sickness, but unless the sickness was disability-related, it's perfectly legal.

It may be standard procedure for absence with short service, but if his work, attitude and attendance are otherwise good it's nothing to worry about.

As Flowery says, it is perfectly lawful.