Do you have catch up talks with your manager after you have been off sick?

[janx]

The organisation I work for has, as part of its staff well being policy, introduced mandatory 1:1 talks with Managers after sick leave. While I think it's good in principle my manager is particularly nosey and thinks she knows about every medical condition going
I feel she asks inappropriate
Questions - even if you have been off for one day. Just wondered how other companies do things

we have a post-sickness chat with team leader/manager. But usually it's just "are you feeling better?" "yes thanks" "ok then, you missed meeting X so please speak to Y to catch up on the latest"
nothing intrusive.

But I expect if you'd been off more than a few days it might be more in-depth. I think the reasoning is so that they can understand if you have recurring or long term problems that may need special consideration.
(I am not an HR expert by any means)

Thanks sleep - unfortunately even it is one day she wants lots of detail. I am rarely off sick, but am today. It seem really over the top for one day. I would expect it to be more like the conversation you and your boss has but it often isn't . I think I might have a chat with HR as it feels intrusive

i think i would speak to HR informally and find out the reasoning behind her needing to know the detail. Divulging personal stuff can be more than uncomfortable, particularly in a professional setting.

Yep, our sickness form actually has a box to tick to say I've done a return to work interview with direct reports!
I take a similar line to sleeplessbunny, and sometime adding in "is there anything you feel unable to do" if e.g been off with a bad back.

However with a repeat offender of spending a day telling us all how she's got a great night out planned, and then calling in sick the following day, I did get tougher, and started probing more along the lines your manager is going (not that it sounds like your taking the micky!)

Depending in how "nosey" she is being, this could be classed as bullying. (particularly if it is done in a way that makes the employee feel they are not being believed or are being challenged unfairly).
As someone else suggested I would check with HR informally.
Also if she is trying to give you medical advice (I sort of get this impression from your post) this is out of line, even if she is s doctor!

It's now standard - it's all about duty of care to employee and checking that the organisation is not doing anything to make you sick. Of course, it does make nosey managers rub their hands in glee but it should be about your welfare and ensuring stress is not causing absences etc. it is also about covering the company's ass later down the line....

yes we have them as standard, not that mine always bothers doing them depending. There is form which asks questions like
Why were you off
is this a reoccurring illness
what steps are you taking/can we take to make sure this won't happen again (if applicable)
Is there anything you can't do at work
Are you better
do you have any new medical needs which require accommodating.
that sort of thing. Although we are allowed to not tell our direct manager the reason for our absence we would have to tell someone from HR instead

Yes return to work interview are part of our sickness policy.

As a manager I need to know why someone has been off to identify patterns and for consideration during escalation of policy, looking at support, occ health etc.

We have return to work forms (LA so forms for everything :)) and there is a box to fill in for the reason. I don't ask for loads of info as I think sickness is private and I trust my team to be professional.

Return to work interviews are mandatory where I work and you have o enquire into the reason for the absence.

We have Self-certification forms that staff have to fill in, even after 1 day off sick, where they put the reason for absence.

There is a section that the manage has to tick and sign to say that she's carried out a 'return to work' interview but this is as simple as "are you feeling better?"

In occasional cases she might get someone to go to the onsite medical centre just for a chat with the doctor or sister there just to make sure they are fully fit to return to work, particularly if they've been off due to a work related injury or incident.

Return to work interviews are standard practice but I don't think you are obliged to tell them anything other than the bare minimum about what was wrong with you .

Just started to have them where I work. Mine was just a chat to make sure I felt ready to returnafter my accident and subsequent absence and then to ask me what they could do to make it as easy as possible for me. As a result of the interview, several adjustments have been made to allow me to do as much of my job as possible. As and when I am completely ready for 'normal service', I just need to let them know. Unfortunately, that looks as though it will be some time away as I am still experiencing some problems that need further investigation.

Thanks everyone - what do you suggest if she starts probing? Last time she asked what medicine I was taking - that really isn't on

Can you ask to have your meetings with someone else, I'm sure that is an option where I work.

We have to do return to work interviews, which include the date of absence, reason for absence, what interventions or treatment there was, and what 'support' if any is required.

I hate doing them, both when I'm ill or when any of my team are ill. I think it's an invasion of privacy, esp. when they have to be done after every absence, inc. the 'minor' ones like D&V or horrible colds. I can see the need for them when it's been, or likely to become a chronic condition, but not if I've been chucking up for the last few days because of some horrible bug.

Yes. It's procedure. But I have regular catch ups with manager anyway. And I catch up with my managees on a regular basis too.

Yes a lot of places do them. Its so you are scared to ring in sick in future unless you are literally dead. Its so it doesnt inconvenience them having to cope without you.

Back to work interviews are a good tool to sort out those taking the mick from those who are genuinely sick. (Had to manage a habitual Monday morning absentee who was out in a nightclub most Sundays, & back to work interviews stopped that!)

Having said that, if your manager is asking intrusive q's, just say "I'm a bit uncomfortable discussing something so personal, can we set up a meeting with just me & HR?" Put a nice smile on your face & your manager should back off.

A lot of managers do it and get shirty even if you have 1 day off a year or even if you have a sick note. Its often a scare tactic to keep people on their toes. It definitely works though so good for business.