Sickness absence review -help!?!

[thatsshallot]

Hello, I have been told I've got a formal review with HR due to my absences this past year. I have hit the trigger, fair enough, but one of those was a Dr certified fortnight in hospital for scans etc and diagnosed with stomach ulcer, and the other just over a week again with note for flu (the proper one, I lost an entire week).

Other than this I have 3 day absences in a year. Am I able to ask that the biggies get discounted as just bad lyck, and that otherwise my absence level is actually not too bad?
Am terrified, went through this once before after returning from having dcs as first time they had been in childcare and they got everything going and then passed it into me and DP. Warning for that has dropped off as at least 4 years ago.

Thanks

Sorry, 3 2 day absences, 2 for a related but now resolved issue and the third a bug.

It's not usual to have any absence "discounted" unless it's down to a disability under the equality act. HR are not medically qualified; they can't judge whether an absence is genuine or not so can only discuss absence.

If this is a first meeting it's likely to just be a conversation about whether everything is okay, and to check there are no underlying problems. It will go on record and will move to disciplinary on the next trigger.

Do you know what company policy is? It's usually around 3 episodes of absence or 11 days in a 12 month rolling period. You seem to have had more than that so perhaps your workplace is more lenient?

Yes, it's 350 Bradford. I totally get why but my pattern is fine, I've just been v unlucky this year

Presumably you're just at the first stage where they are raising a concern about your level of attendance and exploring whether there are underlying conditions etc. if you've had a run of bad luck, then statistically your luck will improve over the next few months and you'll come back under threshold. They can't discount absences - it's not about whether it's genuine, it's your ability to maintain an acceptable level of attendance.

Would a stomach ulcer count as an underlying condition then? It flares up from time to time but so far has not meant more time off.

I have radically changed my lifestyle to manage it is well as I can, but stress isn't good and this review is making me v anxious, it's like a horrible vicious cycle

Don't be anxious, these meetings are as much as about you as they are them covering their back.

Be honest, you have had a bad run and hopefully things will improve.

Good luck