Meeting at work regarding absence.

[guardiansofthegalaxy]

So I suffer from migraines on a regular basis.

I had a really bad one the other week, took a day off work. I work part time.

When I returned I had a back to work meeting with managers as they said my absences over the last 12 months (8 days in total) HR had flagged up ‘trigger’ points. A few of those days were because my young daughter was ill and I couldn’t come in. They are well aware that I suffer terribly from migraines & I see my GP regularly about them & I am in medication.

So the other day I was handed a letter & was told it was just a write up of the back to work interview I had the other day. Except it wasn’t. It was about another meeting to be held with the manager and someone from HR. I could attend with someone from a union or another co worker. I’m not in a union & do not wish to ask any colleague.

I’m pissed off about this. Firstly because I’ve bent over backwards these last couple of weeks as we are short staffed. And secondly because other colleagues have had lots of time off & hadn’t seemed to off had the same treatment, hearsay is one even went on holiday while supposed to of been sick!

I feel as if just because I have a condition that you can’t see, I mustn’t of suffered & therefore I was taking the piss. I’ve asked for a print out of my absence days & i will find out if there’s anything my GP can do, maybe a list of my meds that I am on. I drag myself in the majority of days when I have headache, but when it’s extremely bad, I just wouldn’t be able to do my job properly.

In my organisation, the discussion meeting is held after 3 absences in 6 months, regardless of the duration of those absences. As others have said, it's the opportunity to assess whether there is a pattern or possible areas of concern, a chance to devise an action plan for improvement, consideration of any reasonable adjustments would help you improve your health.

The investigation meeting seems fair enough if there is a sickness policy in place detailing the trigger points. It doesn't necessarily mean that you'll be sanctioned but take all the facts with you for consideration.
I agree that dependant leave can't be counted towards sickness absence but it may be worth checking the policies on overall absence. I know of a few people having issues due to policies that state that 'unreasonable levels of absence' will lead to potential disciplinary whether sick or emergency days. In some companies/cases it can be bundled together. Absence is absence.