Can I ask for my formal meeting re: sickness to be rescheduled?

[crashdoll]

I have a very supportive employer but I’ve reached the trigger for a formal meeting due to an extended sickness period. Unfortunately, I don’t really have any colleagues that I’m comfortable taking with me as I’m not that close to anyone. I’d prefer a union rep but they don’t have anyone available for that date. Am I allowed to request a new date in order for the union to be able to provide someone? It’s just bad timing, it’d only be a delay of a week.

I’m only allowed to take a colleague or union rep and I really don’t want to go alone but if I have no choice, obviously I will.

No harm is asking!

Yes, you can ask for a new date and it would be a reasonable request. Ask for 2 possible dates /times from your union rep in case your employer is unavailable for the first new time you offer them.

You can't postpone indefinitely, or keep changing the time because (at least for my employer, not sure if it is their policy or the law) there comes a point where they can reasonably hold the meeting without you / refuse to postpone again so you would have to go alone.

Any reasonable employer would reschedule to allow you the rep. What's the company policy say? If you're entitled to have a rep there according to policy, and informed them you intend to, they should really schedule according to their (the reps) availability - providing it's within a reasonable timescale.

Thank you so much! I didn’t want to be cheeky by asking. Overall, work have been really good to me and gone above and beyond.
I’ve only just got the email from the union rep, so I’ll speak to her tomorrow and see what dates she can do.
The policy wasn’t that clear about rescheduling but hopefully, if I can provide a reasonable date, they’ll be ok.
It won’t be the end of the world if I go alone but I’d prefer the support.

Yes, you can. But as PP suggested offer a couple of alternative dates.

Get union to email them with their availability to represent you. Make sure they are copied into all correspondence.

I work in public sector HR and advise in these kinds of formal absence meetings. Absolutely normal and best practice to re-schedule to accommodate a rep's availability.

Erm, why has this been resurrected now? The thread appeared to end in Nov last year.

It’s fine to ask. A week feels like quite a long delay - why aren’t they available for a week?

I manage staff in the public sector and agree that this request would be considered reasonable.

Skagen well spotted