Sick Leave, Boss not happy

[GreyNosedDonkey]

My DSS has been signed off work for 2 weeks due to mental health. He attempted suicide a few months back and has finally started antidepressants. The GP advised him to have 2 weeks off as the medication has side effects and he wasn't coping at work. GP advised him to get out and about and socialise.
DSS found this hard but over the last few days has had lunch with friends and gone to the pub. Now, stupidly or not, he posted a picture on Instagram of his friend holding 2 drinks.
Today, his boss txt him! and said he wasn't happy atall seeing a photo of him drinking when he is meant to be off sick. His boss also said he shouldn't be drinking with the medication (he previously asked DSS what tablets he was on)
The GP actually said that one drink would be ok.
He said he is on sick leave,not holiday and he doesn't expect to see him out and about enjoying himself.
I'm fuming! is the boss right? Poor DSS is devastated and has gone right back to square one re his mental state.

It's possible to challenge an idea whilst accepting the world we live in.
Not sure about that in this instance.
Challenging an idea would be to say calmly to the boss (or have a doctor write to them) that socialising is considered part of the recovery process for this condition; perhaps to inform them that one drink is fine on the medication; perhaps to point out that, even given that, the picture was not of him with drinks but of his friend.

Personally actually I wouldn't feel the need to discuss the last two points, but I do see that/why some people might want to.

In this instance, if I were the person signed off I wouldn't put stuff on social media (would ask my friends to refrain) because my medical information is private and the reality is that once things are on social media people will draw whatever conclusions they like and it can lead to unnecessary conflict.
Regarding social media I think the best approach in general is 'just because you can and are well within your rights to doesn't mean you should". Too much drama comes from people posting things because they can without thinking about any consequences.

Now it's already out there, I'd say to the boss that seeing friends is perfectly legitimate given the reasons for being signed off. No need for lots of detail.

@Intermittant The original query was whether the boss was inappropriate in contacting his employee while on sick leave. There is no resounding support for the boss (neither from me!), and most on this thread have said that the boss shouldn't have contacted him and wasn't being supportive in helping his employee towards recovery.

The other point in question is the elephant in the room, that if the employee already has MH problems and feels vulnerable, whether they are exposing themselves to further harm because they can be judged by colleagues, or people in the workplace.. How many threads on MN talk about resentful colleagues wanting to shop their colleagues because of what they see as Fb "friends". Thats "the real world" outside the parallel universe of Mumsnet, not me or others controlling or encouraging any perception across the 000s of workplaces round the U.K.

If nothing else, as posted upthread, it's wise to lock-down on security settings so nobody at work has access to any SM feeds!

How many threads on MN talk about resentful colleagues wanting to shop their colleagues because of what they see as Fb "friends". And on those threads there are also always people 'on the other side' i.e. urging the OP not to jump to conclusions/judge without knowing the whole story. That's also in 'the real world' (Mumsnet isn't a parallel universe, it's a slice of life and opinions, which are obviously varied).

I don't disagree about blocking the boss in this instance; but more because he sounds like a twat than because the OP's DSS should be scared of what ill-informed conclusions he might come to.

To be honest as an employer if an employee is well enough to go out and have fun they are well enough to work. When the dr said get out they would mean a walk in the park/countryside, perhaps pick up groceries, not the pub.

This is so, so wrong. I'm currently on medication that means I could tolerate a social meet up in a pub, but couldn't cope with work, and would actually be a risk at work. I've also been medically advised to carry on socialising, go on holiday, etc etc, both for MH issues in the past, and physical health issues.

DSS has had further hassle from twat boss so has gone in to hand his resignation in today. He's very anxious about it all but deep down knows he can't go back there or his mental health will be further affected.
He hasn't got another job to go to but said the thought of going back there fills him with absolute dread. I'm supporting him 100%
I'm sure twatboss will make things difficult but DSS is best out of it.

I'm sorry, OP. I think he has made the best decision though; his health is paramount.

I think the doctors opinion is the one which counts. I wouldn't be surprised if this guy had a case for constructive dismissal.

Notthebloodygym, I don't think the DSS has been there long enough. But all other things being equal, yes, I'd agree with you.

I don't think the DSS has been there long enough.

Mental health can count as a disability, which is a protected characteristic, so you don't have to have worked there for two years. But it might be better to walk away, especially as he hasn't worked there for long.

Mental health does count as a protected characteristic.

Probably the best decision for your son. A boss like that will just make everything worse, and could even be constructive dismissal case, though would be added stress.

@IntermittentParps no it's actually just stupid. Mixing alcohol with those drugs has so many side effects, a large amount unknown because so little research is done into MH

woodn, OK, I'll spell it out for you. Here's what the OP says in her first post:
'The GP actually said that one drink would be ok.'

And later: 'DSS has been told by the GP and the psychiatrist that you can drink on the medication.'

So DSS handed in his resignation. The boss was as nice as pie and took him to the pub to show no ill feeling, (oh the irony!!)
DSS was totally gutted last night wondering if he had done the right thing, I've told him to remember what the boss was like to work for, not what he was like last night for half an hour.
DSS is still very down today as he wants to work. Small steps.....

I've told him to remember what the boss was like to work for, not what he was like last night for half an hour.
Very good advice!

He sounds determined and focused. He'll get another job and a better one.

This sounds like hospitality with the 12 hour days.I hope your DS can find some th ing suitable soon.

@whatisforteamum Definately not hospitality,. He's a tradesman.
This last week DSS has relaxed abit and got his head around resigning.
He is looking at other jobs but doesn't want to jump in blindly.
He's had some down days but also some more positive.