Urgent advice needed please!

[Creole]

If you are off sick for a day and a half, can your employer question you about your illness?

Will be having a meeting with manager this afternoon, so grateful for a quick response.

Most good employers will have a "back to work" chat after any period of sickness as part of their absence management processes.

It's certainly perfectly normal where I work.

I would say no - Your manager cannot question you about the nature of your illness but they can refer you to occupational health who can (with your agreement) request your medical records.

I've never known this for just a one off short illness though.
If it's a back to work interview then they'll just want to make sure you're completely better and that there's no support you need.

Return to work interview is normal and good practice, to see if you are ok, if you need any additional support etc. No need to panic

We'll see!

Creole have you got any particular reason to think this won't be just a back to work interview as we have described?

I've never had one of these before, but it sounds a bit suspicious!

I will let you know!

They may be wanting to check it's not a H&S issue, as they have a responsibility if your illness was caused /worsened by anything they might/might not have done!

I think its fairly normal - I work at a school & we have a form to fill in to say why we were off even for only 1 day. I think its up to you however how much detail you put on. If you choose not to tell your manager the exact reason for your absence, he/she can't force you to as far as I know

Hi thanks,

Well, I had the meeting and I had good reason to be suspicious.
Unfortunately, the day off sick coincided with a planned meeting.

In short, it seems to me that my manager brought up all my negative points from my review which we have already talked about and are addressing. So this back to work interview, was nothing to do with my sick absence. However, I know (I'm absolutely sure) that it was because of it.
The manager also told me that as a result, I will not be getting my end of year bonus. I was never told about this at my review.

Do you have a union rep you could talk to about this Creole? Sounds a bit fishy to me?

creole you say you missed a planned meeting when you were off sick.
Was the meeting you had not the planned meeting but postponed until you were back?

You won't be getting your end of year bonus, but I'm sorry I'm not clear, did your manager say this was because of performance issues which obviously had been previously discussed, or was it because of your sickness record?

How long ago was your performance review?

Sorry for all the questions but if possible I'd like to get a bit of a clearer picture so I can help you.