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Original poster

Work contacting me when off sick

31 replies

steelrose · 01/12/2021 22:44

I work in an office, my line manager has made it clear since I started, earlier this year mid-lockdown that there is no possibility of working from home and never will be. It is a very basic admin position.

I had a positive pcr test on Saturday and frankly have been feeling dreadful, despite being fully vaccinated. When I left work on Thursday (I don't work Fridays), I had no idea that I wouldn't be back in the office for a week and a half.

On Monday, I updated my line manager with work I planned to do this week. I am getting a lot of emails and messages from them with things they can very easily sort out themselves or seemingly to just have a moan. eg, printer has run out of toner (they know where it is kept and how to replace it) There's a lot of requests for xyz building up... we've run out of product sample packs etc.

I'm probably getting 3 messages/mails a day. It is making me feel guilty and very stressed, I am genuinely unwell. Is it acceptable for them to keep contacting me like this?

OP posts:
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 01/12/2021 22:46

Have you rung in sick? You can self cert for one week.

Sorry I just cant tell if you've officially notified them that you are off sick or if you are planning to do some stuff from home?

Tippexy · 01/12/2021 22:46

Of course it’s not acceptable; turn off your laptop and don’t check your emails!

Tippexy · 01/12/2021 22:47

Oh actually you have told them you’re working this week… you haven’t actually called in sick? Sounds like you need to.

LawnFever · 01/12/2021 22:49

Are you officially off sick? Do you have a doctors note?

Why did you tell your manager what work you’d be doing if you’re sick? If they think you’re working then they’ll keep contacting you I guess… you should’ve rang in sick

FawnFrenchieMum · 01/12/2021 22:49

Have you told them your isolating or off sick. It’s is A, they totally fine to contact you but if it’s B, then no, tell them your sick and need to rest to get better. You’ll let them know when that is.

stalkersaga · 01/12/2021 22:51

You're either off sick or you're not. I'm off sick as flattened by a virus. I told my boss when to expect me back and then turned off my laptop and work phone.

Original poster
steelrose · 01/12/2021 22:52

Yes I spoke to my manager on Monday and told them I wasn't well. My job can't be done from home.

OP posts:
NeedsCharging · 01/12/2021 22:52

Have you called in sick or not?

If you have then stop answering emails/phone calls and remind your manager you are off sick.
If you haven’t then they are not "contacting you when you are off sick" as you are working albeit from home.

1990s · 01/12/2021 22:53

Everyone seems to miss - they’ve had a positive PCR??

So should not be back to work at least 10 days - quarantine - and you’ve been told to never work from home so….

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 01/12/2021 22:54

@1990s

Everyone seems to miss - they’ve had a positive PCR??

So should not be back to work at least 10 days - quarantine - and you’ve been told to never work from home so….

Yes but then they also said this

On Monday, I updated my line manager with work I planned to do this week

Confusedteacher · 01/12/2021 22:54

If you have called in sick just ignore- you could always set up an out of office reply to say you will be back in the office on X date.

Luredbyapomegranate · 01/12/2021 22:56

It sounds like you are trying to work from home??

Send an email being clear you are ill (invent a blinding headache and nausea that means you have to lie in a darkened room) and say that you won’t be able to check messages or mails. Then put an out of office on, saying you are off sick, you are not picking up messages and they should contact persons x and y w any questions -

FissionMailed · 01/12/2021 22:56

They can only contact you if you're contactable.

What's weird is you've said you can't work at home but told your manager what you'll be working on...

Original poster
steelrose · 01/12/2021 22:56

Apologies, I told my manager the work I'd planned to do this week, but now would not get done.

OP posts:
PeachesPumpkin · 01/12/2021 22:57

All the teachers I know that have been off with COVID have had to work from home for the 10 days. They have done all the planning and often run lessons over Zoom. I think it’s pretty usual.

NeedsCharging · 01/12/2021 22:57

If you can't work from home and are on sick how do you know they are emailing and calling you?

FissionMailed · 01/12/2021 22:59

@steelrose

Apologies, I told my manager the work I'd planned to do this week, but now would not get done.
That makes more sense.

Set an out of work reply on email. Set all work contacts to silent on phones.

Simple.

Original poster
steelrose · 01/12/2021 23:00

If you can't work from home and are on sick how do you know they are emailing and calling you?

They're messaging/emailling on my personal phone/email. I am not setup to monitor work email from home and don't have a work mobile.

OP posts:
WhoWants2Know · 01/12/2021 23:00

I don't think it's usual when the person with the positive test is actually feeling unwell.

NeedsCharging · 01/12/2021 23:09

They're messaging/emailling on my personal phone/email. I am not setup to monitor work email from home and don't have a work mobile.

So tell them you are on sick!
It's really not difficult OP.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 01/12/2021 23:25

@PeachesPumpkin

All the teachers I know that have been off with COVID have had to work from home for the 10 days. They have done all the planning and often run lessons over Zoom. I think it’s pretty usual.
I dont think the OP is a teacher?
stalkersaga · 01/12/2021 23:25

Don't read or answer emails or texts from work. Stick a voicemail on that says you're sick and incommunicado; put an autoreply on your personal email if you have to.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 01/12/2021 23:27

You need to send one personal email to your line manager

"I am currently off work on sick leave as I am unwell with covid. Please ask all staff/management to send their queries to my work email, which I will check through on my return to work. I will not be monitoring my personal messages/emails as I need to rest"

Youngatheart00 · 01/12/2021 23:27

Ignore the messages. You have made clear you are unwell.

Original poster
steelrose · 01/12/2021 23:28

Thank you everyone. I will be more assertive.

OP posts:
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