Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Original poster

Sick pay

28 replies

Autiebibliophile · 26/10/2023 21:58

I work 10 hours a week. I do one 8 hour shift and one 2 hour shift. We have a points based system for illness.

If I happen to be ill on the day of my 8 hour shift and phone in sick, the way the sickness policy works I am recorded as having 8 hours sickness. This is 4/5 of my working week. It is the equivalent of a full time staff member taking 4 days sick.

So in the past year I've had 3 days of illness (separately) but because my sickness is pro rata it's the equivalent of a full time staff member having 12 days off. I've had to have a meeting about my sickness record.

It feels like part time staff are penalised can I challenge this at all? My thoughts are a day should class as a day. Not the number of hours

OP posts:
RallyRallyAppreciateIt · 26/10/2023 23:20

3 separate periods of sickness would trigger a sickness review in my place anyway so that would be a meeting.
Telling you it’s like 12 days sick is baffling me though, it’s not like you get 12 days sick pay!

Maybe speak to Acas for advice, they don’t cover your actual issue on their page but I know you can contact them directly.
https://www.acas.org.uk/recording-and-reducing-sickness-absence

Recording absence - Managing sickness absence - Acas

Why an employer should record sickness absence and how to do it.

https://www.acas.org.uk/recording-and-reducing-sickness-absence

Original poster
Autiebibliophile · 27/10/2023 03:19

RallyRallyAppreciateIt · 26/10/2023 23:20

3 separate periods of sickness would trigger a sickness review in my place anyway so that would be a meeting.
Telling you it’s like 12 days sick is baffling me though, it’s not like you get 12 days sick pay!

Maybe speak to Acas for advice, they don’t cover your actual issue on their page but I know you can contact them directly.
https://www.acas.org.uk/recording-and-reducing-sickness-absence

Thank you I guess it's because I score higher than a full time staff member taking 3 separate days off it just seems unfair.

OP posts:
rwalker · 27/10/2023 05:38

8 hours is 80% of your working week
your getting treat exactly the same as a full time person taking 80% of there working week off sick

Original poster
Autiebibliophile · 27/10/2023 06:47

rwalker · 27/10/2023 05:38

8 hours is 80% of your working week
your getting treat exactly the same as a full time person taking 80% of there working week off sick

Yes but in one day. I'm not taking four days off I'm taking one day off. There's a big difference.

OP posts:
MyCircumference · 27/10/2023 06:52

what was the outcome of your meeting?

daisychain01 · 27/10/2023 07:36

Autiebibliophile · 27/10/2023 06:47

Yes but in one day. I'm not taking four days off I'm taking one day off. There's a big difference.

Show quote history

The impact on the business is still disruptive by you taking time off your shift, they still have to arrange cover. Having 3 separate absences at different times attracts more points on the Bradford scale whether you're pt or ft. That's what your employer is concerned about, it lowers productivity.

splitting hairs about being pt and number of hours is missing the point. I'd advise you to be conciliatory not argumentative. You've taken the days, that's done, but it would be unwise to argue the toss with them about it being unfair, not a good look.

rwalker · 27/10/2023 07:42

Autiebibliophile · 27/10/2023 06:47

Yes but in one day. I'm not taking four days off I'm taking one day off. There's a big difference.

Show quote history

its 80% of your hours there treating you exactly the same as a ft person as they should

WooWooWinnie · 27/10/2023 07:46

I agree with the previous poster. I know it’s only one day, but actually if you only work 1 full day a week, to have had 3 off those off sick in the last year is quite a lot I think.

Coolblur · 27/10/2023 08:00

So how many sick days do you think you should be 'allowed' before a review was triggered? Their policy is fair, your reasoning is not. Just work with them on this or you'll look defensive and they'll think you have something to hide.

HermioneWeasley · 27/10/2023 08:03

Statistically it is very unlucky that so many odd days have fallen on the one full day you’ve worked. This is a concern for your business because you’ve either got an underlying health condition which they don’t know about, or you are spectacularly unlucky or you’re taking the mick.

Startingagainandagain · 27/10/2023 08:43

Look at your contract and sickness policy closely and then ring ACAS to discuss where you stand. Citizen Advice is also helpful.

Remember that you cannot be treated less favourably as employee because you are a part-time worker. For example statutory sick pay cannot be pro-rated, it is the same as for full time workers.

I would ignore some of the comments above who are making some wild assumption about part-time hours, sick leave and what they 'think' is right or not...

ACAS will help you understand what is legal and what isn't and that's what matters. Not your employer interpretation of it...

WrongSwanson · 27/10/2023 08:51

Having to have a meeting can be about making sure there isn't anything they should be doing to support you though?

Is there an underlying condition or similar?

Do you have caring responsibilities or another job or something else stressful which is why you are getting ill on your working day

grayhairdontcare · 27/10/2023 09:51

If you are always sick on the one day you work then that will obviously be flagged.
You are not being penalised

DRS1970 · 27/10/2023 10:04

If that is their system just run with it. If you haven't done anything wrong there is nothing they do, right?

Doyouthinktheyknow · 27/10/2023 10:13

WooWooWinnie · 27/10/2023 07:46

I agree with the previous poster. I know it’s only one day, but actually if you only work 1 full day a week, to have had 3 off those off sick in the last year is quite a lot I think.

Edited

Exactly what this poster said. If you only work 2 days a week and only one full day, it should be less frequent that being unwell coincides with work days than someone who works 5 days a week.

smartiesneberhadtheanswer · 27/10/2023 10:43

I'd also be suspicious that your illnesses always fall on your working day

rwalker · 27/10/2023 10:50

Startingagainandagain · 27/10/2023 08:43

Look at your contract and sickness policy closely and then ring ACAS to discuss where you stand. Citizen Advice is also helpful.

Remember that you cannot be treated less favourably as employee because you are a part-time worker. For example statutory sick pay cannot be pro-rated, it is the same as for full time workers.

I would ignore some of the comments above who are making some wild assumption about part-time hours, sick leave and what they 'think' is right or not...

ACAS will help you understand what is legal and what isn't and that's what matters. Not your employer interpretation of it...

i work for one of the major utilities we have a strong union
our sick policy is the same worked out in hour and attendance %
if you only work 10 hour and are off sick for 8 of them you have been off sick for 80 % of your contracted hours and in effect have 20% attendance
to achieve the same working 5days you would Have be off for 4 days And in for one to get 20% attendance
part time or full time you should all be the same that’s why OP isn’t getting special treatment for being pt and treat the same as a ft who’s been off 12 days

Original poster
Autiebibliophile · 27/10/2023 12:42

MyCircumference · 27/10/2023 06:52

what was the outcome of your meeting?

Manager was great she said she's not taking it to hr but it's 'on my file'

OP posts:
Original poster
Autiebibliophile · 27/10/2023 12:44

Coolblur · 27/10/2023 08:00

So how many sick days do you think you should be 'allowed' before a review was triggered? Their policy is fair, your reasoning is not. Just work with them on this or you'll look defensive and they'll think you have something to hide.

I think it should class as a shift rather than 80%of working week. The amount of cover required is exactly the same as a full time staff member taking time off

OP posts:
mrmagpie · 27/10/2023 12:53

It's not really about you only being off for one shift though, (in my opinion, I also work part time), it's about the fact that statistically as a part time worker you should have fewer sick days because you work fewer days overall. Given you only work two days a week, for three sick days to have fallen on your one long shift day is, again statistically, quite unlikely.

Anecdotally as a part time worker too, I'm usually sick when I'm not at work because I'm not at work more than I am at work. It's just more likely I'll be sick on a non work day.

This is why the flag is in place, for them take take action if you need more support or to talk to you if they think you're at it.

Original poster
Autiebibliophile · 27/10/2023 12:54

Coolblur · 27/10/2023 08:00

So how many sick days do you think you should be 'allowed' before a review was triggered? Their policy is fair, your reasoning is not. Just work with them on this or you'll look defensive and they'll think you have something to hide.

Oh I wouldn't take it up with management. They are just following policy. I wondered about challenging the policy at hr level. I work in local authority.

OP posts:
Original poster
Autiebibliophile · 27/10/2023 12:55

HermioneWeasley · 27/10/2023 08:03

Statistically it is very unlucky that so many odd days have fallen on the one full day you’ve worked. This is a concern for your business because you’ve either got an underlying health condition which they don’t know about, or you are spectacularly unlucky or you’re taking the mick.

One was covid, one was slipped disc (I'm under occupational health) and one was a stomach bug. I have 3 kids, 3 illnesses in a year isn't that high.

OP posts:
Original poster
Autiebibliophile · 27/10/2023 12:55

Startingagainandagain · 27/10/2023 08:43

Look at your contract and sickness policy closely and then ring ACAS to discuss where you stand. Citizen Advice is also helpful.

Remember that you cannot be treated less favourably as employee because you are a part-time worker. For example statutory sick pay cannot be pro-rated, it is the same as for full time workers.

I would ignore some of the comments above who are making some wild assumption about part-time hours, sick leave and what they 'think' is right or not...

ACAS will help you understand what is legal and what isn't and that's what matters. Not your employer interpretation of it...

Thank you

OP posts:
Sisterpita · 27/10/2023 15:58

@Autiebibliophile please do not be offended I am asking this, how many of your 2 hour days have you taken as sick?

Original poster
Autiebibliophile · 27/10/2023 17:50

Sisterpita · 27/10/2023 15:58

@Autiebibliophile please do not be offended I am asking this, how many of your 2 hour days have you taken as sick?

Just once. The back issue lasted 3 days.

OP posts: