Sickness levels

[user8900766]

Hi I had a meeting with my manager today as I have recently returned from sickness absence and he told me that there are concerns with my sickness levels. In the past 2 years I have had -

Jan 2022 - 1 week with covid which i thought did not count towards sickness absence as we had to self isolate back the even if we felt well enough to work.

May 2022 - 3 weeks with anaemia

Dec 2023 - 3 weeks with pneumonia

Is this excessive?

Its probably about the number of days in total rather than the number of episodes. It doesnt help when the reported symptoms are so vague on the sick notes - I have been off with chronic respiratory problems for a while and the note just says cough - which is not really an adequate description of what has been happening. You need to find out their specific concerns.

@CharmedCult I did think it looked odd but just thought that maybe thats what GP's do with sick notes so then you can tell your employer how much you want to about your illness.
I've only ever had 3 sick notes and they have all been vague like I say even my cancer one made me look like I had 11 months off for a minor surgery.

Your GP is shit if they put "tired" on your fit note.

I've been hospitalised due to anaemia so I can easily understand why someone might have been signed off because of it - but an employer isn't going to understand that from a fit note that just says "tired".

To your original question - depends on the absence policy. You wouldn't have hit any triggers where I work but sounds like you work somewhere else!

Is the pneumonia and anaemia related to your cancer/cancer treatment? You are classified as disabled for the rest of your life, I hope you know, and have all the protection that that gives.

@WashItTomorrow the anaemia was.

What sort of protection?

Not masses of protection (it doesn't stop an employer dismissing you), but they should make reasonable adjustments - which could include setting different absence triggers or disregarding disability related absences from sickness triggers.

That is a good point though and is another way your GP has screwed you over with those ridiculous fit notes.

Under The Equality Act a cancer diagnosis is classified as a disability . You need to disclose it and evidence it and can ask employer for reasonable adjustments . The Equality Act applies to people with cancer or those who have had cancer in the past. All cancers are included. And you are protected from the time you're diagnosed with cancer. It can be applied retrospectively to when you first got the CA diagnosed

obviously you need to submit supporting documentation and a GP line saying surgery won’t be sufficient. You need something saying CA eg oncology letters

@Zone2NorthLondon my manager knows I have had cancer and OH know however I have never shown any evidence they just took my word for it but I can if needed as I have recent oncology letters.
I have an appointment letter for my chest x ray too and blood test results for my anaemia so if needed I have evidence.
I feel so annoyed with my GP for putting what he did on the sick note as my illnesses have been genuine. I don't get ill often but when I do it is always quite bad and means I need time off work.

Yes your GP fit note are vague and unhelpful. Not sure why GP is so circumspect?
IMO do submit evidence and if there is work Occupation Health attend that too
You need to evidence your absences it is just more transparent

Is the anaemia and Covid linked to decreased immunity after CA?

Agree with everyone else that your sick notes are making the situation worse; If you have the NHS app you can access all your medical records and notes; see what your GP has recorded in there and if helpful you could share these with your employer to give context to the sock notes.
Alternatively you could ask your GP to write a letter to your employer confirming / expanding the reasons for your sick leave. Also I wouldn't be surprised if your pneumonia is also related to your cancer as you will have a weakened immune system.

You have been unlucky and genuinely ill but have had a lot of time off.

It is a lot of time off but they are valid reasons, so I don’t get what employers want you to do in a case like this. It’s not like you get to choose when you get ill.

It is normally. But where I work, that's nothing. The sickness rates at work are immense and are only getting worse. Seems yiu can get a fitnote for anything these days 🤦‍♀️

I don't think that's a lot! I think it works in your favour that it is always for a significant chunk of time (showing severity of the issue) rather than just taking 2 days every now and then for something minor. Sounds like issue is with your GPs ridiculous notes!