Just seen "sick" colleague in supermarket

[Daniellemcg]

We're part of a small team (NHS staff) and are chronically under staffed and overworked.
One team member went off sick earlier this week with what she called the most horrific back pain caused by sciatica. Submitted a sicknote yesterday for 4 weeks. Saw her in supermarket today carrying her toddler and pushing trolley full to the brim with other hand.
She led us to believe she's in agony but was laughing to her toddler and walking normally today. No signs of the pain she's been displaying at work.
She didn't see me today.
Should I say anything at work? Everyone at work has been saying "poor Emma (name change), she must be in agony.. The poor thing.".

This is a very good point. How are you privy to your colleague's medical information?

Some jobs at home need to be done no matter how poorly you are, especially if you have a child.
I had an op and was under strict instructions to rest for a few daays to a week - I have a 1 year old and my husband works full time, no chance!

She was shopping with her child! What do you want her to do if she needs food and has a little one? Being signed off doesn’t automatically mean bed bound, she was doing the necessities

when I was in great pain I still had to go the supermarket because I lived alone and there was no one else to do it. Also, my doctor told me that it was better to walk despite the pain. He said that sitting still would make the pain worse - and it did, so I tried to keep moving.

I've had sciatica for years, I take amitriptyline at night then a combo of 3 high strength pain and anti inflammatory meds on the day so with a smile slapped on my face I look ok, heck I'm often seen carrying a disabled 9 year old about...... but an hour before my night meds or on a particularly bad day I can hardly move

You don't know the full ins and outs of her condition so without any proof she's being untruthful it's best you butt out because it sucks having people who don't understand fluctuating conditions accusing you of faking based on a 2 minute snapshot of life

You clearly have zero understanding of sciatica. Its better to be up and about and a lot of people manage better when they are walking because sitting down and laying down is more painful. Also she may be on meds and is using the time to shop and maybe the pain has gone but she can use her 4 weeks. You’re being resentful just because you’re overworked.

You don’t say anything. You mind your own business. You have no idea about other peoples health nor do you need to know. They were signed off by the doctor. This doesn’t mean house arrest.

Unless you are her line manager and have seen the sick note you have no idea why she is signed off.

I was signed off for a few weeks due to medical complications when having a miscarriage and still managed to do school run and other domestic things which I was completely entitled to do as I was signed off of work not life. My manager didn’t tell everyone why I was off either because it was none of their business.

Unless you saw her sick note you have no idea what she is actually signed off with.
You are assuming sciatica as that is what she said she had earlier in the week. For all you know she went to the doctor and they diagnosed something else and that is what she is off with.

Keeping mobile is actually good for back problems. She may have problems sitting but standing and walking holding onto something feels better. She has a young child, you often just have to grin and bear it when they need/want lifted.

None of your business OP

Shouldve said hi to her. Then you could legitimately go into work on Monday and say "I saw X out with baby at the supermarket over the weekend and gave her all our best wishes" and then let her manager decide what to do.

Keep out of it you nosey cow. You dont know anything.

She can't choose what's on a four week sick note. That's down to the doctor and they don't lie about the diagnosis.

Snidey

Unfortunately the world doesn’t stop for a mother.

I was in a supermarket 48 hours after surgery because who else was going to shop for my child!?

Stop judging.

I have a very bad back (sciatica -surgery-permanent disability) and funnily, I find pushing a trolley gives me relief when things are bad. It's counter-intuitive but it works

Text her - say you saw her at the supermarket and so pleased to see she must be feeling a bit better. See what she replies. People do take the p with sickness on the nhs imo (someone in my team does too - too ill to come into work with back pain but went camping one day later !).

FFS, the poor cow needs to eat! What kind of a person are you?!

I used to wonder what sort of people snitched on their neighbours to the SS and the stasi.

Honestly what a horrible thing to do.

Hi co-worker, saw you in supermarket earlier, glad to see you’re doing better. Yes this is a passive aggressive text to make sure you know that I saw you and you looked fine to me. I’m hoping this makes you anxious enough that I’m going to try and get you in to trouble to make you come back to work before you’re ready. I don’t actually care if you’re ill or not I just want you in work because if I have to be miserable and stressed at work, then I want you to be too! See you Monday!

My doctor asked if I was happy having MH listed as my reason for being off.

I think the NHS has an appalling record for absenteeism and it is the business of everyone who pays national insurance if someone is swinging the lead.

I work in the NHS and have been off with stress before. My doctor asked me what I would like him to write on the sick note

Maybe. The fact is, other than the employee herself no one knows if she’s telling the truth or not, not even the doctor, unless she’s had scans/tests.

Someone’s medical issues are no one’s business other than their doctors regardless of who they work for.

Maybe it’s due to poor pay, increasing work loads, unsafe staffing then dealing with verbal and physical abuse from members of the public on top of it all. Also, FYI, most people’s lifetime payments of national insurance probably only contribute towards one hospital admission they may have