How to raise concerns with HR about insufficient sick leave cover

[EmailsaysOOO]

I'm asking for help with how to bring something up in an email to HR.

Before starting a period of sick leave for cancer treatment - will be at least 6 months- I had a conversation with Head of HR and my boss. I manage 5 staff and work 4 days per week. We've just passed across the year-end so there is a lot of work needing doing before the auditors come in. I thought it was agreed we'd need cover for 6 months with a person working at least 4 days/ week and I'm happy to email and have phone conversations any other hand-over arrangements and conversations.

Now discovered that a friend of my boss who worked at the company once before and knows our ways will be working ad hoc various days to cover my role, but probably about 2 days a week.

I'm convinced I'll be going back to a massive backlog.

My next extended fit note will be written up in the next days and I'll email it across to the Head of HR. Can you let me know how you would raise this
? I'm really cross. It's so unreasonable to expect me to come back to a vast amount of work still not completed. I was broadly on track but there have been various developments brewing that still might cause extra work for the role.

I know some of the regular posters in work can be quite matter of fact so please bear in mind I've got a lot on my plate right now before anyone says, just get on and manage it.

I don’t think realistically you get any say in how they cover your leave
whoever covers even if it’s 4/5 days are never going to do it to your standards
try and switch off from work and concentrate on your recovery, you are way more important

My tack would be what they do in your absence is their problem.

Just be clear to them that, on your return, you will not be able to pick up any backlog.

Are you looking at a phased return? If they aren’t adequately covering your role it might be because they don’t understand the time it takes, which wouldn’t surprise me.

Sorry you’re in this position.

Personally, I would take a complete step away from work concerns and just focus on yourself and your recovery in coming months.

Dont give a thought to work issues. I know that’s easier said than done, but the only thing that really matters here is your health.

The cover arrangements will either work or not work- that’s a problem for your boss not you.

Make sure you take all the sick time needed to fully recover. And then talk to your boss on return about workload/ priorities etc. After six months off for cancer treatment you certainly shouldn’t be working extra hours on your return. So again it’s up to your boss to determine priorities and you will accommodate them as you can during your working hours.

Hope things go as smoothly as possible for you your treatment. Take care.

@Overtheatlantic hi I myself don't know yet quite how long it will be. Much depends on how my cancer reacts to the chemo, and if they find it elsewhere. But yes, I can easily see it could be a phased return. Perhaps this cover person would be able to carry on for a longer term. I just can't imagine how much work will be waiting, outstanding if they're only doing 2 days per week for the next 6- 8 months.

@Backonthestudy via a colleague's text

I get your concerns but your raising a problem that hasn’t or might not appear

switch off hand over the reins and raise issues on your return if there is any

People who do a job well often make it look easy. They probably think that they will manage quite well in your absence with 2 days cover. Let them find out. When you are thinking about a return make sure it's phased in over 1 to two months and no, you don't need to pick up the backlog. Your priority is your health so concentrate on the important things in life right now.

I manage 18 people on front line response. We are professionally qualified Government employees.

If I am off, for whatever reason - be that holiday or medical - then cover for me is strictly their problem.

I do not give work a second thought when I am off duty, and whilst I know my first day return won’t exactly set my soul on fire, I do what I can do strictly within the hours I am paid to be there.

If work wants me to catch up on anything, no problem. They can pay me overtime. I am not paid to think about work in my own time, and therefore I do not do it. I am very firm on my boundaries.

You are being overconscientious, OP. Your manager has chosen how to manage in your absence, as is their right. Once you return, you will have the chance to agree priorities with them. What you could do it print out or forward to a personal email (subject to GDPR and company policy) documents that provide the current status quo so you have something to draw on if you return to chaos.

@EmailsaysOOO you need to step away, you have bigger fish to fry at the moment. It is very possible you will have a completely different perspective and mindset when you come back because you are going through a lot of adversity. For many people that means whatever nonsense they were willing to put up with before, they aren’t willing to put up with it after. Tackle the backlog when you reach that mindset now your focus needs to be on your health.

Best of luck with it

The obvious solution would be that this random cover person should stay on after you return until it is the case both that any backlog has been caught up and you are fully back to your previous capacity.

I hope your cancer treatment goes well. The most important thing is that you save your emotional energy for your own health and wellbeing. You do not owe your employers a moment of stress or worry if they cock things up in your absence, and you do not owe them sorting out whatever mess is created by their poor decisions. You can certainly be very clear, when you are ready to return, that this will not be including any more hours than you are capable of. Two years after my successful cancer treatment I am still functioning at only about 66% of my previous capacity. Chemo can have permanent effects.

Thanks for this.. I might be coming across as a bit bonkers. I do really like my job but as others are saying as well, I should try and concentrate on getting through the treatment really
.
I hope all's well with you and you gradually get all your strength back. X

Good luck with your cancer treatment.

But yes, you have zero say in your cover while you're off. You've done all you can by having the conversation up front... you can lead a horse to water and all that.

On your return be very boundaried with regards to your phased return and what you can and cannot do. Whether they keep your cover on or do something entirely different is not your problem and definitely not worth your headspace.

Also a lot can change even in a relatively short amount of time. Focus on getting through your treatment.

Covered for a Breast cancer survivor in 2023 who had 6 months off with radiotherapy and said chemo would have been a lot longer off work.

I happily handed the reigns back after couple of weeks working with the duchess (she was proper lovely)

Its there (the employers) problem

Sorry I’ve not read the whole thread, but just relax and let them get on with it. You’ll likely come back on a phased return, and I’d also be inclined to get access to work involved too if possible to make your working environment work for your needs. I’d have a chat withbyourlinemanqger before you leave stating you’ll be overwhelmed when you come back and would like to come back with a gentle time rather than a crash of excessive work as you’ll be exhausted and unable to cope with work in excess to normal so you’re keeping to ensure work is covered whilst you’re away… if anything the line manager may need to step up! Good luck with the treatment and relax!

This.
How they cover you is down to them.
If your workload is an issue on your return then you raise that at the time of your return.

You are coming from a public sector perspective. If the OP is private sector, they will have a more professional perspective.

@MelanzaneParmigiana

I’m coming from the perspective that my time is my own and if work wants my time, they have to pay for it.

I am an engineer and I worked for a decade in industry, before I moving to CS. Trust me, those employers paid me better for my time then too.

Too many women are sacrificing their health and their family time for a workplace that could not care less about them.

I wish OP nothing but the very best, but again - firm boundaries are key.