Would it be wrong to see person doing my role when I'm sick?

[Weirdconditionaltense]

I've been off sick for last four months. I've only met up in person in this time with one person -the head of HR so far.Expect to be back at work around late October.

We were emailing about latest fit note, she suggested we meet up again. I gave a date which was fine and we set a time. also asking if I want to see anyone else, (probably meaning from my 7 staff members).

What I would like is to meet the person who I have heard they got in to cover my role. I'm not worried about what's happening in my absence but I certainly am interested..I'm.fairly sure, (although could be wrong ), this will be seen as them giving me too much to worry about when I'm on sick leave..So can I have your thoughts please? Shoukd I ask it ? How to express it ?. Other than an ovarian cyst I haven't had any time of work in my career so don't know how HR look at this stuff.

What do you want to achieve? I don’t think curiosity is a good enough reason. You would need a decent reason why the business should pay your cover to meet with you during work hours, and why your cover should take time out of doing your job for you to facilitate this. Presumably no handover is needed after 4 months.

What? No. That would be so inappropriate.

Absolutely not

Presumably they mean is there anyone else you want to see from the colleagues you worked with, not a stranger who was brought in to cover you?

I think it could look like you were sussing them out to see whether you could continue to be on the sick and let them get on with it or not.

You said it yourself - you’re not worried about what’s happening in your absence - so you have to reason to ask to meet this person.

perhaps as part of your actual return to work plan, then yes, this would make sense. But you’re months away from that.

You want to check out the person who is going to cover your sick leave? What a weird thing to do.

This is not a good idea in any way. You are not the boss, you are an employee.

Yes it would be wrong

I think that would be very unfair on your cover, to feel she was being scrutinised. And I doubt the company would encourage it, as presumably it’s supposed to be a light catch-up with manager and colleagues, not anything indepth about actual work.

Erm no.

I'm impressed you have a replacement, in my organisation everyone just has to muck in. If that person's internal though you can see them on your return. Until you return I wouldn't give it any more headroom.

Why do you want to meet them? Is it to be supportive and help with any areas they may be struggling with or is it to see if they are doing the job in a different/ better way?

Thanks everyone..I was pretty much expecting these responses..

To those asking my reasons for wanting to see her - good question.I think it's true that it could come across as me sussing out how they are coping..

There are a few things I would ask, not extremely detailed, just how the team is getting on with things, how one member has settled in ( she started 2 days before I had to go sick). There was an issue in another dept that happened before I left and I'm curious to know what happened there..So I don't want to judge the person covering for me but I'm sure it's true that this person, and potentially the head of HR could be concerned I would be doing that.

I will keep checking back but I'm probably not going to suggest seeing my cover person..it can wait. I don't think anything that I learnt would bother me but I could be wrong.

Thanks @HollyhockDays I hadn't really considered I could offer my support. That's interesting..altho I probs won't ask to see her now, I might drop into my chat with head of HR that I'm ok with her contacting me if she needs anything. Thanks for this..

@AgnesX the dept needs someone to manage the staff and do the work I would normally be doing. I guess I am a wee bit concerned how "well" she's doing it but I'm confident it will be ok -ish..

Thanks @StraightTalkingTina yes I'm sure you're right. It can wait .

And what do you do if she’s not up to scratch in your opinion? How well she’s doing is surely between her and whomever’s managing her. I’d stay out of it till you’re ready to go back.

@AnneLovesGilbert yes thanks, I'm sure you're right. I am going to sit and wait

Surely there is a risk that this would come with some element of stress. Your condition might have nothing to do with it but most would only be worse with stress. On this basis alone, I can see why they would say no.

So if you weren’t doing it from a supportive perspective, it is a scrutiny?

When you have a plan to return it would be reasonable to ask for a phased return or KIT day in advance of your actual return to get a handover and update on the team situation and any activities you had left open. Until you are at that point I agree it’s best to leave it.

@ALovelyPinkUnicorn read my posts above for the things I would have been interested in.

@InfoSecInTheCity thanks yes that's what I'll do. I appreciate this.

Hi @Passaggressfedup yes I expect this is true, that it would be seen in this light. I assume that is a guiding principle for the HR manager. Cheers
.