home visit for sickness absence - what is the purpose?

[pavlovthesmugcat]

My boss told me yesterday that I have to have a home visit as I have been off sick since 26th April (with gp certificate) for hyperemesis (i work part time).

She gave me no reason for the visit only that she had to visit this week, and can only do this evening at 5pm.

I have agreed, but I don't feel comfortable about her coming to my home. I don't get on with her really. We get on fine with 'work' stuff but not with 'manager/employee' stuff (mainly as she is a crap manager and I make sure she does things properly in relation to me). She is notorious for not correctly recording/taking from meetings the content that was discussed, she hears what she wants to and acts like that was discussed and agreed. She takes things and twists them to suit her needs and I dislike meeting with her at the best of times at work let alone when I am in my own home.

Our policy I beleive states 20 days is the trigger for home visits, but I am sure it it recommended not compulsory? Can I refuse her to come to my home when I am off sick?

Jimmy! I think we are coming! we are going to visit our friends who are camping on the sunday as its a bit nippy at night time! Let me confirm with DH when he gets back later and I will let you know for sure.

You are right about the absences not going on my record, it should not do so (that does not mean I necessarily believe that). However, I guess she is still able to follow the normal sickness policy in terms of getting me back to work .

She is late.

So RUDE!

Still not here.

She did phone at 4:45pm to check the address/directions, said she was just waiting on a colleague to arrive for a group then she would leaving. She did not say that she would be later than 5pm and its a 5 minute drive.

Lateness is a disciplinary offense

It bloody well should be!

How long until I bugger off out? I might call the office, maybe she is lost.

She does make a habit of either being late or forgetting about meetings though. I don't think I have ever had a meeting on time with her.

Seriously though, how late is too late? I was anticipating she be gone by now?

Oh hang on car pulled up...

Not her.

She has 10 more minutes then I am going to tell her we have to re-arrange.

She just phoned! She was at the bottom of my road, and I said 'its a bit late now though isn't it? I thought we were meeting at 5pm'. She said there was a crisis at work (er, well pick up the phone, would take 2 seconds). She said we could meet now or she could come tomorrow at 5pm (but she could not do this yesterday). I said she would have to be here no later than 5pm as DD goes to bed at 7pm so we unwind with her/tea etc from 6pm.

She said that she wants to meet with me to discuss returning to work before I return, to work out how it will be managed. She said she realises now that while she would like to see me return next week, she cannot bank on this happening, it depends on how I and the GP feel which is why she wants to see me, so that we can have something in place already, before i return, whenever that is. She also said she had spoken to the H&S officer! (AHA). She sounded very happy to talk to me, and I think this is largely due to me saying its too late as she said she is quite happy to just go home...

1 HOUR LATE before calling though. FFS.

She sounds useless.

Maybe you should send a follow up e-mail, copying your manager, confirming for tomorrow - just so it's on record that you are being co-operative and she was late?

Aside from the lateness (or no show) sounds like a great plan! In other words, she wants to make adjustments in order to accommodate you as far as returning back to work.

She may not be the smoothest operator, but is saying all the right things.

But you should still try to vomit on her shoes [evil]

ali - good idea about the email, just a polite line to remind her about the time and record her lateness. I like it. Dh said, which I did not even think of, why wait until she was at the end of my road to call? Why not call me as soon as the crisis was over (if not possible during said crisis) before driving from office to let me know she was going to be late? Odd.

ILMD - or been kicked into touch by the H&S officer/union rep! But, yes you are right. I have to stop being cynical and presuming everyone is so shit they are automatically going to mess it up, or have bad intentions. I am going to be a model employee tomorrow, she is going to be pleasantly surprised. (then pirate I am going to puke on her shoes ). There is more than one way to skin a cat eh?

Pav - be great to see you. I will provide party left overs in a doggie bag for you to sick up on her shoes...a blue Thomas tank cake will give spectacular vom imo and stain if shoes are canvas...

Jimmy - I am liking the blue vomit over canvas shoes!