Managers call every day while sick ?

[Meloned1]

I’m not sure if this is correct procedure but I’ve been off sick and had a one phone call off different managers every day asking how I’am and when am I getting back to work ? Could this be classified as harassment ? Or is it the new way ?

[gfte]

Sweet jesus this question is asked so often on here. It will depend on the reason you're off, but no, this is completely reasonable, if you have a short term illness, with no set run time, rather than being signed off for a specific time period, they will need to know you're not coming back in.

[LouBarlow]

It seems an outdated practise to me. Nobody is milking the system any more, now you don’t get paid after your first absence, so it seems a pointless thing for management to enforce. That said, they do need to be updated for logistical reasons, especially if you are self certifying.

[2chorizon]

Accelerate it.

Every time they phone you expand on your condition.

[enskied]

Sweet jesus this question is asked so often on here. It will depend on the reason you're off, but no, this is completely reasonable, if you have a short term illness, with no set run time, rather than being signed off for a specific time period, they will need to know you're not coming back in.

Utter nonsense.
When I'll time and rest are needed for a swift recuperation. Having to drag yourself up first thing in the morning to call the boss (who incidents isn't in yet)before your duty is supposed to start is harassment.
Then when said boss finally shows up for his stint, which now appears to flextime. It either texts or call you .

It is unreasonable.

[Basildon Bond]

Can't you text the manager the night before and say "I will not be in tomorrow". That allows the manager to shuffle people as required and the unwell postie to have a lie in. Surely you don't need to text at 3am to say "still unwell".

[postslippete]

Can't you text the manager the night before and say "I will not be in tomorrow". That allows the manager to shuffle people as required and the unwell postie to have a lie in. Surely you don't need to text at 3am to say "still unwell".

You would think so but that's not how it works in management. if you are self-certifying then all they really want to know is when you will be back in work. Once they know that the phone calls should stop....but it won't...because the reality is under short term absences managers are pushed to try and get staff into work asap. Never used to be this way but this is a business now that is looking at the purse strings and sickness costs the business money.

I have known staff ring in sick or couldn't come in to work and managers have asked them if they could still do some loops or have asked them to take the day off and work their rest day. This is all so that they don't have to record the absence/s. Obviously if you have a fit note from the doctor then you shouldn't be harassed to come in and work before then but you would be surprised as a few will still ring you up and ask how you are with a view to get you come back before it runs out.

[mwalker88]

Can't you text the manager the night before and say "I will not be in tomorrow". That allows the manager to shuffle people as required and the unwell postie to have a lie in. Surely you don't need to text at 3am to say "still unwell".

Can you in that situation?

I know I couldn't when I was an employee because there would be a phone call within 10 minutes of my start time asking "where are you?"

Genuine question:

How long (roughly) have you worked at RM Basildon?

[lobsterhands]

When anyone at our office is off now their sent a SD the next day asking for meeting by phone or person to discuss their illness and best way to get them back to work !!

[Acca Dacca]

When ill during the self cert period

''Im not/still not feeling well enough to come to work, as soon as I am I will contact you to let you know i'll be returning''

Not really much they can do then. If they keep contacting you then you just refer back to the original conversation and say I told you I would let you know as soon as I am feeling well enough to return. Maybe my managers are more reasonable, as they usually leave me alone. I dont have a bad sick record though which I guess could make a difference.

[POSTMAN]

Notifying absence and
maintaining contact
• Employees will advise of their absence
before the commencement of the shift
in accordance with the arrangements
set out for their office
• Discussion will cover the reason for
absence, likely duration and anticipated
return date and any support which Royal
Mail may be able to offer
• The employee and manager should
seek to agree an appropriate time and
date for reviewing together all but very
short absences

NATIONAL ATTENDANCE PROCEDURE 2013

[Basildon Bond]

Can't you text the manager the night before and say "I will not be in tomorrow". That allows the manager to shuffle people as required and the unwell postie to have a lie in. Surely you don't need to text at 3am to say "still unwell".

Can you in that situation?

I know I couldn't when I was an employee because there would be a phone call within 10 minutes of my start time asking "where are you?"

Genuine question:

How long (roughly) have you worked at RM Basildon?

The rule is only before your shift starts and the longer that is the better. Ringing in 30 minutes before the shift is very last minute for the manager. Telling them hours and hours before your shift starts is therefore better. Obviously you may encounter individual managers who want to chase you (or your DO has multiple managers (COM, DOM, Lino, and self-appointed posties who have assumed a role of bossing you about) and they didn't get your text message).

Length of service shouldn't really matter in this situation. It's more likely what DO you have worked at (just one or multiple like me), who has been your manager, and how different DOs really do differ on how they run. I've seen things done at one DO that would almost get you sacked at another. However, I have worked for several different employers (I'm not a life-long RM employee). I've had to ring in sick for lots of different employers and I always find it difficult - Am I really that ill? Could I go in and do something? Should I get a good night's sleep and take the day off to rest tomorrow? All my bosses are ultimately (though perhaps not immediately) happier when I give them more advanced notice than hitting them with an absence at the last minute.

Just my two cents.