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Hi, I am currently within the 7 day self certification notice period and have an appointment with the doctor Tuesday.
Due to issues at work such as; change in management, workplace investigations (not involving me directly), significantly increased targets and a being threatened with formal performance management I have called in sick with stress.
I am genuinely suffering from anxiety & stress. I had to break away and put my health first. On the first day I was absent I was actually ready for work and couldn't bring myself to leave the house with overwhelming feelings of anxiety. I texted my boss to alert him to the fact I was absent and why. I have been nothing but honest about these feelings and asked him to call me back on my landline as I have no mobile signal at home (we use iphones so can imessage) I received nothing back until 11pm asking me to ring him on his mobile (sent from a blackberry so would not come through). I rang him the next morning and explained I had no signal so didn't receive it. He said I would be marked down as AWOL. This seems petty to me as they were aware and I was in no state to make a call however, I digress.
My manager is now insisting that I contact them 7 days a week while I am off - even after I have a sickness note from the GP, simply to notify them that I am still not fit for work. I have a strong feeling if they were to ring me every day whilst of sick this would be deemed as harassment? I understand they have to show a duty of care however this seems extreme. I had 2 weeks off at the start of the year with torn ankle ligaments and did not have to contact them apart from initially contacting them re the accident, my husband took my sick note to work and I heard nothing until a few days before I was due to return to work to simply find out my hours. They are also notifying occupational health that I am not at work due to stress/anxiety and want to arrange a health check asap. Again this seems disproportionate to me- although I do not mind as I have nothing to hide. This entire debacle is making me feel worse and the stress at work has followed me home. Am I within my rights to tell them I will not be contacting them while off sick and they will have to ring me? Thus showing harassment. Or can I insist, with the approval of my GP, minimal contact?
Thank you for any insight you may have
Due to issues at work such as; change in management, workplace investigations (not involving me directly), significantly increased targets and a being threatened with formal performance management I have called in sick with stress.
I am genuinely suffering from anxiety & stress. I had to break away and put my health first. On the first day I was absent I was actually ready for work and couldn't bring myself to leave the house with overwhelming feelings of anxiety. I texted my boss to alert him to the fact I was absent and why. I have been nothing but honest about these feelings and asked him to call me back on my landline as I have no mobile signal at home (we use iphones so can imessage) I received nothing back until 11pm asking me to ring him on his mobile (sent from a blackberry so would not come through). I rang him the next morning and explained I had no signal so didn't receive it. He said I would be marked down as AWOL. This seems petty to me as they were aware and I was in no state to make a call however, I digress.
My manager is now insisting that I contact them 7 days a week while I am off - even after I have a sickness note from the GP, simply to notify them that I am still not fit for work. I have a strong feeling if they were to ring me every day whilst of sick this would be deemed as harassment? I understand they have to show a duty of care however this seems extreme. I had 2 weeks off at the start of the year with torn ankle ligaments and did not have to contact them apart from initially contacting them re the accident, my husband took my sick note to work and I heard nothing until a few days before I was due to return to work to simply find out my hours. They are also notifying occupational health that I am not at work due to stress/anxiety and want to arrange a health check asap. Again this seems disproportionate to me- although I do not mind as I have nothing to hide. This entire debacle is making me feel worse and the stress at work has followed me home. Am I within my rights to tell them I will not be contacting them while off sick and they will have to ring me? Thus showing harassment. Or can I insist, with the approval of my GP, minimal contact?
Thank you for any insight you may have
to Leagle Beagles.
- is that it does seem from your post as if your employer can't win. If they're concerned, they're harassing you and if they make no contact they're uncaring. I don't mean this unkindly but as a self-employed person who employs others, someone has to generate the income (to pay everyone - stressful in itself) and with the best will in the world (unless you're a banker) money cannot be conjured from thin air.
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