Workplace harassment?

[Kelspels]

Hi all, I called in sick to work on Thursday evening for Friday and again today 5 1/2 hours before my shift, although the company handbook says 1 hour before. I have had nothing but abuse from my district and area manager I have been told to take paracetamol and come in or my absence will go as unauthorised and I will be in trouble. Reported this to my area manager she said my district manager is doing her job. Then 3 hours after I called in sick I get a call from my district manager telling me she still has not covered my shift, she isn't happy with me, it's her day off and she has kids. Is this not inappropriate seeing as I have already called sick? Is this not harassment?

[judgemental24]

Re: Workplace harassment?

How can your absence be unauthorised if you have informed the employer you are sick??

The problem is if you say that in any grievance they will simply deny it

The arera manager is making you feel guilty and trying to get you in to work. You are allowed to 7 days self certificate any absence

My advice is this is just a storm in a t-cup and tomorrow is another day. If harassment continues when you go back to work then a grievance is in order

[Kelspels]

Re: Workplace harassment?

Thank you so much for your reply! That was my question to her too, to which she told me I did not follow absence procedures calling her everyday to let her know I am still sick, even though I wasn't aware of this. I'll see how it goes when I return she has requested a meeting with me when I'm ready to return to work so I'll post when I know more of the situation

[Kati]

Re: Workplace harassment?

Do you have a copy of your "staff handbook" where it tells you about the company's absence procedures?

[Kelspels]

Re: Workplace harassment?

I don't have a copy myself, but there is 1 in every store. Regarding that when I spoke to my manager and said I would call on Sunday to check in with my status of coming into work, she did not correct me and tell me I need to call everyday. It's only when she wants to use it to her advantage she brings it up, surely that's not right?

[Berniethebolt]

Re: Workplace harassment?

Generally all sickness is unauthorised absence because lets face it, should it be authorised everyone would take time off sick. If you have phoned in sick they should not be contacting you unless it is reasonable to do so such as to see where a fit note is or request you to attend an OH meeting. When I was off for a long time my line manager asked me if I could call her once a week with an update which I was happy to do

[Kelspels]

Re: Workplace harassment?

From what I've been told an unauthorised absence is when you give no reason for your absence. I have given reason and in plenty of time. I now feel if I take up a grievance it will just make matters worse for me at work, as my district manager and area manager are in cahoots together

[Berniethebolt]

Re: Workplace harassment?

http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1566

That is a page from ACAS

I know my last employers in effect had three types of absence , authorised -these fell into normally protected absences such as dependant care , hospital appointments etc, unauthorised but notified absences such as sickness and then unauthorised such as not turning up for work with no explanation.

Many employers have a sickness policy and breach of that can lead to disciplinary action

How long have you been employed because sadly if you have less than two years there is little you can do unless there is discrimination under a protected characteristic

Trust me it gives me no pleasure to appear to be on the sides of employers ,

[Berniethebolt]

Re: Workplace harassment?

I maybe being a bit harsh in my use of authorised and unauthorised but just because someone has told their employer they are ill does not mean they can not be disciplined for it

[Kelspels]

Re: Workplace harassment?

I've been with them 4 years this December coming. It just irritates me that I call in sick, I get harassed and threatened the phone put down on me and others like my cashier calls in sick today and it's fine it's ridiculous. I'm entitled to company sick pay so won't my doctors note over ride an authorised absence which she doesn't want to pay me for?

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I understand where you are coming from however if provided with a sick note from my GP would that not class it as unauthorised then?

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Sorry as authorised**