Calling in sick too much?

Chessala

Heya guys,

I might be overreacting but I am getting a bit worried. I'm with my company for a year and 1 week now.

Ever since the year has started my health has been rather poor. I had to take 4 days off (had a sick leave) right the first week and had to call in sick a few times afterward (never more than a day and twice had to leave early but "caught up" that time within the working week). I think it came up to all together 7 days by now and it feels like a lot!

I hate calling in sick and last year everything was fine, it might be the terrible weather atm.

Anyway, we usually have a back to work interview with our team lead afterwards (just a quick talk) but I just checked my work email and got one from HR asking me for a back to work interview (no disciplinary procedure, just a chat).

It's worrying me so much because I love my work/company and hate taking days off. I never call in sick unless I really am. I just haven't been feeling so well lately.

I think I'm just worried, I always follow the company procedures for calling in sick so there shouldn't be any problems there. Usually at work is very nice and I might just be jumping the gun here but aaaarg....it won't let me rest! I guess that's why they say NOT to check your work email when you're out sick!

FoxT

7 days is quite a lot alright. Have you thought of going to a GP for a checkup?

Chessala

Yes, I got one done around a month ago but everything was ok.

I know I have also been weak to colds since I was a kid but this year is kind of awful. I'm suspecting the miserable weather as I'm still not used to having barely any warmth (20+) around this time of the year. Only been in Ireland for 2 years now.

bbam

It's a tough one..
The problem is the chancers down through the years have left it that people who are genuinely sick come under pressure..

It sounds like your absence is being escalated.
However, if you've not been spoken to about it so far it will most likely be a pre-discipline "chat" or warning to improve or else!..

We would have often issued verbal warnings tied in with a stipulation not to have absence for X months or it would be escalated to written warnings.. They could request that ALL future absence is certified for the remainder of the year, I've only done that once as I know it is an expense on people..

Anyway, there is little point worrying too much until you meet them and see how it goes.. Get back ASAP and see how it goes:)

Chessala

Thanks for the replies!

I got an email from our HR (I answered her because I was worried) and seems no problem whatsoever. They just changed procedures and all Back to Work interviews are now done by HR.

Phew! Still gonna try and improve health anyway!

tatli_lokma

possibly the reason HR conduct the interviews is so that they can be sure they are being carried out properly. They are not supposed to be a simple 'so you're back, are you ok? ok grand then' sort of thing. They are supposed to establish that there is no H&S risk to you returning to work and also that the work environment has not contributed to your illness in anyway.

It is a responsible thing for an employer to do, and do properly. It protects them against frivilous claims of workplace stress and gives the employee a chance to let them know if work is contributing to their illness. It also means the employee has an opportunity to tell a third party if there are any issues with work which are casuing them worryy or illness but they don't feel comfortable discussing with their manager.

Good to see some employers behaving correctly.

Chessala

@Little Ted: I completely agree with you. I was just a bit shocked when I saw the email from HR as I was used to our leads doing the interviews.

It was pretty straight forward as we have a form to fill out (fill in what was wrong, if procedures were kept, sickness work related and when exact you were off). So there wasn't really any real difference to before.

I generally feel that my company cares a lot about the employees. We get 7 sick days a year (directly company paid)and when we are out more than 3 days in a row any time after that goes to the expended sick leave (which we have 200 days of). The first 2 days off generally don't need a doc note, everything else, yes.