Sick Leave - Civil Service

TheJet

I’m on month 5 of probation and I’ve been certified by my GP as unfit for work from November 23rd to 2nd December. What happens now? My line manager has suggested I use the annual leave I have left but I wanted to use that leave at Christmas time. Would it be so bad for me to be on certified sick leave during my probation. Will I be summonsed to the CMO and if so what will happen my record as a result? I’ve little absence record from my previous employment and I know that my line manager is pleased with my work performance so far. I’m a bit stressed about the whole thing to be honest

keepkeyyellow

If it's legimate then why worry? You're only referred to the cmo after a month of sick leave. No idea why you're line manager is suggesting you use annual leave.

PCX

I think the situation might be very different as you are on probation.
If I remember correctly if you exceed the maximum number of days sick leave (certified or not) specified in your contract you can be let go or reverted to your previous grade before the end of your probation.

I think the limit might be 12 days in the year but I can't swear to that (if you have a copy of your contract available it will say). Weekends are counted as sick leave when you are off on the Friday and the Monday so off on Nov 23rd returning 3rd Dec will use up most of the total max allowed for your entire probation.

If I was you I would ask to speak to someone in your organisation's HR section ASAP for proper clarification.

Squatter

Writing from memory, isn't the most likely outcome an extension of probation, or have changes in employment law mean that this is no longer an option?

PCX

Squatter wrote: »

Writing from memory, isn't the most likely outcome an extension of probation, or have changes in employment law mean that this is no longer an option?

I'm not sure but I have heard of one person being let go for exceeding sick leave while on probation after coming in on an open comp - they were not offered an extension.

Personally i wouldn't like to leave it to chance so if I was the OP I'd contact HR to hear from the horses mouth. If they can get it in writing that an extension of probation will be available if they breech the sick leave conditions of the contract then that would be good enough for me.

Squatter

PCX wrote: »

I'm not sure but I have heard of one person being let go for exceeding sick leave while on probation after coming in on an open comp - they were not offered an extension.

Personally i wouldn't like to leave it to chance so if I was the OP I'd contact HR to hear from the horses mouth. If they can get it in writing that an extension of probation will be available if they breech the sick leave conditions of the contract then that would be good enough for me.

I suspect that decisions are made on a case-by-case basis with the CMO being asked for his/her views on the likelihood of a recurrence. Probationers certainly shouldn't be penalised for one-off illnesses.

Chaos Black

From what I have heard in civil service sick leave certified or not on probation can lead to an extension of probation or being let go.

In addition I am past probation, but along with a lot of other people I take annual leave instead of sick leave. It sucks but if you are going for promotions it is a major factor. I have heard it is because sick leave in the past was really abused. I do know around me it appears to be the older generation who aren’t going for promotions that tend to use sick leave far more liberally.

I’d take the annual leave if I was you to be honest. Just the reality of the situation on the ground.

natc

I took one week certified sick leave when I was only 3 months in to probation. It was due to emergency surgery (on the Monday). I went back to work the following monday and my AP sent me home that Wednesday morning and instructed me not to come back until the following Monday as they could tell I was in physical pain. I expressed concern over my sick leave and being on probation to which they replied that its mainly down to local management whether or not probation is signed off and not too worry.

Given my sick leave was not due to a reoccuring illness local management etc signed off on my probation.

In contrast another person in the office who started shortly after me ended up out for 4/5 weeks in total due to reoccurring back trouble, their probation was extended after a review by CMO. They have since been made permanent.

I wouldn’t worry too much to be honest if the rest of your record (attendance, punctuality etc) is ok.

runawaybishop

Probation is only supposed to be extended for once off non-reoccurring illnesses. This is not guaranteed though.

7 days sick and/or 3 instances in 6 months, 14 days and/or 6 instances in a year. If you exceed that you will be flagged and there is no guarantee you will get an exemption as sick leave is supposed to be very carefully examined due to abuses in the past.

I have heard of 2 people recently that did not pass probation due to exceeding the probationary sick leave requirements. Local offices departments can vary a lot however.

For peace of mind you should consider taking annual leave.

Edit: if you just take the 23rd as annual leave that would reduce the time you were off sick as a Friday to Monday sick leave counts as 4 days

Squatter

runawaybishop wrote: »

For peace of mind you should consider taking annual leave.

Edit: if you just take the 23rd as annual leave that would reduce the time you were off sick as a Friday to Monday sick leave counts as 4 days

But are you allowed to do that? (There was a time when one couldn't move straight from A/L to S/L or vice-versa without putting in an appearance at the office for a day in between, but maybe it has changed.)

runawaybishop

Squatter wrote: »

But are you allowed to do that? (There was a time when one couldn't move straight from A/L to S/L or vice-versa without putting in an appearance at the office for a day in between, but maybe it has changed.)

Not sure, I vaguely recall something like that.

R.D. aka MR.D

I would be careful about the people saying 'dont worry about it' unless you know they are in the same department as you. I've worked in two very different departments, one would definitely only have extended the probation and the other would definitely get rid of you. There is a big push for our HR to not let people in from probation if there are any issue at all.

I've heard of others in other departments getting let go from probation too. It's only a year, you can every Xmas after this one off once you are permanent.

TheJet

Thank you all for your comments. I’m going to take A/L. I think it’s the wise thing to do considering my current position.