Help - work/sick related

shifty_uk

shifty_uk

shifty_uk

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Bit of background, I work part-time for a relatively large retail chain, I'm head of sales, which means complaints, faulty goods, returns etc go through me amongst other members of management.

On Thursday I fell ill, bad flu presumably but wont go into disgusting technicalities. I went in to do them a favour as it was the first day of refunds, the queue was literally out the door, I was in a bad way.

I got worse today so I phoned at 8am and said apologies, I cant come in. I have never phoned in sick during my time in this position, work every weekend and cover every shift my party animal colleague gets off which included xmas eve, boxing day and Hogmanay. She's a waster with a rich father so the job isn't important to her.

If it was a desk job with a freely available toilet to run at, box of tissues, sink to cough my phlegm into and a bit of rest for my sore voice then I'd knuckle down without a shadow of a doubt but it's not. I'm standing at a till point all day, dealing with crap, taking things back, organising sales teams, no chance of getting to the bog without being screamed on to sort something out, no chance of 5 minutes off the floor to even grab a paracetamol, frankly!

So, I'm still in a bad way, been in my bed all day. Phoned in tonight at 6pm to be told under absolutely no circumstances can I take tomorrow off, I better be in without a shadow of any doubt! I flipped out, gave a load of spiel about how much I do, how they can deal without me how much my colleague gets away with but I was told under no circumstances was I to take the day off. All because my ''colleague''(who is slightly below me) got Hogmanay off and another member of management has a sick auntie!

I haven't got my contract to hand, only a newbie handbook I got a year or so ago which simply states contact appropriate management at the standard times to tell them of any illness prior to your shift.

Do I go and hope I get sent home(unlikely) or do I stand out of principal and not go in potentially risking my employment or role(can they do that?) Might also be worth noting the HR department is a complete farce and zero will be done if I complain.

Apologies if that's too long to read!
 
Follow the procedure. They can't bully you into going to work. If in doubt document everything and get a doctors note.

Reminds me why I hated working in retail over Christmas.
 
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just tell them to stuff it, you can sign yourself off sick for (1 week not two, oops) from work without a doctors involvement, if you want you can give them a self sign off sheet but they cant force you into working if you're ill
 
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If you're sick, you're sick. They can't force you to do anything. I would however, get yourself down to your GP just incase they decide to play silly buggers when you're back.
 
I'm not legal expert but i don't think they can, i think its a week you can self certify yourself as Ill before you have to get a doctors note. Till that point i don't think there is much they can actually do. (Dont quote me on that)
 
Either go in and get walked over or make a stand now.
As will be said countless times, they can't make you go in or sack you for not doing so.
Your health is more important than their bottom line.
 
There's no such thing as a sick note anymore. You will need a return to work note from your doctor.

I've worked for companies like this in the past. I think when you phone in sick and take time off you feel guilty for letting the company down. Take time off , get better and worry about your job when you get back. Trust me, when you go back nothing will change and your job will be safe.
 
I would just follow company procedures and inform them you are unfit to work. Its quite simple for them to understand this. I used to work in the fast food business and more often than not we would have 2 or 3 people phone in sick for a shift after a heavy night out on the ****. We would tollerate it a few times and then start issuing warning to people who took the **** or we would just manage them out of the business by giving them less hours. If your sickness record is good then they wont have a leg to stand on. Also if you have been there for more than 12 months you have slightly more rights as an employee. I wouldnt worry about it take 7 days off ( this is the max you can take under self cert ) if you are still not well after a few days go and see a doctor or even if you think it might help you go and see a doctor anyway. I actually broke my toe and couldnt work on one of the busyiest weekends of the year once and although they were ****ed at the time it soon blew over when I came back to work.
 
Nix said:
If you're sick, you're sick. They can't force you to do anything. I would however, get yourself down to your GP just incase they decide to play silly buggers when you're back.
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Exactly. You don't ask permission to have the day off sick. You are informing your employer that you are not fit to work. It's their problem to cover your job role.
 
albert said:
I've worked for companies like this in the past. I think when you phone in sick and take time off you feel guilty for letting the company down. Take time off , get better and worry about your job when you get back. Trust me, when you go back nothing will change and your job will be safe.
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Hit the nail on the head, tbh. That's the worrying aspect. I'm relatively vital in terms of team leading and administrating returns etc and I can understand if they require my presence more because two other members with similar responsibilities are off but I wont stand for bullying.

I'm not sure of the legalities, though despite having worked non-stop since 16! I thought I'd check it over with the knowledge house that is GD!

It's only a part-time job but it's an income I can't be without so stuffing it isn't an option :p I'd also like the reference for when I move onto bigger and better things.
 
mattyg said:
Wow they CANNOT do that... I can't stress that enough.. Boy they are heading towards trouble
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It's common in the retail sector in my experience.

Most retail managers would sell their own grandmother for an extended warranty through the till.
 
Upto 7 days you can self certify. Remember though it's not working days. It's from when you tell them, to when you tell them or turn up. Regardless if you were meant to be working.
So if you have allready been on of say 6 days and Friday night you are better. Phone them up and say you are fit to return, not just turn up Monday morning. As tht would be 8 days off sick.

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1062.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=158

As for what to do, they can't sack you, but plenty of ways to make your life awkward, so one of those choices and you know better than us how your management work.
 
UncleRuckus said:
So you've worked there for over a year and not taken a day off sick? I'd tell them where to go.
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Pretty much. I got food poisoning which meant I was unable to do a shift once but I organised my own cover meaning I basically swapped shift for shift with someone else, no absence documentation was required.

I also went to the store manager once to ask if I could swap shifts because my car required maintenance, she said 'absolutely no problem, I'd always try for you, you never ask'. We have a good working relationship, I can usually charm the pants off her but when stress hits and she doesn't get her way, you'll know about it. My new assistant manager(who gave me the message) is a damn piece of work, though.
 
I done 5 years in retail. It is hell trying to get time off and especially when you're ill. They expect you to bend over backwards for measly pay. So glad I have a desk job now in that respect...
 
Not that this makes it right but they are only being an arse because your obviously a very good employee based off the information in your post, it's a crap position to be in sometimes, they take you for granted, sometimes employers get used to your work ethic so when when it deviates even though your still a better worker than those around you your the one that gets in the neck while others seem to get away with all sorts, it's the same for me in the summer in my current job, a guy would just take the day off when he felt like it without any consequences yet if I even asked for a day off I'd get blasted.
 
Not a reply to the op as such but my company handbook actually states unauthorised abscence is a breach of contract?!
This is under sickness so I wonder how they could deal with that if the op ha similar, or is it just typical wording?
 
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