Colleague off sick for five weeks. Has Doctors note. Is currently in Ibiza.

Soldato
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@MissChief

I completely understand your POV, and there may be factors contributing to your reaction we don’t know about, e.g. personal stresses, so I can see why you feel annoyed at them for being off sick and being on holiday.


However, as others have mentioned, not all illnesses result in being bed ridden, and this small holiday may mean the world to them right now.

Instead, support them even more - wish them well, ask how they’re doing etc. You might end up getting an employee back who puts in extra effort :)
 
Caporegime
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I said at the beginning, in the first post, 'I’m unsure if I should be angry, ambivalent, not bothered etc.'

There's nothing I can do about it really, it just feels a little like he's taking the Michael, but if he's signed off sick then I guess he can really do what he wants. It's a little frustrating he can go away without using up his holidays like We'd have to though!
 
Soldato
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Self restraint isn't what typical social media "sharers" posses. Older folk are expert at over sharing. Normally with all the EXIF data intact.
 
Commissario
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I agree I think social media is a pariah on society and societal behaviours now. People live vicariously through social media rather than living their lives in the present moment.

Anyway, that's a different topic. I think if people are posting on social media when signed off sick and you have colleagues as "friends" then you can expect a bit of a backlash, regardless.
I deactivated my Facebook account back in December last year (I kept messenger, that's very useful) and I've not missed it at all.

Good to see you, FF :)

When I was off, back in 2016, I did post on FB while I was away and I remember work colleagues who were friends were very sympathetic and positive but that's because I was quite open with them and they knew the reasons I was off.
 
Man of Honour
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I deactivated my Facebook account back in December last year (I kept messenger, that's very useful) and I've not missed it at all.

Good to see you, FF :)

When I was off, back in 2016, I did post on FB while I was away and I remember work colleagues who were friends were very sympathetic and positive but that's because I was quite open with them and they knew the reasons I was off.

Hi :) I've popped in recently as I needed a few bits of tech advice, and decided to wind a few people up! :D Won't be posting super regularly, life is too busy!

Yeah your situation is fair enough if people know you then they wont' give you hassle, but if a colleague is posting seemingly "having a jolly" it does look pretty bad!
 
Soldato
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I recently had my first ever doctors note to sign me off work for a month. After 2 weeks I asked to phase back in but was declined, I had to wait out the full 4 weeks and then start phasing back in at a much slower rate then I had initially wished to, I found the whole process very much tilted to those who wish to take advantage of the system. I told my superiors that I was fine and had started going back to the gym, which I expect would have looked odd if I was seen there but was part of my physio.
 
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If the colleague has got a note from the doctors then it's pretty much none of the business of the fellow workers as to the reason unless the person is willing to share it.

There are a lot of things where you might not be fit for work, but might be fit enough to do something where you can simply stop.

My brother in law was off sick for most of the last year after an accident at work, he would have been fine after the first 3 months going on a holiday (except for the need to do physio ect) but there is no way he would have been fit for his normal job, even now 18+ months later after the accident he's only on "light duties"*. He looks fit as a fiddle, but he can't currently use one arm properly.

5 weeks signed off by the doctor sounds fairly serious given they don't tend to like signing people off for long these days (and isn't it a "fit for work" note now).
It would suggest to me some planned treatment/recovery period as it's an odd length of time to be signed off for in advance.


*He was raring to get back to work, and is IIRC currently doing things like doing inventory, assisting in paperwork/training, and documenting things that need attention so long term "minor" but safety or reliability issues could hopefully get fixed (his injury was caused basically by one such thing).
 
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Soldato
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Ah, that great clinical psychologist Marcus Aurelius.

Just be happy.

Almost as good as "why don't homeless people just.... buy a house".

Not quite, modern day CBT and REBT have foundations in the Stoic philosophies made famous by Socrates and Marcus Aurelius.

Obviously the principles can't work for everyone and someone with extreme trauma probably isn't going to respond well to someone saying "It's out of your control so don't worry about it!" but Stoicism has some very wise and helpful words for living in the modern day world which seems to be getting more and more narcissistic every day.

If you did want to read more Happy by Derren Brown is a great book which draws from ancient types of philosophy, it's a history lesson and a "self help" book (bleurgh) all rolled into one! :D
 
Soldato
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Mostly its none of anyone elses business but appearing to be a normally behaving person while signed off can upset colleagues.

If you see something you believe is contrary then sure inform management.

But don't expect to be right or to be allowed to hear about someone elses personal issues or medical status to settle your unhappiness.
 
Soldato
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Lots of keyboard warriors on here today!

OP, you have a right to be cross, especially if you are now feeling more overworked and underpaid than ever. I suggest you approach management and threaten to go on stress leave as the additional burden is affecting your mental health. That'll teach them for not reducing demand when capacity is constrained - textbook management.

Your solution to the possibility that another member of the team is taking the **** with sick leave is for the OP to definitely take the **** with sick leave?
 
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