Time off work sick

I once had 3 weeks off work with a broken finger, they didn't like it but couldn't do anything about it. That was ten years ago though so things must have changed.
And I succesfully sued them afterwards as it was an industrial accident :p

MatsyLR do they have disabled people working in the call centre? Could they even be allowed to discriminate against a one armed person if they went for a job there?
 
Last edited:
MatsyLR said:
My probation period ended in April.
We work on a rank system. A, B, C.
You are on on A when you first join and that is when you are probation.
B is earned when you achieve your "stats" call time, customer satisfaction etc for 4 weeks straight and you are of probation then + higher pay
C is earned in the same way just more pay and more time to get it.
I'm currently on C and have been so for months.

There is literally nothing I can do at work with my arm broke other than just sit there and do nothing all day while being in pain the entire time.
We are only trained/obliged to take calls from customers and note down everything on the computers. To do that at any timely manner, I need both my hands. I could do it one handed, but it will be very slow and I would have to try to use a mouse with my non-dominant hand which doesnt work very well, and type into lots of different boxes (keyboard shortcuts dont work on the system) and would not be fair on the customers who have to sit on the line twice as long as they need too (each call is usually 20mins)..
Click to expand...

Self cert, get a sick note and hand it in. Done.
 
If it were me, I'd call my boss first, to give him a heads up.

Then call HR to explain the situation.
 
As I understand it having been through it in November, but this may be different depending on the employer (my probationary period was 3 months and I was long past it);

You self cert for the first 7 days (this includes days you are not working such as weekends). You will still need to phone in every day. Not doing this can result in disciplinary procedures.

From the second week onwards, you need a sick note. This will cover a period from 1 day to several weeks. Speak to your GP (hospital will refer you to your GP).

If you do this, you should not be on the receiving end of disciplinary action. Read up on your Contract T&C's.
 
MatsyLR said:
There is literally nothing I can do at work with my arm broke other than just sit there and do nothing all day while being in pain the entire time.
Click to expand...

You seem to be doing a great job at posting in this thread which presumably involves a keyboard and mouse or some such... Although I have no doubt your productivity and efficiency will be hampered by your injury I would be surprised if you are unable to function in any capacity... Besides, you can mention what I good employee you are so I'm sure you can probably do a better job with just one arm than some of your co-workers can with both.

Take a few painkillers and go in. Soldiering on may even help you get that promotion you are after.
 
to be honest if there is some pain initially then maybe take a few days off... but a broken arm shouldn't stop you from working in an office

if you genuinely need both arms to work then maybe they should find you something else to do or will have to accept that you'll be slower/less productive - but it isn't really a good excuse for not going in at all if your job involves being sat at a desk all day
 
I'd go in anyway. They'll likely send you home but it doesn't hurt to have them see you are willing to work even through broken bones.
 
rubberduck said:
You seem to be doing a great job at posting in this thread which presumably involves a keyboard and mouse or some such... Although I have no doubt your productivity and efficiency will be hampered by your injury I would be surprised if you are unable to function in any capacity... Besides, you can mention what I good employee you are so I'm sure you can probably do a better job with just one arm than some of your co-workers can with both.

Take a few painkillers and go in. Soldiering on may even help you get that promotion you are after.
Click to expand...

This is basically contorting my body in a way which makes my arms into a "typing" position. Basically facing away from the desk so my cast arm is straight to the keyboard (can still use fingers) and bending my other arm the other way. In other words not comfortable and not something I can do for any period of time without doing my back in. If you saw what position i'm in to type this, you would laugh.

Also to the go into work reply's, I doubt I could even get to work/walk far enough to get into the building without collapsing.
Nothing else is broken, but can hardly but can barely hold my own weight with my legs (knees took a good beating) with lovely brown/black/purple patches around them.
 
Last edited:
Echoing the previous comments I'd go in. If you're that worried of disciplinary action being taken I'd turn up, explain the predicament and offer to do something else whilst your arm heals up. At least that way they can see you're making an effort.
 
MatsyLR said:
They sent my home, I went to bed, I come into work the next day still not feeling well and my manager brought me into a room and basically told me, he tried to get in contact with me while I was home and couldn't (duh because I was asleep) so i'm being given a warning for being off (even though they sent me home) and if I'm off again "disciplinary action" will be taken which could lead to a meeting to sack me or not. That was a few months ago now.
Click to expand...

Based on this action alone I would seek a new employer. I am well aware of the Call Centre culture and I am also aware of the problems most face with crap retention and rubbish attendance numbers, but tarring all people with the same brush is not something a good business or good manager does and is one of the reasons retention is such a problem for the industry. Sadly the one style fits all is the angle many take and that will **** off people who have a genuine problem.
 
Housey said:
Based on this action alone I would seek a new employer. I am well aware of the Call Centre culture and I am also aware of the problems most face with crap retention and rubbish attendance numbers, but tarring all people with the same brush is not something a good business or good manager does and is one of the reasons retention is such a problem for the industry. Sadly the one style fits all is the angle many take and that will **** off people who have a genuine problem.
Click to expand...

I've been looking since I started.
Spent 2 years on the dole after finishing uni to get this job.
Multiple interviews and nothing so far.
I know the actual company is terrible and they treat employees and customers like crap.
 
They will want him in regardless of how his injuries effect his ability to do the job & how it therefore effects the customer.

I was once told they didn't want me to go home when working at Direct Line despite the fact that I had actually lost my voice & was getting customer after customer hanging up on me as they couldn't understand any of what I was saying over the background noise of others talking, and these were people that had been sat in a queue for 45 minutes waiting to get through.

They then had the cheek to as why I didn't sell anything that week.
 
MatsyLR said:
I've been looking since I started.
Spent 2 years on the dole after finishing uni to get this job.
Multiple interviews and nothing so far.
I know the actual company is terrible and they treat employees and customers like crap.
Click to expand...

That's what happens when you don't get a good degree ;)

Npower sound awful to work for but you don't have any choice, there will be 1000 people waiting to take your place, welcome to 2015 UK where young people get **** all and the governments mates get richer and more richer
 
MrMoonX said:
That's what happens when you don't get a good degree ;)

Npower sound awful to work for but you don't have any choice, there will be 1000 people waiting to take your place, welcome to 2015 UK where young people get **** all and the governments mates get richer and more richer
Click to expand...

I actually got a 1st in Uni.
But it was in computer engineering/design.
Not exactly useful ;d or something anyone would employ over
 
Firstly, get the Doctor to sign you off. Secondly contact your workplace, explain your injuries and send your Doctor's Cert (keep a copy for yourself). Next, it may be worth contacting the HR department to explain the situation and get their advice and double-check their absence policy for your contract, don't leave it to your line manager to do this. HR should follow their policies and may get Occupational Help to contact you (if they have one).
Legally, a company cannot fire you for being injured and unable to attend your workplace. The company should have a Duty of Care to look after the welfare of its employees. Irrespective of bad a company cares for its employees, there are laws that protect employees full & part time against unfair dismissal.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom