Confused and worried :(

[Helennn]

Hi all, went back to work today after 3 days off sick and a days holiday yesterday.

I am now home and panicking to say the least.

At 8:30 this morning my manager pulled my aside to tell me I was getting a bonus and a pay rise for the good work I had done over the last year and that he fought to get me a bonus this year as I didn’t get one last year and thought I deserved it.

Then at 3:30pm today I have a return to work meeting. Another formal meeting for next Friday has been booked in, I am already on my final written warning since October last year. I asked my manager to put it bluntly as I going to loose my job who’s response was we’ll discuss all this on Friday but you need to prepare and show us what your doing to improve your health.

I am scared to say the least and would of handed my notice in a year ago if I didn’t have rent to pay

[Stumpy55]

Hi Helennn, I hope you are fit enough to be working? You did the right thing taking the time off. Your manager is not being fair with you at all. I can't work out if he's playing some sort of game with you? Didn't sound right to me helennn. Why can't he be straight with you at least. Also your health is the most important thing, I if I were you, I would contemplate finding a new job with possibly less hours. I know you need to pay your rent , but you also need to know where you stand legally regarding your manager. He's being unreasonable when you have been totally upfront with him. Have you thought of going to the Citezens Advice, ? Please think carefully before you do anything. Take care and stay well 🌹

[hypercat54 in reply to Stumpy55]

The manager will only be following company policy and I shouldn't think he will be making any arbitary decisions. There is a myth that employers can't sack you for being sick - they can and do but they call it not fulfilling your contract to be at work.

The meeting will be a formal decision making one so of course he doesn't know the results yet or be able to advise what the outcome could be. x

[Kernowflock in reply to Stumpy55]

The manager will be following procedure. I have held several and also had 2 personal meetings.

They need to see that you want to be at work, discuss what you are doing, and discuss what adjustments they can make. It is a formal meeting so that everything is on record. Are you a member of a union?They are very helpful. If not,you need to list exactly what your health situation is,what your gp is doing etc, what you are doing to help yourself, what your employer could do to help you at work and what benefits you give to your employer. By giving bonuses etc they are indicating what an excellent worker you are, so just stay calm and give facts. Prepare because if you miss anything it is difficult to add info after the meeting.

Ultimately though, if they ask for info that you dont have you can adjourn the meeting for 24 hours to get that information. Do not leave the meeting until you have said everything you want to and they have answered all your questions. Maybe take a colleague in with you.

Dont stress too much, be proud of who you are, what you have achieved and show your commitment to the company.

Hope all goes well

Di

[Helennn in reply to Kernowflock]

Hi Di, thank you for your reply.

Yeah I know it’s not him that makes the rules. I’m not a member of a union? I’m not even sure my company has a union? I think staying calm is what I need to do, and just make a list of what I want to bring to before hand.

Oh ok, I will have to remember about adjourning the meeting but I think I should be able to give them everything I’m doing there and then.

Thank you so much Di!

Take care x

[Helennn]

Hi, yes I’m fit enough. My asthma only seems to flare up when I get a chest infection but a lot of my other sickness has been to do with sinus and ear infections last year.

No neither can I?! I’ve come away from work feeling bitter sweet about today.

Yes definitely! I think I’m going to look for another job even if it is just working in a shop for a bit till I find my feet and health again! No I haven’t that’s a good idea, but I think the company policy is final written warning then out.

Thank you so much for your words of kindness and advice I really needed it this evening.

Take care xxx

[Shancock]

I would seek help from citizens advice in the first instance. You have rights you can't help your health.

In the past if I've been sick and gone to the Drs I've asked the dr for a copy of the appointment, this costs nothing. It's not like a sick certificate. It's just a printout confirming they've seen you, what's wrong and what they e prescribed. Ask for one in future then you can hand it in as proof.

[hypercat54 in reply to Shancock]

I am afraid employers can override a sick/fit note these days. Like I said to Stumpy they are allowed in law to dismiss you through illness. As long as they have complied with the Health and Safety at Work Act by ie making some Reasonable Adjustments for example extra breaks, more sick leave etc. then they are covered. All RA's are subject to Business Needs as well. The law is on the side of employers these days. x

[hypercat54]

Hi Helennn if you want to try and keep your job this is what you have to do.

What your employers are looking for is what steps you have taken to ensure you will not need more sick leave than allowed in future. This could be different meds, resting more, being more aware of your illness and be able to identify when you might have a problem and stop it deteriorating further. These are examples. Be positive and proactive.

They want to know that you love your job and are good at it (bonus, pay rise etc) and that you see your future with them. In others words crawl.

A word of advice if you want to leave it is much better to resign that be sacked through illness as you would find it much easier to get another job. Good luck. x

[Helennn in reply to hypercat54]

Hi, thank you for your reply. Yeah I will definitely explain all of that to them, just hoping it will go my way.

Haha crawl, I like it!

Yes it definitely would be but I’ve found out that they would still have to give me a reference if they fire me. X

[hypercat54 in reply to Helennn]

Yes they would have to but employers are wary of those who have been dismissed. x

[skischool]

Helennn,you don't indicate the size of your organisation,if you are a union member,what was in your final written notice or does your company have an HR dept,initially i would request a meeting with the company HR dept,it may well be that they were involved with the final written warning and if not why not,you are also entitled to have union representation if a member and the union is recognised by your employer or perhaps a working colleague to support you at the meeting,also what plans have you taken to improve your attendance pattern as obviously your performance is not being questioned and you may well be able to use that as part or your defence or as a bargaining tool at the proposed meeting........good luck for the meeting.........skis and scruffy cat x

[Helennn in reply to skischool]

Hi Skischool, thank you for your reply. It is quite a big insurance company in the industry of insurers. I’m not a union member no, and you have just reminded me something else to bring up being the fact that I have never been given this ‘final written warning’ in writing and only verbally since October! Last I heard was they were still typing the minutes up from that meeting!

Yeah I’m definitely taking a colleague of mine in with me.

Thank you so much x

[skischool in reply to Helennn]

my pleasure go and do battle my love x

[Hidden]

Pffff how careless of them.. don’t you go and give your notice and lose your rights to benefits. I would ask advice from the Citizen advice bureau and even a works tribunal.. that is bullying.

Take good care of yourself xx

Fran

[Caspiana]

Hello Helennn . 👋

I'm afraid I don't know the laws in the U.K. but in Japan an employer cannot sack employees because of health reasons. In fact , it is quite hard to dismiss people from their jobs sometimes even when there seems to be just cause (not referring to your case of course).

I don't know how you feel about your job, is it something you enjoy and really want to continue doing, or do you think a change would benefit you?

You'd probably hate for me to say this 😐, but considering your fragile health would you consider going home to your family (sorry for the assumption) for awhile to get some support until you get stronger? Some recuperation time may help you feel rejuvenated. Sometimes a change of scene helps. We all need support when things are rough. 🌹

People who have relatively healthy lives cannot comprehend what it's like to feel poorly on a daily basis. And many businesses go for quantity rather than quality.

I'm sorry you are going through this. Take deep breaths and remember that you are the most important person in this process. And nothing is more important than your wellbeing.

Please do keep us updated.

*HUGS*

Cas xx 🌞🐞

[Helennn in reply to Caspiana]

Hi Cas, thank you for your reply.

It’s not really something I enjoy doing but until I get another job I enjoy its money to keep a roof over mine and my partners head.

No I don’t hate you at all saying that! It’s something I have definitely considered and thought about a lot.

I’m at my mums at the moment so am always welcome to live here again she’s mentioned. But love the flat and place me and my partner live with our hamsters

Thank you so much Cas for your kind words. I need to start putting me first.

Take care, hugs xxx

[Caspiana in reply to Helennn]

I'm glad you have a supportive partner Helennn , just know that as a mum I can tell you your mum will always have a place for you if you need the rest and break from work, so just know you don't have to "soldier on" if you can't manage. *Hugs* xx 🙋🐕