Jamo

iTrader: (23)

hi all..

just wondered if anyone knew the rules on calling employees whilst off sick?

I have been informed that if I was to be off sick, as long as I call in and supply a good reason for being off sick my employer cannot ring my home phone and question me about it?

is this factual? if it is, is there anything documented which can back it up?

cheers

jamo

tonybooth

As an employee you are obliged to give your employer an 'estimate' as to when you are likely to be able to return to work. If this info has not been forthcoming there is no problem calling the employee.

Similarly there is always a case for the employer to be concerned about the employee and to call them to see how their recovery is going along with discussing anything they were working on that may need to be taken over by someone else in their absence.

TONY

Jamo

iTrader: (23)

so lets presume that a good enough excuse has been provided. and the work commitments are not an issue?

what I am talking about here is when, a manager rings you up after you have called in sick and basically does an interview with you over the telephone regarding how you are feeling, what are your symptoms, what has caused this, have you been to the doctors etc etc etc etc.

I just feel this is very prying and unneccesary, I am fairly sure that its not legal, as they are not qualified as doctors and are in no position to determine your illness from the information that they request.

jamo

DrunkenPikie

Don't give them your home number or just screen calls via an answering machine. Then they can call you as much as they like. If they give you any **** later then just tell them you were 'too ill' to make it to the phone and thank them for their concern.

thundertiger

BOB, calm down, it might be a call to find out where he keeps his tippex.

BB

Abdabz

But the manager can pitch it as 'trying to facilitate your return to work as smoothly as possible"...
As one example, I managed a long term sickness recently and was in regular contact by telephone to arrange home visits etc and this lad was off with "stress"...
Within my company I can contact my team when they are off sick with absolutely no legal come back. ie its not in anyway law you cant be contacted - its simply whether its your companies policy...
P

OllyK

I've never had a day off work sick, but I think I can say I wouldn't be answering the phone if I was, it would un-plugged and I'd be tucked up in bed asleep.