S
spwazymnxr
- Original Poster
- #1
My business has been open for nearly a year. One of our employees has had 80 hours' sick in 6 months due to anxiety. Her anxiety isn’t terrible - she panics in the morning and is fine in the afternoon..
I have given her countless advice on what to do - go to the doctor, self-refer to the NHS, contact MIND for free counselling. She went to the doctor months ago and was prescribed tablets but doesn’t take them properly because they make her feel sick. Unfortunately her time off is really affecting the business.
We have supported her as much as possible, always allowing for doctors appointments and advised we would support therapy appointments (staff have one day off during the week and start late on a different day) if they fell during work hours.
The hours she hasn’t turned up for work I estimate to have lost us just under £3,000. As a new business, i’m sure you can appreciate that we’re tight with cashflow and breaking even each month.
It may be worth mentioning, the days this particular employee takes off are always the same and we now dread each week waiting for the phone to ring (employee has started texting and not calling).
We are looking into a disciplinary hearing - but is that too far? We have had return-to-work meetings, allowed for doctors appointments, work area is safe, clean and tidy, we are really laid back in terms of management (clearly too laid back) and we have instigated a ‘wellness jar’ for all staff should they be having a bad day - the jar is where they write positive quotes and can pull one out as and when.
We fully support all staff the same, train all staff when they request it (and additional) and don’t ask for anything more than them to work their hours. Due to the nature of the business, sometimes additional hours are requested for weddings etc but we ask who wants to do it prior to agreeing a booking and don’t force them to do anything. When doing extra, we offer time off in lieu to be taken at any time except Saturdays or overtime payment and they can choose what they prefer.
Sorry this is long but I’m really unsure on next steps and what’s the best way to deal with this. Mainly due to the current stigma around mental health and i don’t want to seem unsupportive but I also have a business to run!
Thank you
I have given her countless advice on what to do - go to the doctor, self-refer to the NHS, contact MIND for free counselling. She went to the doctor months ago and was prescribed tablets but doesn’t take them properly because they make her feel sick. Unfortunately her time off is really affecting the business.
We have supported her as much as possible, always allowing for doctors appointments and advised we would support therapy appointments (staff have one day off during the week and start late on a different day) if they fell during work hours.
The hours she hasn’t turned up for work I estimate to have lost us just under £3,000. As a new business, i’m sure you can appreciate that we’re tight with cashflow and breaking even each month.
It may be worth mentioning, the days this particular employee takes off are always the same and we now dread each week waiting for the phone to ring (employee has started texting and not calling).
We are looking into a disciplinary hearing - but is that too far? We have had return-to-work meetings, allowed for doctors appointments, work area is safe, clean and tidy, we are really laid back in terms of management (clearly too laid back) and we have instigated a ‘wellness jar’ for all staff should they be having a bad day - the jar is where they write positive quotes and can pull one out as and when.
We fully support all staff the same, train all staff when they request it (and additional) and don’t ask for anything more than them to work their hours. Due to the nature of the business, sometimes additional hours are requested for weddings etc but we ask who wants to do it prior to agreeing a booking and don’t force them to do anything. When doing extra, we offer time off in lieu to be taken at any time except Saturdays or overtime payment and they can choose what they prefer.
Sorry this is long but I’m really unsure on next steps and what’s the best way to deal with this. Mainly due to the current stigma around mental health and i don’t want to seem unsupportive but I also have a business to run!
Thank you
