Signed off sick

[1977]

My wife has been signed off due to on going vertigo and her employers, the police, are basically trying to bully her out of her role/job.

When her next employers ask for a reference, will/can the police mention that she’s been signed off?

Also, what constitutes constructive dismissal?

 

[Newchodge]

1. Yes.

2. Constructive dismissal occurs when an employer behaves in such a way that it amounts to a fundamental breach of contract and the employee resigns as a direct consequence of that breach. It is the hardest tribunal claim to win.

I assume she never bothered to join a union?

 

[1977]

Yep she’s in unison. They’re doing their best for her but the police have changed a lot of rules and regulations and they’re coming down hard on anyone who has more than a handful of days off due to sickness.

My wife was put straight on a stage 2 warning in January last year because she had tonsillitis that lasted 10 days (bearing in mind she spends 90% of her time on the phone dealing with organised crime reports), and she’s just had a couple of days off due to a bug caught by our kids.

This has resulted in them telling her she’s got to face the HR panel which will result in either dismissal or being moved up to a stage three.

 

[Newchodge]

Yep she’s in unison. They’re doing their best for her but the police have changed a lot of rules and regulations and they’re coming down hard on anyone who has more than a handful of days off due to sickness.

My wife was put straight on a stage 2 warning in January last year because she had tonsillitis that lasted 10 days (bearing in mind she spends 90% of her time on the phone dealing with organised crime reports), and she’s just had a couple of days off due to a bug caught by our kids.

This has resulted in them telling her she’s got to face the HR panel which will result in either dismissal or being moved up to a stage three.

If they are following their procedures there is nothing to complain about. If the union is dealing with it, let them get on with it.

 

[1977]

The ironic thing with this is that they all hot desk and pick up bugs from all over the office. They never clean keyboards or desks then penalise the workers for being ill.

So far in this department alone they’ve gotten rid of over a dozen of the longest serving and highest paid staff, such as my wife.

 

[kkfcXHzmCc]

The ironic thing with this is that they all hot desk and pick up bugs from all over the office. They never clean keyboards or desks then penalise the workers for being ill.

So far in this department alone they’ve gotten rid of over a dozen of the longest serving and highest paid staff, such as my wife.

Very similar to the education sector!

 

[Mr D]

The ironic thing with this is that they all hot desk and pick up bugs from all over the office. They never clean keyboards or desks then penalise the workers for being ill.

So far in this department alone they’ve gotten rid of over a dozen of the longest serving and highest paid staff, such as my wife.

So they don't clean the keyboard and desk, and staff don't clean them either?

No one's problem by the sound of it.

 

[Mr D]

My wife has been signed off due to on going vertigo and her employers, the police, are basically trying to bully her out of her role/job.

When her next employers ask for a reference, will/can the police mention that she’s been signed off?

Also, what constitutes constructive dismissal?

Is she likely to be able to do the job again?
If not then at some point they will have to think of her leaving the job. Or keep her on the books, on the sick, for years.

 

[1977]

So they don't clean the keyboard and desk, and staff don't clean them either?

No one's problem by the sound of it.

Everything they do is monitored and timed, everything.

1 person gets up after their shift, signs off from the computer and the next shift takes over immediately.

 

[1977]

Is she likely to be able to do the job again?
If not then at some point they will have to think of her leaving the job. Or keep her on the books, on the sick, for years.

Yes she’ll be back to do the job

 

[Mr D]

Everything they do is monitored and timed, everything.

1 person gets up after their shift, signs off from the computer and the next shift takes over immediately.

Sound familiar. Though our shifts were more staggered so not everyone changed over the same minute or even hour.

 

[Mr D]

Yes she’ll be back to do the job

The employer has been informed of that?

 

[1977]

Yes.

 

[Mr D]

Yes.

Great. Then they should have procedures to follow to get someone back into the job after an absence.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

A good friend of mine, a serving officer for over 25 years tells me that 50% of the Met are on restricted duties due to injury or stress related illnesses. Can't beat a dirty keyboard for picking up a nice little virus.