Sickness

Blitz17

Quick question lads,

I'm currently on a final warning for absences. This was given to me around January and it's for 12 months. No problems with that. As I type this I have been really sick since Monday. I let them aware of this on Monday while half way through my shift. I was told nothing could be done and to just keep working away.

It has gotten worse and worse and I also went to work tuesday and today and made them aware of how i felt. My colleagues all know I'm not in good health as they can tell by looking at me. I was told in previous meeting that whether I have a sick note or not is irrelevant and I'm still classed as out sick. I honestly don't think I can go in, I really need to go see a doctor but they will give me a note therefore I wouldn't be allowed work.

Where do I stand? They said It would lead to disciplinary if I am out sick within the 12 months.

Please help

Eoin

I was told in previous meeting that whether I have a sick note or not is irrelevant and I'm still classed as out sick.

This part is true - they don't have to ignore sick leave because you've a sick note. Regular patterns of sick leave can be dealt with through disciplinary procedures, whether or not they're certified.

I honestly don't think I can go in, I really need to go see a doctor but they will give me a note therefore I wouldn't be allowed work.

First things first - if you are in need of medical attention, then see the doctor and get yourself looked at. A lot of doctors seem very quick to give out a cert, so maybe ask if s/he thinks you can go into work with the right medication. If you have to take more sick leave, then you'll just have to talk to work another time and concentrate on getting better.

If you're sick regularly enough to be on a final warning, would you consider seeing a specialist or something? Even if you make it through work tomorrow, it sort of sounds like it's likely to happen again.

Blitz17

Thanks for your reply Eoin. If I don't turn up for work tomorrow then they will 100% fire me. It's how they work.

The problem is I didn't sleep all last night and went to work, again I am not going to sleep tonight. I'm in too much pain to move and all im doing is lying down. Let alone sitting down for 8 hours. If I see a doctor and he does certify me out then I'm screwed. If he doesn't but gives me medication which would more then likely be painkillers, I still won't be in any fit condition. I have been on very strong painkillers since Monday evening and it only helps marginally.

Eoin

Blitz17, that's not good - sorry to hear that. I don't really know what to say, other than just to get yourself to the doctor and look after your health first. You'll just have to look into your options once you're in better shape. Sorry that's too useful

looksee

OP you evidently are in need of medication/medical help at the moment, but were all your previous absences due to the same, serious, condition, or did they have more to do with lack of interest, late nights etc?

If you have an on-going illness that is causing your absences you need to be making proper arrangements to deal with them, not just being put on warning. You don't mention any long term illness though, so you may have been 'swinging the lead' int he past and now it has caught up with you.

I think you should go to your doctor and get your health sorted, then deal with the work situation afterwards. Even if it has to be done at a disciplinary it needs to be sorted, and you will not necessarily lose your job.

Murky Waters

Is there a trade union rep on site, or a health & safety officer? The employer has a duty of care to the employee, so if you are not in a fit state to work & you have brought this to the attention of your employer, & they have instructed you to carry on regardless then it could possibly be the case that they are endangering your health or at least contributing to it.

If none of the above are applicable, if I were you I'd report to work, inform your employer of your state of health & ask them to either recommend a doctor of their choice for you to see or else to call an ambulance for you.