Off sick with grief..

[Pete c]

Hi all, my beloved Pet Labrador died suddenly a few days ago and i decided to go from today for a few days to sort my head out and try and do my best to get over it, but i just received a phone call from my manager wanting to know if i can be back in work tomorrow...Said his boss who is always in our office trying to sort out the mess they created wants me back. I told him no chance because it has hit me for 6 and i need a few days off to recover but i will keep them informed.
I'm pretty peed off now because my sick record is excellent, and we have a few who take's advantage but never gets harassed.
Surely they can't do this??
Thanks.

[ebbzie]

Sorry mate , but dont think your entitled to any paid leave for this. You could ask for unpaid leave but dont hold your breadth, because RM managers are trained to be heartless. Hope you feel better soon , sorry for yous loss.

[eian687]

my grandaughter was is hospital in special care unit aged 3 weeks and only got 1 days special leave, she had menigitis and was in hospital for 2 weeks.touch and go, she has been left deaf on one side
when my other grandaughter was born last week my daughter whose other half cant drive wanted me to pick them up, asked to get someone to cover my cloection and DOM said no, didnt even ask how grandaughter was or congratulate me, luckly a colleague offered to swap duties so i could get them
such a caring company we work for
sorry for you loss some people dont realise how close we are to our pets

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Although there is no specific policy on paid leave for when a pet dies there are 2 cases on RMC from 2008 and 2011 that both went to tribunal and the posties had different results, one won and one lost.

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... al#p288037" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; She lost as the tribunal thought that the dismissal was fair - the days she took off when she had her dog put to sleep were counted as sickness.

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... al#p107195" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - this one he won the tribunal however that may be because his manager had given him 3 days off when he had not asked for it and they thought that was unfair dismissal as it helped trigger the sicknesses process.

In essence, and this is only advice, don't take it as gospel, in fact I wold advise contacting your branch's H&S rep to get proper advice. If you are genuinely feeling stressed because of the grief then that should be enough for absences based on sickness - but you will still have to follow the process. That is you'll need a fit note at 7 days, the days will count towards the limits in the sickness procedures etc.

[skull]

when my other grandaughter was born last week my daughter whose other half cant drive wanted me to pick them up, asked to get someone to cover my cloection and DOM said no, didnt even ask how grandaughter was or congratulate me, luckly a colleague offered to swap duties so i could get them
such a caring company we work for

If I run my own business, I wouldn't have granted special leave for this one.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

when my other grandaughter was born last week my daughter whose other half cant drive wanted me to pick them up, asked to get someone to cover my cloection and DOM said no, didnt even ask how grandaughter was or congratulate me, luckly a colleague offered to swap duties so i could get them
such a caring company we work for

If I run my own business, I wouldn't have granted special leave for this one.

Thats all right, he didn't ask for it.

I think his comment was a reflection on the compassion of a manager rather than if he got leave or not.

He asked the manager if somone could cover it on compassionate grounds thats all. It does sound like a case for Dependants leave which is covered in the Special Leave catergories if he wanted to go that far (Dependants leave (unpaid) http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/employment/ ... g_10026555" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)

[Pete c]

Thanks guys, i do feel absolutely stressed and gutted, my sick record is fine. I have heard of two people at my office (one has since left) that took 2 weeks off because they were upset when their dog's died. Managers can do one, i'm not skiving off or anything, just don't feel ready to pound the streets because i'm worried about breaking down. Does wind me up considering the same people off sick for weeks at a time when im rarely off sick.

[Wessex]

Blue cross run a free pet bereavement support phoneline which can offer support
You can find their number online.hope that helps . Wessex

[Pete c]

Thanks Wessex.

[skull]

when my other grandaughter was born last week my daughter whose other half cant drive wanted me to pick them up, asked to get someone to cover my cloection and DOM said no, didnt even ask how grandaughter was or congratulate me, luckly a colleague offered to swap duties so i could get them
such a caring company we work for

If I run my own business, I wouldn't have granted special leave for this one.

Thats all right, he didn't ask for it.

I think his comment was a reflection on the compassion of a manager rather than if he got leave or not.

He asked the manager if somone could cover it on compassionate grounds thats all. It does sound like a case for Dependants leave which is covered in the Special Leave catergories if he wanted to go that far (Dependants leave (unpaid) http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/employment/ ... g_10026555" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)

Emergency.

[Himaggen]

I'm pretty peed off now because my sick record is excellent, and we have a few who take's advantage but never gets harassed.
Surely they can't do this

Harassment…Do what?

i just received a phone call from my manager wanting to know if i can be back in work tomorrow...Said his boss who is always in our office trying to sort out the mess they created wants me back.

Your boss is not intentionally nor repetitively causing you upset, both they and their boss are interested in supporting your speedy return to work.

I told him no chance because it has hit me for 6 and i need a few days off to recover but i will keep them informed.

If you intend not returning tomorrow make sure that you telephone your Manager and arrange with them the type and frequency of contact during your absence. Stick to that agreement and then any attempts to contact you beyond that agreement can be seen as unnecessary pressure.

[fishtank]

Your boss is not intentionally nor repetitively causing you upset, both they and their boss are interested in supporting your speedy return to work..

Seriously Himaggen..some of your posts crack me up.

[BillyPosty]

Your boss is not intentionally nor repetitively causing you upset, both they and their boss are interested in supporting your speedy return to work.

Are you for real?

[AnotherLimey]

Blue cross run a free pet bereavement support phoneline which can offer support
You can find their number online.hope that helps . Wessex

I have two dogs, they mean the world to me, when they die i will be heartbroken, but a support line, get a grip

[dvbuk55]

Any pet owner must face the inevitability that the pet is going to die, they are no different to humans and the loss has to be accepted.