2nd stage warning

robbertwhitton · Post by **robbertwhitton** » 27 Apr 2019, 17:28

Colleague just been issued with a 2nd stage warning following his 2nd period of absence due to a chest infection,before that he was off following a nasty dog bite/attack.does any decent boss look at the type and cause of absence and allow his discretion on the individual,or is that too much to expect?or is it just absence on a certain period that triggers these warnings?

Superdude · Post by **Superdude** » 27 Apr 2019, 17:53

If the dog bite happened at work, subsequent days off shouldn’t count in the stage process. Workplace injury ‘n’ all that. Get the union involved. I had a stage meeting set for four separate absences, & before I even went in the union rep. asked the DOM for my personnel file, which wasn’t where it was supposed to be (it was in a managers draw), & didn’t have ANY back to work interviews in it (& I know i’d had at least two), so he told them as far as the union was concerned there was nothing to answer for. He also told me that because one the absences was for a workplace injury I wouldn’t have got the stage anyway.

daveyeff · Post by **daveyeff** » 27 Apr 2019, 17:56

why was the first one issued if it was a dog bite? ….any ''decent'' gaffer wouldn't/couldn't issue for that, its classed as an accident on duty, unless he was at fault..i.e going into a property where a dangerous dog was loose. or putting his fingers through a letterbox. but if a dog that's loose on the street just runs up and attacks and bites you, then they literally CAN'T issue a stage for it.

Post by **aiden01** » 27 Apr 2019, 19:54

daveyeff wrote:why was the first one issued if it was a dog bite? ….any ''decent'' gaffer wouldn't/couldn't issue for that, its classed as an accident on duty, unless he was at fault..i.e going into a property where a dangerous dog was loose. or putting his fingers through a letterbox. but if a dog that's loose on the street just runs up and attacks and bites you, then they literally CAN'T issue a stage for it.

Nearly all stages now are issued regardless.. manager just says if it ever gets to stage 3 you will beat it easily.. all apparently coming from hr.

robbertwhitton · Post by **robbertwhitton** » 28 Apr 2019, 08:50

The dog bite was whilst on delivery and was handled as expected terribly,ie,manager wanted him in despite being signed off by doctor,I’m guessing it only counts if you get bit during dog awareness week?..so it would still count as a period of absence even if you were lying in a hospital bed?.i would hate to think he would be allowed to run his office how he sees fit,and adopt a fair and common sense approach!,,

tommyrep · Post by **tommyrep** » 28 Apr 2019, 10:13

aiden01 wrote:
daveyeff wrote:why was the first one issued if it was a dog bite? ….any ''decent'' gaffer wouldn't/couldn't issue for that, its classed as an accident on duty, unless he was at fault..i.e going into a property where a dangerous dog was loose. or putting his fingers through a letterbox. but if a dog that's loose on the street just runs up and attacks and bites you, then they literally CAN'T issue a stage for it.
Nearly all stages now are issued regardless.. manager just says if it ever gets to stage 3 you will beat it easily.. all apparently coming from hr.

That is the same procedure as I I know, nothing is ever rescinded until the 3rd stage meeting with an area Rep present.
First and second stages are non contestable, s**t procedure but that’s my past experience!

norris9 · Post by **norris9** » 28 Apr 2019, 10:21

Sounds like madness. Though I don't know the full details.

It does concern me that dog attacks seem pretty common from what I am hearing. One nearly got my finger the other day.

If there is a loose dog on a premises that attacks you.....do they tend to attack a specific part of the body? I am worried if they go straight for the balls. Maybe I need one of those ball protectors that cricket players wear.

robbertwhitton · Post by **robbertwhitton** » 28 Apr 2019, 11:18

Well if a dog attack’s our boss he won’t be going for his balls,they are sadly lacking!,

daveyeff · Post by **daveyeff** » 28 Apr 2019, 19:18

well we have a couple of strong union reps in our office and one of them especially takes no s**t of any gaffer. if someone was attacked by a dog and injured through no fault of their own, and then subsequently absent through it, then I would put money on a stage NOT being issued. management keep trying to brainwash staff that each case is dealt with 'on its own merits'. if a dog runs up behind you and takes a chunk out your leg and you are hospitalised then off for a fortnight, then that is merit enough in its own right, not to mention a blameless accident on duty.

postslippete · Post by **postslippete** » 28 Apr 2019, 19:58

daveyeff wrote:well we have a couple of strong union reps in our office and one of them especially takes no s**t of any gaffer. if someone was attacked by a dog and injured through no fault of their own, and then subsequently absent through it, then I would put money on a stage NOT being issued. management keep trying to brainwash staff that each case is dealt with 'on its own merits'. if a dog runs up behind you and takes a chunk out your leg and you are hospitalised then off for a fortnight, then that is merit enough in its own right, not to mention a blameless accident on duty.

Thats what most members would expect from the Union though I've often heard about 1st and 2nd stages not being contestable and it makes you wonder why it should go on record at all if the postie wasn't at fault.