Absence and Sickness Procedure

[10shamrock]

Hi there,

I would be very grateful for some advice as I am very worried about losing my job. I am currently on a Stage One warning for sickness. I am currently off ill at the moment and the GP has now signed me off until Monday with a doctors certificate. I know that this absence will trigger a Stage Two warning but, I was so ill there was no way I could have gone into work.

My question is can they skip the Stage Two warning and go straight for dismissal? I have been a Postman for over 20 years but, the way my line manager was speaking to me on the phone this morning it sounded like he was going to give me the sack. I just need to know where I stand as obviously I am now extremely concerned.

Any advice anyone could give would be very gratefully received.

Thank you.

[mazza111]

I'd rather think not. They have those procedures in place, so I can't see them bypassing them. So unless there is anything else to factor into the equation that's not been disclosed, I think it's highly unlikely that they will get rid of you instead of issuing a stage 2 warning.

[10shamrock]

Thank you for your prompt reply - it is much appreciated.

There are no other factors to take into account so I am hoping he was just having a bad day when he spoke to me earlier. I have just been very run down over the last year (got a new baby with kidney problems and an autistic 5 year old) so I guess I have just been unlucky in picking up more germs than usual.

Thanks again for your reply.

[not me]

Thank you for your prompt reply - it is much appreciated.

There are no other factors to take into account so I am hoping he was just having a bad day when he spoke to me earlier. I have just been very run down over the last year (got a new baby with kidney problems and an autistic 5 year old) so I guess I have just been unlucky in picking up more germs than usual.

Thanks again for your reply.

f**k em
if you know you are getting the stage 2 regardless
make sure you are well for refturn
don't be rushing back and risking another absence

[heathrow86]

Sorry to read about your plight. hearing stories like yours makes me question the attendance procedure. Why don't management use some common sense, especially if you have mitigating circumstances and your attendance has been pretty good in the past. Hope all goes well. You could always e-mail CWU top brass, so they can use your type of case in the neverending talks.

[Jayfin]

Been through the stage procedure and it's awful . Managers say that all sickness is genuine and then sack you for not staying within the required standards , which sort of contradicts itself . If you do get a stage two be extremely careful as it's easy to get to a stage 3 . You would hope managers would have common sense and want to keep good staff . I personally think they should warn u when your close to getting a stage 3 , for genuine workers . Example a colleague on no stages as 13 days of a year of 3 absences 39 days in total in three years . And have no stage warning issued .I took 43 in three years and got dismissed where's the fairness in the system . One who knew how to play the system and one who was generally I'll . So be very careful my friend because it's easy to fall a victim through no fault of your own

[wandle]

Sounds like the manager was trying to scare you into coming back before you are truly fit to do so

He's bullsh!tting about moving you directly from a Stage 1 to dismissal. Any half-decent rep would get the Stage 3 thrown out very easily if procedure had not been followed. The logical argument being 'how the feck could a Stage 3 be issued if no Stage 2 warning had been received' ?

It's this sort of bullying by management that makes people take LONGER sick absences, not shorter ones. The bullying DOMs are just too dim to work that out. If I was already on Stage 1, became genuinely ill and knew I was going to be off more than 10 days and got bullied like that, I'd be inclined to take a lengthy absence - citing stress - because it makes no difference if you are off 11 days or 11 weeks... a Stage 2 is the MAXIMUM you could be issued, so long as it is a single continuous absence.

If you trigger a Stage 2 and give in to pressure to return before you're well enough, then go sick again, you'll be one absence closer to a legitimate Stage 3. So don't give in to the bully, stay off until you're fully recovered.

[keithposty]

please remember people

there is no stage three in the attendance procedure

you have one and two

next step is to decide if you are going to be given the chop

[hantsman]

please remember people

there is no stage three in the attendance procedure

you have one and two

next step is to decide if you are going to be given the chop

There is a stage 3, thats why its called a stage 3

[graffi]

Others have covered off stage 2 and only stage 2 .. My advice get ATOS/EHS referral !