Home Visits for Sick Abcences

[Dorset Plodder]

Have the "Agreements" for Home Visits recently changed? A colleague has contacted me to say he's received a phone call from the Office to ask if he'll be at work tomorrow. If not the Manager may have to arrange a home visit...."As the procedures have recently changed"!

Sounds like BS to me. He only went sick today FFS! I understand the need for contact during a long period of Sick Absence but I would have thought this particular manger is jumping the gun on any procedure.

[spiderj]

Home visits have been in the procedure for a while.
However for them to say its changed recently is ballcox
If the absence is stress or anxiety related a home visit could trigger an episode.

Me personally,I don't allow entry to my home and have kept em on the doorstep.
As you know first 8 days or under is self cert so it looks like an over zealous manager.

The agreement is on the site somewhere,TrueBlue or postman or clashcityrocker or fishtank or dB etc will know where.

I'll try and find it myself in a mo.

[rehabron]

Have the "Agreements" for Home Visits recently changed? A colleague has contacted me to say he's received a phone call from the Office to ask if he'll be at work tomorrow. If not the Manager may have to arrange a home visit...."As the procedures have recently changed"!

Sounds like BS to me. He only went sick today FFS! I understand the need for contact during a long period of Sick Absence but I would have thought this particular manger is jumping the gun on any procedure.

It seems that this manager is forgoing the standard 48 hourl letter of " sorry to hear you have been ill" giving notification of setting up contact while remaining absent within the guidelines on the attendance procedure.
A home visit is a bit premature in relation to the length of absence and could point out the fact that he/she has not been notified on how contact is to be made that is mutually agreed.
The colleague if not returning to work tomorrow needs to notify the manager by phone or text message preferably and give the current situation and if manager wishes to extend this to a home visit then you should comply with this request as your colleague has nothing to hide.
When you are given a time for the home visit pin a yellow duster to the front door that your home is in quarantine and manager may decide to use another method of contact.
I am not aware of any changes for maintaining contact.

[spiderj]

enable the individual to undertake alternative work, and full support made available to those individuals able to demonstrate the necessary aptitude for acquiring those new skills. 6. REPORTING ABSENCE AND MAINTAINING CONTACT 6.1 The employee has the responsibility to inform the business of their absence as soon as possible as well as telling the business the cause of the absence and their anticipated date of return. It is also important that the employee keeps the business up to date on any changes in their circumstances throughout the absence including the provision of sick certificates in a timely way. 6.2 The employer also has a responsibility to maintain contact with the employee, to ensure that the employee is provided with the support and help necessary whilst off sick. This may be face to face through visiting the employee at home, with prior notice and agreement, on Royal Mail premises, in writing or by telephone as and when appropriate. Contact should be supportive and constructive, but not intrusive, and should consider a range of activities to aid the employee’s recovery and return to work. 6.3 The local union representative has a role in facilitating this proactive approach by supporting and encouraging a two-way dialogue between the business and the employee, and – with the employee’s permission - discussing with the line manager the most appropriate action to be taken.

[spiderj]

The above is from the group I'll health thingy for long term absence
If its short term as rehabron says it may just be due to the manager not been informed of contact.but I'll err on the side of caution and say that's doubtful after a day

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.cwu.org/assets/_files/docume ... nce_Pr.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Dorset Plodder]

Thanks for all your comments. The guy is off with D & V and as the Office is short staffed at present, due to other sickness, I think the DOM had to get of his backside and cover a Delivery!

Probably accounts for his enthusiasm to wave the sick procedure booklet (although it looks like he's doing that incorrectly). He's well known as a BS Artist (which unfortunately catches out a lot of the ill informed and unconfident types) Thank you RMT!

P.S Doctor's told him he shouldn't be in work until 48 hrs after the last "Event" as it's highly contagious. Perhaps he should "Help" the struggling DOM out....go back early and infect half the Office....that would be clever!

[celerycelery]

The agreement is clear it's about an agreed contact strategy. It is not up to the manager to say he will come to their home if they are not comfortable with this, the same if a manager says they have to come into office to see them.

[DB1100]

I'm with you spiderj,I've never had a home visit but if they did it would be on the street outside my house,I'm quite lucky in the fact that it's in a rough area and can be quite off putting to an outsider.

[spiderj]

Had a home visit in a previous job
Answered the door to my operations manager in my shorts and kept him on the step.
He was ex rmp with the demeanour of someone who forgets that once out he didn't have an armband anymore.

Made my day making him feel uneasy and explaining he had no implied rights of access to my home while I was in my boxers n scratching my butt.


My home is my home not an extension of my workplace.

[Dorset Plodder]

Managers you've got to love em! He apparently DID say he had to make a Home Visit "The procedures have changed, because you're on Leave next week I have to make a visit"! Although when asked what time would he like to Agree a visit he said, "I don't have to agree a time, I'll visit any time during your hours of duty...as if you're sick you'll be at home"!

Guess what? He never bothered turning up. Just more BS as suspected. My colleague's considering putting in a Disagreement when he gets back, but as he's on leave he's pretty chilled at present!