unauthorised absence

[eric the viking]

Recently whilst off work with a knee injury I was, as I live on my own and having left my phone at a friends house, unable to contact the depot to inform them of my injury for two days. I then went to my doctor and was given a note of my inability to work which was back dated to the start of my injury.I have lost two days pay due to unauthorised absence. Can this be right?

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

We're you off work for two days before making first contact to say you were injured and unable to work?

[motherhubbard]

Were you actually at home?
PF might be different but if someone doesn't turn up for work then someone is usually sent to their house to find out why.
Didn't that happen?

[eric the viking]

We're you off work for two days before making first contact to say you were injured and unable to work?

I had injured knee and was unable to put any weight on it at all.
Attendance procedure says I should make an effort to contact but was impossible in my case.

[eric the viking]

Were you actually at home?
PF might be different but if someone doesn't turn up for work then someone is usually sent to their house to find out why.
Didn't that happen?

Yes I was at home in bed and nobody came to see me.

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

in that case you are actually lucky they are not going down the conduct route, at end of day you have a responsibility to let work know you won't be in, and not doing it for two days is pushing it, you say it was impossible but it was only "impossible" due to your actions

[eric the viking]

in that case you are actually lucky they are not going down the conduct route, at end of day you have a responsibility to let work know you won't be in, and not doing it for two days is pushing it, you say it was impossible but it was only "impossible" due to your actions

Why should I be conducted for being unable to contact anyone? Just how should I have managed to do this? My doctor confirmed in my fit note I would have been unable to move around in any way so thanks for your input but no thanks for your lack of understanding in my situation.

[aiden01]

in that case you are actually lucky they are not going down the conduct route, at end of day you have a responsibility to let work know you won't be in, and not doing it for two days is pushing it, you say it was impossible but it was only "impossible" due to your actions

Why should I be conducted for being unable to contact anyone? Just how should I have managed to do this? My doctor confirmed in my fit note I would have been unable to move around in any way so thanks for your input but no thanks for your lack of understanding in my situation.

Agree if you can't move through no fault of your own why would be brought down conduct code especially if your doctor has confirmed this on your fit note. Maybe you should have mobiles all over your house just in case it happens again

[doob]

Unfortunately it is an unauthorised absence as you did not contact them or instruct anyone else to. How did u contact doctors or get to doctors about knee? Do u not have Internet to email or anything? To them it's unauthorised because you no showed for 2 days. On seeing/hearing about your injury then some managers may give you the benefit but obviously depends who the manager is.

[aiden01]

Unfortunately it is an unauthorised absence as you did not contact them or instruct anyone else to. How did u contact doctors or get to doctors about knee? Do u not have Internet to email or anything? To them it's unauthorised because you no showed for 2 days. On seeing/hearing about your injury then some managers may give you the benefit but obviously depends who the manager is.

going by his post he contacted relevant person when he could.

[doob]

Having one bad knee doesn't stop you getting about at the end of the day. He wasn't hospitalised or in a ditch somewhere. It is his fault he left his phone somewhere. Most friends once realising they have your phone would return it surely. At the end of the day in any job if you don't turn up to work for 2 days and they haven't heard from you, it goes down as unauthorised. U would think they would send a manager or someone to see if he is ok but they aren't the most proactive of managers in this company

[eric the viking]

Having one bad knee doesn't stop you getting about at the end of the day. He wasn't hospitalised or in a ditch somewhere. It is his fault he left his phone somewhere. Most friends once realising they have your phone would return it surely. At the end of the day in any job if you don't turn up to work for 2 days and they haven't heard from you, it goes down as unauthorised. U would think they would send a manager or someone to see if he is ok but they aren't the most proactive of managers in this company

I assure you having bone rubbing on bone in one knee certainly does stop you getting about. My phone was returned when found . I Was off for over three weeks and if lying in a ditch gets you paid then lying on your own at home should also get you paid. All illness is treated as genuine remember and a doctor's note to prove it.
My point is if you are ill and can't get in touch how can it be your fault. They are meant to pay sick pay, I was sick and followed the procedure as best I could.
Have now received an e-mail from regional rep who agrees with me. Thanks for the help everyone.

[doob]

U have the other leg to stand on and take the weight off the bad knee to get around a little bit at least. U could knock on a neighbours door etc to ask for them to help contact someone for you. It doesn't matter in the end but if u don't contact work then it's seen as unauthorised. Good luck getting the money back but you can see why they didn't pay it to start with

[eric the viking]

U have the other leg to stand on and take the weight off the bad knee to get around a little bit at least. U could knock on a neighbours door etc to ask for them to help contact someone for you. It doesn't matter in the end but if u don't contact work then it's seen as unauthorised. Good luck getting the money back but you can see why they didn't pay it to start with

You know nothing about where I live and also the pain in just moving was also almost unbearable. I get paid monthly so the decision was not made straight away but made after knowing I was unable to call them and after they had received the doctor's note . It is nothing but an attempt to save on budget like many other things in our depot.

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

in that case you are actually lucky they are not going down the conduct route, at end of day you have a responsibility to let work know you won't be in, and not doing it for two days is pushing it, you say it was impossible but it was only "impossible" due to your actions

Why should I be conducted for being unable to contact anyone? Just how should I have managed to do this? My doctor confirmed in my fit note I would have been unable to move around in any way so thanks for your input but no thanks for your lack of understanding in my situation.

you have a contractual obligation to inform Parcelforce that you won't be able to attend work, if you were physically unable to make the call soley due to your injuries that would be a completely different story, but you were physically able to call, if you had a phone you could have called. I am not doubting the seriousness of your injury but it in no way would have stopped you calling if you had your phone.

think about it another way does not owning a mobile or house phone exempt you from informing that you are sick when you have the ability to make a call? No and it's for that reason you could have been conducted for being awol(again if lying in a hospital bed somewhere that would be a complete different story)