Time off work.......

[debbieed]

Hello Nicola,
ACAS is an organisation that works on employment issues. Their website is www.acas.org.uk
They have a helpline and a good website that gives advice to employers and employees. I use them for advice when we're looking at our policies in work to ensure that our decisions are good practice and are fair to all employees. I've no idea if they will give advice on this but you never know.
HTH

Love
Debbie

[nicolamark]

Thanx debbie!

Will look at that site right now!!

x x

[nicolamark]

I think I will phone them on monday morning to see where I stand..
Once I have all the info, will present my boss with it!!

[debbieed]

Hello nicola,
Sounds a good plan to me. I hope you get good advice from them. Be sure to post what they say so that everyone knows.

Best of luck

Love
Debbie

[DebraP]

Nicola. What did you mean by HR said 'it's taken off the sickness policy'? That it had been there but removed later? It would be quite unusual for a company (who/what do you work for?) to have a specific policy and then remove it without covering the issue elsewhere or referring to it in another policy.


Debra.

[ogr1]

i hope that you are able to use something against your boss..
and i just wanted to check in on you..

[CC]

Really feel for you Nicola - it's hard enough as it is without all the hassle you're having. I hope you get some good news soon.

For Joanne - can't believe your boss - I think I would have punched him - that one needs posting on the 'insensitive comments' thread - where has that thread gone - haven't seen it for a while.

Cherylxx

[nicolamark]

Debra:
Sorry if my post wasn't clear, HR is Human Resource.
My boss (line manager) said it's holiday leave HR said it's sickness leave.
My manager is targeted for the time people have off sick that's why he doesn't want me to be off sick. He's just being selfish as he wants a bigger bonus!!!
I am still waiting to see my GP, appt next week.
But I am sure I will be getting a note from her....
I'll keep u informed, also I still need to call the number at ACAS.
I will do that this week, and post the responce here, so that all u girls know ok.
Thanks for the great responce from this thread!!

[DebraP]

Nicola, I was an HR Manager in The City for 10 years hence my interest in your problem.

If HR say it's sickness leave then you're home and dry! Leave it to your boss to work it out with them/his boss if it affects his budget. The policy is no longer your problem, it's his and all you need to do is work with him!

You're not going to take advantage of the policy and most of your apts should only mean a few hours off so you won't be claiming that much sick leave surely? If the clinic can see you at 8 or 9, you'd be back in work long before midday. Can you reassure him that you'll try to plan as much as possible to avoid needing whole days off, that you'll keep him informed and work with him to avoid too much disruption? Yes you might want to take time off after ET but that's a personal choice so (only my opinion) maybe that could be some of your holiday. If on the other hand you need time off, the clinic should be able to sign you off so you're covered there too.

Good luck with your GP, you'll need their support too.

If HR have said you're covered by sick leave, will you still need to call ACAS? They'll probably suggest your boss speaks to HR and clarifies how the policy impacts his budget but that's not their concern.

Debra.

[nicolamark]

Thanks for your reply Debra,
You are full of wiseness (if that is actually a word!!!)

Yes, I should be ok, What u say makes sence!!
I will be booking appointments for 8/9am and 4pm etc.... I am worried about the emotional side of it, I dont want to take the micky have extra time off, but equally I want to be relaxed and give it a good chance of working!! Does that make sence?

[debbieed]

Hello Nicola,
I hope you are not getting too much stick from your boss. I know that many people work right through their treatment and everything works out fine but you need to do what is right for you. Last time I took holidays for the appointment days ( I live too far from the hospital to go back to work). Then I took holidays for the EC week but went back to work for the rest of the 2ww. Although I was physically fine my mind really wasn't in work and I think that it affected my performance in work. This time I'm looking at it differently. I was ill with an infection prior to EC so was off work with that and have remained off ever since. I have now got another sick note from my GP (who incidently has been fine with things) until a couple of days after my test date. That way I know that nothing I've done could have prevented this from working. If I still get a -ive I've done what I can. I know that if I had gone to work I'd be less bored but I would also not be able to perform in my job properly as my mind is all over the place. My advice (for what it's worth) is that you need to decide what is best for you and the last thing you need to influence your decision is a 'difficult boss'. Take time to work out what you want to do and go for it.
Hope this helps.

Love
Debbie

[nicolamark]

Thx Debbie!

I guess, it is a case of see what happens and how I feel etc....
The way my boss is being is making me want time off, as I am stressed now about it all, let alone having started the treatment.
I am going to try to take 1/2 days off etc.... But I guess it'll be a case of wait and see how it goes.
It's just not helpful having such an *@&^%$"! for a boss.

[nicolamark]

Thought I'd just let you all know what's happening re:time off work.
I've spoken to my GP and the clinic who have said they would sign me off work when it comes down to the treatment (in may)
My boss isn't happy at all, and is making life hell, but my collegues are all on my side which is great.
So it's a case of my boss having to lump it. I feel a lot better about the situation now, I was stressing over it before, now I feel more relaxed that every thing's going to be ok.

[harri]

I cannot believe what I am reading! as if it's not hard enough for us as it is! my dh is in the Army and he has been given time off for every appointment/scan etc (when we had IUI) and if they can understand so should everyone! Because we had to move in December I had to give up my job and although I only had one IUI left I decided not to work until it had all finished. Now we are hoping to have IVF in a couple of month's time but I need a job to pay for it and no one will give me a chance. I've been for endless interviews but they see I'm married and 30 - must want kids. Well, yes that would be nice!! I know they aren't allowed to say that, but i know that's the reason I don't get the jobs. The other opetion is to tell them about the treatment, but then they won't give me the job because I will have to have so much time off! Talk about catch 22! I am so bored i'm climbing the walls but I think in reality i'm better off not working as these bosses sound like a nightmare. However, to make matters worse so many people (who don't know) are asking why i'm not working now and implying i'm lazy (or i'm just paranoid)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why is this WHOLE thing so unfair!!

[LittleP]

Hi Harri

I'm in the same vote - I decided to leave my last job in December as I wanted to go more part-time and was assured by employment agencies that there were loads of part-time jobs - well where are they

It is so annoying - and I agree about the Catch 22 situation, it is really impossible to know what to do

I've decided now that I shall probably do temping, but that is easier than it sounds as apparently the new hospital we are going to use likes to do blood tests most mornings - so now it needs to be part-time temping

What to do

Little P