phoning in sick

[andynunn]

My employers have told me that if i have a sick day off, i have to phone them up five times. first i have to phone the agency head office, then the agency line manager, then the client company line manager, then the client company project manager, and then 15 minutes before the close of business to let them know whether i will be attending work the next day. question, is this legal, if not how many times does the law say i have to phone in sick, i have spent hours looking for an answer to this to no avail. nb, the agency line manager and the client company line manager and the client company project manager all share the same office.

[Law Man1856]

andy,

You only need to report sick to your line manager or supervisor.

The chain of command and the company proceedure should dictate the way you report sick or book leave.

To call 5 different people is very silly.


hope this helps

[Reverandfunk]

Very silly but if thats what company procedures state then thats what you have to do.

[Surreylass]

You are an agency worker and your contract is with the agency. you do not need to contact the client, thats what they get their fee for

Make one call ideally one hour before your shift starts and then if you are up to it you could call them at the end of the day to say 'still ill / better' to them

[Meg888]

I think they're taking the pi$$ - it's to put you off being sick i reckon! You could check with ACAS they help both employees & ers with employment law.

[andynunn]

the other thing i forgot to mention, in my contract with the agency it states i have to phone the agency first then the client company, this new procedure has only been given to us verbally, however we have been told that if we do not follow it we will be dismissed

[Whickerman]

in which case - do you really want to work for idiots like this? It's your decision...

[andynunn]

No not really, but keep the answers coming in, cause i am gonna pin this up in their office, so they know how many people think they are idiots.

[Surreylass]

i have worked for Kelly Services, Adecco, REED, Office angels, manpower and SEARCH and i have never ever been told that i am to contact the client aswell as the agency temporary division.

Whilst i have sometimes called the client first if i have worked on a long term assignment and in good rapport with thm this has been off my own back as i know how rubbish the agencies can be at passing messages on.

Th agency earn about 40% of your hourly fee. i.e you get �8 and they charge �11.50 + vat for you. They expect you at cost to yourself to make 5 calls on a day where you are poorly.

Your contract is with them, and the clients contract is also with them. You being the middle man 'worker' are not expected to be the go-between between their contracted terms.