Is My Boss To Blame?

[chrisuk013]

I live in an area that has been affected by the recent heavy snowfall,I have had and I took 4 days off work,as I couldn't get out due to road conditions etc. I reported in everyday to the adverse weather line to let them know i wouldnt be at work and the reasons etc.. So on thursday night i got a message on facebook from my line manager saying "we have got busier in work and could do with you back in"(I never planned to go in on the frday as the roads were terrible).

So i felt a bit taken a back by this and was worried that if i stayed off on the friday i would get into trouble and felt in fear, it's really not the normal procedure to contact your staff via social media to find out when the are coming back to work. So on the friday i set out,I got half a mile down the road and i noticed ice on the road. I got out of the car to see what the extent of the ice was(to see if it was passable). The next thing i know, I have fallen onto the floor an broken my wrist! I have been the hospital to get my wrist sorted out(the nurses were excellent) but now i am in quite a bit of pain and dont feel fit for work!

[Buenchico]

Your manager didn't have the right to compel you to attempt the journey. (That's confirmed at the foot of this page: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11886185 ).

However he doesn't seem to have done that anyway; he simply encouraged you to get back in as soon as possible (while still leaving it to you to decide whether it was safe to do so).

If you're thinking of suing your employer, I'd forget it. Firstly, I think that you'd lose. Secondly, employers don't take kindly to being sued by their employees; it's not hard for them to manufacture a reason for dismissing someone regarded as a 'troublemaker'!

[boxtops]

what sort of organisation do you work for? I agree with Chris ^ - it's nto your employer's fault that you fell in the snow. And yes - employers do use social media or texts to keep in touch with their staff. He didn't say "you must come back or else" - he was hopeful you might make it in. Why didn't you just ring him and tell him how bad it was!

The hospital will have informed the GP of your treatment so if you are not fit to go to work now, you need to let your boss know tomorrow that you are off sick. You can self certify for seven days then you will need a sick note from the GP.

[muchlovex]

Why are people assumming Chrisuk is wanting to sue his employer??? I think he has posted this as he's worried he has to take more time off work due having a broken wrist.

Chrisuk013 - ring work and explain the situation and ask your doctor to provide you with a sick note if that will make you feel better.

[boxtops]

muchlove - because he says "is my boss to blame?". This suggests the OP is looking for someone to blame because they were out in the snow in the first place.

[muchlovex]

Sorry...I've just realised the title of this post.

Chris...your boss is not to blame for this unfortunate instidence. It's just one of those things that happen in life.

[Old_Geezer]

In which case it may pay you to stress that you only attempted the journey because you felt you should, given the communication, and so hopefully elicit more sympathy for any additional time off.

[Purple_Popple]

Are you getting paid while you are 'off' work - does your employer pay sick pay ?

[joko]

its your responsibility to wear approprate footwear ... you didnt so its your own fault

[boxtops]

we don't know what footwear the OP was wearing - in really bad weather, you can still fall.