More On The Absence Interviews

[chelsea_girl]

My superiors once again have sent me a letter. This time for only THREE days absence since Sept 5th 2016 to present day. There are other employees with more days off than myself who haven't got a letter. There's only three of us who have received the letter and I am the one with the least time off sick. There's one girl who hasn't been back to work in over a year.

[murraymints]

if you have regular /frequent absences even if only a day or time at a day this will alert HR ..if some one is off long term for serious complaint that is explainable it may not be considered questionable...I know someone who had a day or two every month off..it transpired they had another job and were calling in sick to do it !

[murraymints]

if only for a day or two at a time ^^

[fiction-factory]

As you don't mention disciplinary (capability ) warnings then I assume they are reminding you that your absence is a cause for concern. They will be looking at the overall absences- not just total time off but the number of separate absences.

[fiction-factory]

The girl who has been off for a year probably isn't being paid, she will have certified absence, and the employer can cover such absences more easily than they can cover short, unforeseen (paid) absences.
You may want to ask whether they will tell you the trigger points for such letters- although many employers won't do that in case some see that as an entitlement below which they can escape any action

[donny48]

For someone to be off work for over a year would mean your firm knows about the reasons and accepts them. To offer their absence as a mitigating factor for your own absences is rather unsympathetic, one would imagine that their illness must be severe to warrant a year off and I congratulate your firm for sticking with them.

[TheChair]

The average percentage of absenteeism in the UK is 2.5%. For the period in question, you have an absenteeism rate of 5.2%, or more than double the national average.
I'm not surprised that your employer is concerned.

[diddlydo]

Three days off since September is a LOT! How many days have you had off in 2016?

[fiction-factory]

And you were interviewed in June and advised that they were concerned about your absence. Some people are genuinely too ill to work fairly regularly but (aside from cases where it is classed as disability) the employer can follow a process based on capability. Some people struggle into work when they are not 100% whereas others take regular short uncertified absences when it's snowing or they have a delivery expected or if they feel a bit tired, and it's unfair on those who have to cover their work.

If you have been there for less than two years they could probably just dismiss you without evening following the process- how long have you worked there Chelsea-girl?

[Pete65]

If you establish a pattern of absence over time, your employer will rightfully be concerned.
"only THREE days absence".
Your use of the word "only", suggests that you think this is a triviality.
I think your employers are quite correct in bringing the matter to your attention.

[chelsea_girl]

I have been there almost 10 years and this is a new school year. They admitted as such.

[chelsea_girl]

I had three days in a row a week ago due to stomach bug caught at work. They tell us not to come in if we are still suffering with either of the sickness or other symptoms which I was and I returned on Monday being off wed thurs and Friday of previous week

[chelsea_girl]

Incidentally I will add I am the only one with this amount of days off. Everyone else in my department has more absence than me.

[diddlydo]

Please answer y earlier question - how many days have you had off in 2016? The school year is irrelevant.

[murraymints]

it is not necessarily the sum total of days off but the frequency of a day or two here and there...

[bednobs]

seriously everyone else in you department has more than 3 days off since september?

[diddlydo]

Chelsea Girl seems to have gone very quiet and hasn't answered my question - this suggests that she's been swinging the lead.

[bednobs]

... or she's at work!