NO she cannot if your friend has follwed absence procedures to the best of her ability and kept contact. Is the GP / Mental Health professional giving her sick notes/evidence. If so then I think not. How is she getting on now? Im going thru similar experince iv been off for 4 weeks constant harrassemnt which iv kept evidence of (thank you) i have been unable to adhere to weekly phone calls, ive explained on original telephone calls and in writing several times - the calls are to be made to "the bully" i have developed a great difficulty in speaking, i cannot balance properly (still under medical assesment)and a meeting is imminent which unfortunately work are entitled to. I dont want the bully invading my home if i meet them at work i will be embarressed at my state of health. union rep will be with me or someone else im waiting on union getting back hopefully today. I urge your friend to read this
http://www.bullyonlin...orkbully/amibeing.htm helped me understand the "bully type" and why I was a target. Just now my focus is getting well. Then Ill deal with my bullying claim. (am also awaiting response from a new job i already have applied for, i might be well enuf by then i might not but health is the most important thing here) Best of Luck x