If a person has been signed off sick for stress, can their employer give them a written warning for attendance.

[mort101]

My friend has been signed off sick for over 3 months. She has work-related stress and this has really badly affected her. Her boss visited her and threatened to give her a written warning if she did not return to work. She has followed through on that threat, by summoning her to a meeting at the workplace and issuing a written warning. She has also demanded that she return to work.

Can the employer actually do this? My friend is a teaching assistant at a local primary school

[mort101]

Actually, no, thats not the case at all. You do not know what happened, or why the stress became unbearable, so once again shame on you for making such a hostile and ignorant opinion about a woman who is genuinely suffering

[ellierose20]

How is she getting on now? And NO she cannot, while work absence policiies should be adhered to there are exceptions and no it is absolutley unnacceptable to treat her this way if a doctor has covered her by lines. I am going through similar thing at moment I have adhered to all policies except weekly telephone calls being insisted on, iv been harrassed constantly for last month, they have given me evidence of this. (Lovely) I want to communictae by email. I sound like a 5 year old on phone and difficulty in speaking etc etc the person i am being told to call is the bully. I researched bullying and now realise how much bullying and harrassment iv actually suffered and why i was targeted. My first priority is to get well. In meantime Union is trying to get them off my back. (i havent got to interview stage yet as i cannot walk properly/leave house etc.) Im awaiting reply from union man today. Urge you to go to http://www.bullyonline.org/workbully/index.htm often it is the bully who has serious issues-it helped me hope it helps ur friend x

[ellierose20]

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

[namz]

I am shocked at some of the 'answers' on here stress is a very real issue and is often related to depression, it is the employers responsibility to look out for the health of their employee due to the duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act. My mum is going through the same thing. I hope she gets it sorted x