Going Abroad While On Sick Leave

[deldos]

My husband passed away on 30th Jan. I have been absent from work since 10th Jan due to his illness. My current sickline expires on 6th March. I am totally devastated and in denial and do not feel ready to go back to work at least for a few weeks. It is however my intention to take my husband's ashes abroad around the middle of March. Is this allowed whilst being on sick leave. Do I require to inform my employer? If my employer finds out (which no doubt they will) are there any consequences for me? I am currently not receiving my salary as we are only entitled to 20 days sick pay. If my employer does find out can they use the days away as holidays and would I get paid? Thank you

[ubasses]

Due to retirement my Employment Law training is probably a bit out of date, if your GP is happy to let you travel but still considers you unfit to work there should not be any problem in you going away. However it will still be deducted from your holiday allowance.
Hope that helps. Somebody more up to date may be along later and let you know if things have changed. I can't imagine that law will have been altered to the detriment of the employee.

[woofgang]

GP’s no longer give sick notes but fit notes. These are supposed to detail what you can do in terms of work and what you can’t. Its not unreasonable to take a holiday while on sick leave from your job if you can cope with the requirements of the holiday but not with the requirements of the job. You need to discuss this with your GP. Setting aside the fitness note from the GP, employers can operate procedures which can end in terminating your employment due to your inability to do the job due to stress or other illness or disability. As an ex employer, can I suggest that you talk to your employer and tell them what you have told us. It always looks worse when you don’t keep then informed.

[Peter Pedant]

well it is all here
https://www.gov.uk/taking-sick-leave

you can ask to be paid for holiday whilst on sick leave. it doesnt look as tho you have a right ( so the employer can or can't as he wishes )

sorry for your loss
I hope the distress gets less in time

Employers may get funny about holiday whilst sick however it seems easy for me to see that you can be ill enough not to work but still able to holiday ( sort of need less effort and time keeping skills and so on)

[Peter Pedant]

oh ubasses you will love this one:
evening class a fella had broken his foot but was still working, and for the follow up x ray his employer said
" of course you will take half a days holiday to attend hospital x ray dept" ....

[ubasses]

I hope he managed to keep his reply to the Boss polite Peter.