Employer Texting Employee When Employee Is Off Sick...?

[energyqueen]

Ok, So I am wondering if an employer is allowed to text an employee who has been signed off on the sick for a month with stress?
Or is this classed as harassment? Given that the individual in question has been signed off because they feel they have been getting bullied by their manager. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Mamyalynne]

I think it would surely depend on the content and frequency of any such texts given that the employee has presented certification for sick leave.

[237SJ]

Well, I`m signed off sick with stress for 14 days and my manager has phoned me twice. I could call it harassment but to be fair, he hasn`t once asked me when I`m going back to work. It is my company`s policy to keep an eye on people who are off sick in case they need any support. I guess it depends what your company`s policy is but there is no law against making contact when you are off sick.

[mikey4444]

My best view on this is...no, they shouldn't be allowed.

I was off work with stress in 2008, and it wasn't very pleasant at all. My Manager, who was a complete bully ( and lost his job the following year for being a bully) continually rang me at home and on my Mobile. He may also have tried to visit me as well, as my neighbour saw his car outside my house, when I had gone out for a couple of hours.

I stopped this nonsense by writing direct to the HR Dept, and his Boss.

I never heard a peep out of him ever again, as after 4 months, I decided to resign and get another job, the best thing I have ever done.

[Xeronema]

I agree with Mamya. I think it also depends on whether or not the person (on sick leave) is replying to the messages or not. If they keep replying then I would expect their manager to continue to keep making contact. Personally I'd just ignore them, they'll soon get the message.

[baza]

It depends on the tone, if the text is just to offer support then ok, if it is to chase up a return to work then it's a no no.
Contact the HR dept who should be doing this anyway.

[energyqueen]

Thanks. The contact was asking how I am, and stating that as I will be off work more than 4 weeks they will do a home visit. I ignored this text, since my boss is the sole reason why I am off and feeling down.

Received a letter from HR this morning requesting my medical notes.

[Peter Pedant]

well I thought phoning somone off sick
and asking " when ya coming back or wha' ? " was not on howeversee here

http://www.hse.gov.uk/sicknessabsence/step2.htm

apparently sensitive and artistic contact is recommended ...

[Peter Pedant]

// Received a letter from HR this morning requesting my medical notes. //

no they dont have a right to this - and so say no nicely and that they are confidential. If they want to examine you medically they have to do it thro their own occy health. You might write nnicely and say they cant have your notes but youare quite willing to attend an occy health assessment

[barmy]

Most companies I have worked for expect a line manager to keep in contact with long term sick absentees so I am not surprised but it does depend on the way it is done. A general how are you doing and is there anything we can help with approach is how I line manage long term sickness. As to the home visit that should be documented in your staff manual and sickness policy and therefore shouldn't be a surprise.

[Prudie]

It's classed as 'Duty of care' and like it or not it is common policy in some companies (as 237 has said). At mine the line manager is expected to make contact with anyone off sick within 48 hours. To be fair if one is off work and still being paid then I don't see what right one has to complain unless it's excessive I suppose.

[Peter Pedant]

// To be fair if one is off work and still being paid then I don't see what right one has to complain unless it's excessive I suppose.//

yeah I said to an intrusive manager - I nearly came around when you were ill to see if it women's diseases or not, and she didnt think that was funny at all! -altho as usual she didnt mind doing it to other people

[woofgang]

I agree, it depends on the tone of the texts and the company policy. If you have formally reported the alleged bullying by your boss, then it would be sensible to have someone else contact you. When i worked in the NHS, if a harassment/bullying claim was made, it was part of the policy to separate the complainant from the person they had complained about.
If they weren't the subject of the complaint, then managers were expected to keep in touch with people off long term sick, the frequency and type of contact would be agreed between the person and the manager. If for some reason this wasn't appropriate then the contact would be kept up by HR or Occy Health, who would feed back appropriately to the manager.