I am OFF sick for a month, can my job call me everyday to check up on me?

Enough Is Enough

I think you need to speak to your HR department, explain you are absent through work related stress and the excessive contact is adding to your stress.
They will want to maintain contact and if you want anything done about the atmosphere then now is the time to do it.

You may need to seek a compromise re contact

manx girl Isle of Man.

Your Manager will have had a sicknote saying that your are off for depression, I would imagine that getting the feeling good factor back will ivolve outside activities, excercising is good for depression so you may decide to go swimming or the gym for instance.

It would be different if you had a supposed broken leg and he clocked you running a local marathon.

You are legallyn allowed off work, you are not bed ridden so do what makes you feel good.

Personally I would stick on the answer machine.

I further dont see any reason why you couldn't go in a mini break holiday? you are mentally down and need a lift, not physically down and in need of your bed.

Additionally I would use your time wisely and look for another job if that is possible, then it won't come back again..

Good luck, depression is not nice, and you must do all you can to get back to your happy self, even if it means a new job.

cuckoo

he can ask u to keep him updated every week
that is the norm but to call u everyday is not proper
but if u get a note from your gp for a few weeks rest then he cant call u and should not call u until the period which is stated by the gp is over

sam

no they should agree a timescale for contact you're both happy with, ie after your next doctors appointment... other than that if they're calling you all the time you can do them for harrasment!!

Me!

I'm not fully sure but my Mum says she very much doubt he has the right to do that as long as you are covered by doctors notes.

Andrew D

He will have been advised by HR to make contact as company still has a "duty of care", I wouldn't even be suprised if he asked to come and visit, companies are risk averse and cover their backs in such situations where they see the word "depression" and worry for their assets if it were proved at a tribunal they were at fault, so the effort is mostly to show a tribunal later on "reasonable steps" weretaken to maintain contact. So on the bright side it is not personal, just company policy, there is no blueprint about how often, or how much is too much contact.Hope this helps

jenkin1950

I have worked for many companies and they do vary. I have been signed off by my GP for depression and stress, but I still had to ring in every day (which added to the stress). The companies had (anyway) received the GP's certificate. I know what you feel like. But with one company I lost my job - they finally decided that dismissal was the best thing. This must have been authorised by someone who has never suffered from depression or anxiety or overwhelming stress.

Cheese Please.

Maybe he's just being considerate, and maybe you should consider quitting your job if it's made you unhappy in the first place.

gail

Check your contract of employment and read what it says regarding its sickness policy.
As long as you have done everything that it states you must do then don't answer your phone.
I have never heard of a policy that states your employer must ring you daily .
Your doctor can write you a letter which you can send to your employer stating that the phone calls are unreasonable and no doing anything to assist your recovery..
You can also contact HR and ask for a home visit from your occupational nurse and a member of HR if you wish, this could be an opportunity for you to state your reasons why you are off sick, and a signal to them to back off.

nosdda

I cannot see any harm in him calling you as a boss, and for you to call once a week as he asked.
Why don't you explain to your boss why you have depression as you have stated on here.
I know what depression is like. i have had my fair share of it in my time. My wife and I lost a 6 week old baby in a car crash, then 6 moths later my wife left me. Three weeks after that, my Mother died, but you won't get over depression by moping about. You have to pull yourself out of it and get a life again. Only you can do it, no one else.

scullion

This is becoming more common, particularly in the large companies where such policies are established by so called 'Human Resource Departments .... which is to say NON-LINE MANAGERS. I believe the practice is intended to be intimidating and invasive while pretending to be 'supportive'. BULL SH*T!!! They know exactly why they are doing it and it has nothing to do with the wellbeing of the employee. Human Resource Management continues to bring the vital business of management into disrepute. Sadly, much UK management is too insecure in its own ability to tell them where to get off.

What progress does your manager expect within a week? And how competent is he/she to evaluate whatever you might be able to tell him/her. You have been certified as sick. Your employer should have the decency to give you the space your doctor clearly believes you need in order to recover.

If it is a condition of your contract of employment that your employer be kept informed during periods of illness, then you may wish to arrange for someone to keep them informed on your behalf - a parent, partner or family member maybe. If your employer continues to invade your privacy by telephone, they should be asked to stop on the grounds that it is causing you distress and detracting from your recovery.

Even if your employer has the contractual right to be kept informed, it also has a responsibility to act appropriately in the light of the condition from which you are suffering.

Stay cool, my friend. Just do whatever you've got to do to get better. Life's too precious to allow it to be poisoned by an unworthy employer like that.

rennickelizabe

this shouldnt be happening i would tell my doctor and see if he can stop it if you have a trade union call your representative and tell him they should be able to stop it once a week is quite sufficent are you being bullied at work if you are go to your local fair empoyment agency or get it stopped asap this isnt fair on you

Tigerlily wants blood.

Not every day, thats harrassment! You calling in once a week isnt unreasonable unless you get a sick certificate for a month at a time then you can tell your boss where to go!

Peter O

no they can not.if you have sent a doctors certificate,saying you are off ill.

bigmatlem

Yes they can call you to check on your progress. Maybe its not a matter of bugging you but of concern. After all depression is a very serious illness and can kill you via suicide etc. If you are alone and they know it I would imagine that it is concern and not bugging you.

I would suggest that you talk with them about perhaps another position at the company that is less stressful. More than likely they will help if they can.

Gods speed to you.

I am in the same situation. Although signed off work with stress and depression I am now taking annual leave as I cant live on stat sick pay. They are ringing me again today and I am shaking from head to toe, this is not helping me to rela and rest or heal.

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