Off sick four times in a year and its a disciplinary matter?

I was off for about six days in total due to a bad chest infection. I made the mistake of trying to get into work to show willing but it was a no go and I was off on three separate occasions. My Boss told me I could be subject to disciplinary action if I was off again within the year. I did check with other colleagues and they told me that was what they also had been told - by different Managers ( I work for a major bank)
I don't think this is legal and would certainly take them to court if they played that card. Any comments as to whether its legal or not?

kelly e

If you have a medical note from your MD that you were treated or under their care that should help cover yourself.
Otherwise it's hard to prove people are 'sick' and often abuse the sick time policy.

Good Luck

super girl

I had been sick several times during the year I worked with my last employer and never called off and then toward the end of the year I asked to use one of the sick days that was allotted to me and was told that I was going to be fired so I guess your employer can do whatever he wants as long as you don't have an attorney. It's not legal if you have sick days allotted to you, but they do it. It all depends on where you work and what the policy is. Every state has their own set of rules.

GAVIN E

You would have to Prove it not legal before you would take them to court.

A lot of companies have a sickness and absence policy, which goes into disciplinary procedures should they not be followed.

I work in retail, and we have a 3% threshold. If our absence over a 26 week period exceeds this, then it goes to an attendance review and then possible disciplinary.

I am sure that companies would have checked the legality before introducing it as a company policy.

creamfeather

Large companies usually have a strict sickness attendance policy which follows a set procedure of action.
The time you are off is counted as a percentage of your working week. Over a six month period if you are over a certain percentage then they automatically commence a system of action.
Where I work, anyone off sick, even for one day, has to have a return to work review with a manager, but in my experience, they have always been very understanding if they know that you really have been ill.
It is usually a verbal warning first, then a written warning, which stays on your file for 6months. You would have to have a really bad attendance to get to that point.
All this applies to everyone equally, they are not picking on you personally.
I wouldnt let it worry you, but if you are ill again, dont struggle into work, just to be off again, it is counted as separate occasions. You would be better off just staying at home, getting yourself better, and going to the doctors for a sicknote if you are still off for a second week.

~M|ssy~

Yes it's legal. Employers want employees who are going to be dependable and able to work.

The only way I could think of that this would not be correct is if you supplied a doctor's note for each absence which stated you could not work for the days missed.

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