Hi
i have been off work since the 28th August, I am post op after having surgery for bowel cancer.
I have only had a couple of wts app messages from my manager, I am assuming this is not normal practice?
I have worked for the NHS for the past 14 years, I feel the lack of support is very disappointing & as a manager where is the duty of care?
I feel I should raise a grievance, although I don’t want to cause myself to become anxious, I just wanted some support.
Apooigies for off loading!
Hello Cmck
Thank you for your question. I am sorry to hear about your worries about work.
My name is Polly, and I am a Work Support Adviser on the Macmillan support line. We give advice about employment problems, and we are available on the Macmillan support line if you need to talk.
The difficulty when someone is off sick is getting the balance right.
Some managers will follow the sickness absence policy meticulously and ring the employee every one or two weeks. Some patients find this difficult to cope with because there is nothing they can update them with apart from feeling ill while they are immersed in the cycle of treatment. These patients want some control over when and how contact is made, and this is a good conversation to have with a manager who is following the rules. Cancer is a recognised disability under the Equality Act 2010 or the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 if you live in Northern Ireland. This means the employer cannot discriminate against you and must make reasonable adjustments to help you overcome your disadvantages related to your cancer
Other managers will never lift the phone or send a card. This can be just as disconcerting.
Some patients want to feel that their colleagues are thinking about them, and they love to receive a card with get well wishes and a bouquet of flowers. If this is what you do when colleagues are on sick leave, then this is something that you can say to your manager.
WhatsApp is a line of communication that is common in the workplace these days. Your manager might not realise that this is hurtful, but they are showing they are thinking about you. I suggest that you ask them to ring you and, in this call, come to some agreement about how contact is handled.
What is good practice?
Please have a look at our booklet “Questions to ask about work and cancer”
Polly
