Can my work ask me to come in to confirm I’m sick ?

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BlueTrin2020@reddit

Hope that you show them what stomach flu looks like

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Voidelfmonk@reddit

Dk hoe it works in your country , but we get sick days only from a doctor , so if the doctor gave me a sick leave they cant do shit about it .

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BlueTrin2020@reddit

Pretty sure that’s for short term sickness without doctors note

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technologicalslave@reddit

If they serve food and drink I'd be forwarding that email to your local environmental health team, might be time to review the food hygiene rating of a store that wants sick people near food

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Time-Contribution682@reddit

That seems ridiculous in case of flu or broken appendages. Talk to Acas. They are putting themselves at risk of team being off sick if one of you had.covid

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alfranex@reddit

My mind has gone straight to a joke shop to buy stick on suppurating pustules and sores, and sneeze snottily everywhere on arriving.

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Nope nope and nope. If it’s long term sick I might want to meet up to discuss how we return somebody to work safely and without a relapse, and I’ll call to check they’re alright every so often, but if it’s just a cold or GI issues or whatever I’ll see you when get back, if it’s over 7 days remember to get a sick note, cheers.

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FatBloke4@reddit

For up to 7 working days, employees do not need to prove that they are sick. The employer can ask them to self certify, when they return to work. For sick leave in excess of 7 days, a sick note or fit note is required (e.g. from a GP)

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Ajax_Trees@reddit

Does self-certify just mean I looked up something online and I believe I had this illness ?

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Morris_Alanisette@reddit

You don't need to diagnose it yourself. At my work they just ask for general area of illness. Cold/flu, gastric, etc.

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abarthman@reddit

I worked in the office where the self-cert slips for our organisation were sent and it always struck me as being funny that so many people caught colds on Mondays that and they were fit to work the following Monday and they never quite triggered the number of absences for an occupational health referral!

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Morris_Alanisette@reddit

Not that funny really. There's a 2.5 in 7 chance that you'll catch an illness between Friday afternoon and Monday morning and only a 1 in 7 chance that you catch it on a work day. It's such a pain getting a doctors appointment that many people would just drag themselves into work ill after a week rather than go to get a sick note. Similarly with the OH referral. It's a painful process that most people don't want to go through so they'll just work ill rather than triggering it. Attitudes like your ensure this keeps happening.

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abarthman@reddit

I like that you worked out the odds!

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Ajax_Trees@reddit

Damn people really didn’t like this question

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so-naughty@reddit

You are certifying to your work that you believe you are sick - you don’t need to provide any evidence.

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Classic_Title1655@reddit

Just ask the doctors and nurses to help you out of bed, dress you, phone an UBER........actually, scrap that...... just tell your employer to fuck off.

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JelloOk7140@reddit

Are they doctors?

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red_wine_drunk_randy@reddit

>the shop has corporate stores and franchises If the email is from your individual store I'd be forwarding it up the chain of command. The bosses should know they've put a sociopath in charge of one of their locations.

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No-Cryptographer-192@reddit

Yeah this 100%. I did a similar thing years back when I was at Uni and working a part time job for a medium size company with about 15 sites. Our site was putting people on 10 hour part time contracts, making them work 40+ hours a week, then when people were booking annual leave they were only allowing 10 hours a week... Completely illegal. Having managed multiple businesses before quitting to go to Uni, I was fully versed in calculating annual leave based on hours worked averages, so I staged a mini rebellion and had everyone go through their timesheets to work out the actual annual leave they were due then present it to the manager and demand that this be paid. It was sent up the chain and a directive came from on high clarifying the law around casual work and hours worked in reference to annual leave requests. To this day I'm not sure if it was a quiet manifesto of the organisation to try and cheat the system, or genuine lack of knowledge from the manager in charge, either way all my homies were very happy that they were getting their fair holiday pay.

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red_wine_drunk_randy@reddit

I've managed a few bars and restaurants and had a fair number of young staff surprised when they got holiday pay because previous places hadn't paid it. Their employers hadn't refused to give them it, just conveniently forgot to tell them they were entitled to it. I even had one young girl say she felt a bit guilty getting paid when she wasn't working. Made it clear to her that holiday pay isn't some generous gift from your work, and it's not just something you're entitled to ask for. It's your money, you earned it. I already think folk in their late teens early twenties get ripped off by employers with a lower minimum wage. I'm sure there's plenty of places just 'forgetting' to pay holiday pay as well.

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stutter-rap@reddit

Also, it might help people who don't care about staff but do care about corporate, to point out that if you come in, you could make your customers sick.

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LegitimateUse3985@reddit

I had a teacher who furiously told us all on our very first day that if we are ill, we're not to come in under any circumstances because she didn't want to catch our germs. Best teacher I had!

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-DoctorSpaceman-@reddit

I once called my boss that I was gonna be late in as I was feeling a bit I’ll and overslept but thought I could still manage coming in. He literally told me to stay the fuck away from the office and go back to bed until I’m not contagious anymore lol. Glad when people actually care about spreading germs and making people ill over having people in seats

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acedias-token@reddit

Stool sample in a small sandwhich bag, still warm. Even if your sickness is a migraine, every bit of extra data would be useful to them from the sound if it.

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red_wine_drunk_randy@reddit

Probably should do this once a week, they need to know what counts as normal so they have a baseline to work from.

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Buddy-Matt@reddit

I've been shitting like an elephant for a while now, so bag for life on HR's desk it is.

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RPG_Rob@reddit

You've been shitting whilst you walk across the savannah?

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Buddy-Matt@reddit

They're hella dry

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RPG_Rob@reddit

Savannahs are, a lot of the time

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ArtificialPigeon@reddit

I once dated a girl named Savannah. Wetter than an otters pocket

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Anarchyantz@reddit

Every little helps.

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Buddy-Matt@reddit

Every shittle helps

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Anarchyantz@reddit

Share....the....load

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Evening-Tomatillo-47@reddit

Bet it makes your eyes water when you do one of them

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Parking-Wing-2930@reddit

I'd purposely vomit onto the floor in the store..

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Anarchyantz@reddit

They may dispute its yours though. Best to squat on the managers desk right in front on them

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friel89@reddit

Everything comes down to Poo

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tallbutshy@reddit

Whether it's a tumour or a touch of the flu

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friel89@reddit

We can figure out what’s ailing you by looking at your poo

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indianajoes@reddit

Do you have a haemorrhoid or is it rectal cancer?

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friel89@reddit

When you flush your doodoo down you flush away the answer

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oooooooooowie@reddit

And just like that the song is stuck in my head

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Anhapus@reddit

Broken your ankle? Shit in the bag. Better to be safe than sorry.

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LegitimatePass6924@reddit

Put your back out, shit in the bag. Dental abscess, shit in the bag. Possible Co-vid? shit in the bag. Food poisoning, definitely shit in the bag!!

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Captainredb@reddit

I read this in Arin Hanson's voice

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Bigluce@reddit

If its food poisoning, you'll probably need more than just one bag. I recommend a bucket. Just make sure it's got a lid on it so you don't slop it down the aisle when the bus goes over a bump.

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acedias-token@reddit

Kevin's chilli.

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Klutzy_Cake5515@reddit

Period pain? That's when you offer a second bag.

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Lana_Del_Roy@reddit

I read this in my head to the tune of "Gimme Some More" by Busta Rhymes.

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LegitimatePass6924@reddit

😂😂 brilliant! You've planted that damn seed into my brain too!!

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Away_Swim1967@reddit

Oh Jesus!! This is my new mantra for life

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indianajoes@reddit

Everything comes down to poo

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squizzlebee@reddit

Whether it's a tumor or a touch of the flu

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syorks73@reddit

Shit on the bag, or shit on the floor?

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Specialist-Web7854@reddit

Just burst out laughing at a bus stop, thanks 😊

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jade8384@reddit

This genuinely made me lol 😂

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Jody_Tevlin@reddit

Check the poo

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labelsonshampoo@reddit

Probably cold by the time they get to work, best warm it back up in the company microwave

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Krafwerker@reddit

From the sound of it? Or from the stench of it?

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OwlPatient7252@reddit

the taste test

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No_Musician_3707@reddit

Hahaha, that's literally a bag of shite 😂😂

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Rossco1874@reddit

As turk and jd sang in scrubs. Everything comes down to poo.

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Head-Wave@reddit

I'd like to double upvote this.

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CharmingRun8606@reddit

I gotcha 👍

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ConstantMassive7746@reddit

Look at your contract, look for the section regarding reporting sickness.

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GamerHumphrey@reddit

My SO recently got told this too. Also that they have to "report no shorter than 12 hours before" that they're not going to be in. Yes, employer, sure, let her report that she's going to not be able to get out of bed tomorrow because her condition has flared up, with no prior warning.

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No-Cryptographer-192@reddit

Do you work in a food business at all? Like even selling mars bars at the counter so someone in the shop needs a basic food hygiene certificate? If so, it would be HIGHLY irregular to insist that a sick person visit the site for any reason. In all my years running food/bev places, if someone said they were sick we believed them and made sure that they didn't access the site again until they were well. So someone hurt their ankle, they come back when they are comfortable to walk and do reduced tasks. Someone had the shits, you get the fuck out of my business for at least 2 days. Treat people like adults and they will behave like adults... It's when you infantilise people that they naturally start to behave as badly as they can get away with. This 100% sounds like a bullying tactic to reduce sick day call ins. Flag it up to head office HR department and ask for clarification on the directive. They will almost certainly come back and say "Yeah this is bollocks. Ignore it"

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RedHeadRedemption93@reddit

No, the point of taking a sick day is that you stay at home. Would sort of defeat the point wouldn't it. What a weird thing for a company to say. It would be interesting to know what the employment regulators would say about this...

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BigGrinJesus@reddit

Mate, just call in when you're sick and if they ask you to come in to confirm you're sick, you say, 'No, goodbye'. Just refuse to do it. It's a stupid rule. It's highly doubtful you'll get fired for it and if you do, good riddance. Managers only get away with this shit because people let them.

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All_within_my_hands@reddit

This is a out an obvious trap as I've ever seen. The second you walk though the door..."well you're here now so you can't be that I'll, may as well work". Time to get a new job OP.

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Nihilistic-Fishstick@reddit

I know you probably don't mean it like this but comments like "find a new job" are pointless. Like everyone just has a job tree at the end of the road that can just go pick a new one from sounds encredibly entitled, unhelpful, and for a lot of people simply unrealistic. I wish comments like this could be banned tbh because they're about as useful as telling a homeless 17 year old with 23p in the back to "go learn a trade" when he hasn't eaten for 4 days. Or the teenage single mother living in a b&b shared with people who don't speak English who are stealing the food she queued up to get at the food bank who should "go back to uni" Would you tell a depressed person to just "book a holiday?"

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RumbleRukusha@reddit

Well then they may as well sit there and enjoy their lives as obviously spending a bit of time and sending out applications while on the toilet is to much work. /s Fucking hell it's not hard to apply to places and if you don't attempt to change your situation. Your life is on you. It won't change if you do fuck all.

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MCfru1tbasket@reddit

Yep. I was fortunate to work in a place that fu ked you straight back out the door if you looked like shit and/or were shitting.

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ahoneybadger3@reddit

I'd shit myself in the prep area to prove a point.

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charloe12@reddit

In the dishwasher... Hot bidet

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willuminati91@reddit

I was going to say the exact same thing plus name and shame.

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imrik_of_caledor@reddit

they really shouldn't because it's shitty but some places do. my aunt works at Asda and she broke some bones in her foot over winter and she had to go in once a week for a meeting with HR about it.

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TC_FPV@reddit

They can ask. You can say no.

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user-a7hw66@reddit

And they can also fire you.

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TC_FPV@reddit

On what grounds?

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stochastaclysm@reddit

❌ You’re too sick to come into work. Fired. ❌ You’re too sick to come into work. You come into work to prove you’re too sick to come into work. Looks like you weren’t too sick to come into work. Fired. ✅ Come into work sick and make every else and customer sick. Employee of the the fucking decade.

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seagulluwu@reddit

managers logic is on point

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Ewookie23@reddit

Then manager goes off sick.

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Gaoler86@reddit

Only if they come in to tell you first!

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ASlimeAppeared@reddit

If you've been employed for less than 2 years (or 1 in Northern Ireland), you can be sacked for any reason that's not "automatically unfair". You could literally be sacked for wearing odd socks

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Maidwell@reddit

> automatically unfair. Read that part again.

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ASlimeAppeared@reddit

Droll, very good. I added my comment because far too many people in the UK think their rights at work extend much further than they do when it comes to dismissal.

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Maidwell@reddit

I don't like your attitude, you're fired.

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ASlimeAppeared@reddit

You'll never take me and my odd socks alive!

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Maidwell@reddit

Odd socks? I take it all back, you're a keeper!

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Buddy-Matt@reddit

Being fired for exercising your statutory rights is automatically unfair. The company may not be stupid enough to admit that that's the reason, but there are examples of companies being successfully sued for unfair dismissal before the 2yr mark even when they tried something akin to the odd-socks reason because there's enough evidence of the real reason. And that's assuming they're clever enough to not give an incriminating reason. A company stupid enough to demand employees show up to place of work to prove they're ill doesn't sound like the most intelligent outfit.

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ASlimeAppeared@reddit

Sure, but far too many people on this sub specifically have 0 understanding of how dismissal works in the UK. I agree that this employer sounds dense, FWIW, but I worry that people will think their rights at work extend further than they do.

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Buddy-Matt@reddit

The 2 year rule is absolute horse shit, and the amount of people I've talked to who don't realise that a 3 or 6 month probation period is purely a contractual thing and not a legal thing is scary.

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ASlimeAppeared@reddit

It's a ludicrous amount of time to have to be in a job just to get the most basic protections, I agree. And yes, the misconceptions around probation is why I leave the sort of comment that I did - I despair every time I see someone say "oh you've passed your probation? You're sorted then!"

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psioniclizard@reddit

It would depend. If you have been there less that 2 years then they could fire you for pretty much no reason. If it's over 2 years and you are sick occasionally they would probably be stupid to fire you for not coming in specifically to show you are sick. I don't it would be legally enforceable. If you are sick regularly they could go down the route that the you can't perform your duties and they could make you redundant. Say for example you were off sick with a bad back but your job requires a lot of lifting. But also, honestly it kind of depends how badly they want to fire you. Some companies can be really petty and by refusing to come in to say you are sick someone might see it as a personally slight against your authority and decide they want you gone. Obviously this is a major red flag and if the company is that way inclined you don't want to work for them but the sad thing is a half knowledgeable HR department/employment lawyer can pretty much always find an excuse. I am not saying I think this is right or ethical but companies can be really petty. That said, I don't think they can force you to come in to prove you are sick but they can make working for them a real pain in the ass. Honestly, if this is one of a range of new policies like this I'd be wary.

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Redditceodork@reddit

Most people have enough self respect to not put up with that crap

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jaBroniest@reddit

w vsw

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Hour_Basket7956@reddit

Here is the answer.

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AncientMachine@reddit

That sounds completely bizarre, I've never heard of a company requiring an employee to come to work to confirm they're sick. Imagine you had the flu, would they expect you to drag yourself all the way to work, coughing and sneezing all over the place just for them to be like, "Yep, looks like you're sick." That said, I'm looking around and can't find any specific advice online for how a company requires you to notify them you're ill. I've worked with companies with varying policies (e.g. my current job lets me text my boss, but my previous one required a phone call). It just seems mad to require someone to come in to confirm that. Maybe you could give Acas a call and ask for their advice? It sounds like your job is doing something totally unreasonable.

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davyrobin4@reddit (OP)

Cheers yeah ringing acas in the morning, cheers, yeah there's nothing online about it

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davyrobin4@reddit (OP)

!answer cheers, booked a call, such a good free service

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AceBv1@reddit

Also join a union

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SplurgyA@reddit

Retail is notoriously hard to unionise due to high turnover. If you're under two years services you have no rights around stuff like unfair dismissal (unless it's to do with discrimination). There may also not be a recognised union (especially if it's a franchise location) but if you get enough employees together that can change, at least.

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AncientMachine@reddit

Glad you got an answer! Yeah, Acas are so good for this kind of issue. What did they say?

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Kitchner@reddit

>That sounds completely bizarre, I've never heard of a company requiring an employee to come to work to confirm they're sick. If you were signed off with stress they could ask you to come in and discuss your work situation, how you're doing, whether you can come back to work, and what the next steps are if you can't. Clearly if you say, were paralysed and couldn't travel, they could ask to visit you at home. Failure to do either of these could result in them pressing forward with decision such as "dismiss this person" on the basis you refused to meet with them. It's not "to check you're sick" but obviously let's say you're claiming both your arms are broke and they turn up and you answer the door without casts they will obviously flag it

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Dualyeti@reddit

Micromanagers deserve the worst

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lazman666@reddit

Join the appropriate union. ✊

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Inabitdogshit@reddit

Check your contract. My contract explains I need to contact my line manager within a certain time frame at the start of my working day. It specifies by phone. As it’s in my contract, if they wanted to change it to in person I would expect a new contract. Ask HR have we learnt nothing over the past few years how illnesses spread. Is it wise to travel to a place of work with cold, flu, explosive diarrhoea and risk transmitting it to other hard working people and colleagues.

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TheGreyPearlDahlia@reddit

>Ask HR have we learnt nothing over the past few years how illnesses spread. It's like 228,492 ppl never died of Covid in the UK.

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abarthman@reddit

Presumably they want to figure out if you are genuinely ill or not? Do they want to stare you in the eye if to see if you are telling the truth about being ill or just have a hangover? Are they medical professionals? What about mental illnesses? What if you are too sick to get out of bed or the house? What if you have something contagious? Do they really want you to travel on public transport or bring your contagious disease into the workplace and infect others? What if it is a twisted ankle or suchlike that prevents you from walking or driving? What about repeated sudden and unexpected explosive diarrhoea? This just sounds ridiculous. There needs to be a bit of trust in the employer/employee relationship and that would include employees phoning in sick and the employer accepting that. If some employees are abusing the sickness absence arrangements , there are other ways to deal with them, surely?

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Wongon32@reddit

Not sure if it’s legal. I used to get really bad head colds. So I would go into work just so they could see how bad it was. I wasn’t really ill as such but my eyes and nose would just stream making it impossible to work. Is there a retail union? Perhaps you could check with them. My sister is a union rep for retail but we are estranged 🙄.

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LaraNacht@reddit

What? The entire point of calling in sick is BECAUSE you can't make it in. This is really dumb.

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DragonCeaser8684@reddit

They can ask, show them two fingers.

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Teawillfixit@reddit

Always go in to confirm sickness, especially extremely contagious and gross. "Hi boss I'm extremely contagious with projectile *spew all over boss* vomiting virus. so is everyone I met on the way in and I guess you now, just following the rules, enjoy" *spew all over customers*

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Kelzzzz777@reddit

Come in to prove you are sick and possibly spread your germs to the other staff members? What a genius idea!! Sounds like you work for a moron.

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Verbenaplant@reddit

But if you go into work then your at work.  if your sick why would you go in???  contact citizens advice and see if this is legal.

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DhangSign@reddit

What?! Name and shame They can’t force you to come in

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Raunien@reddit

Absolutely not lol

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RNEngHyp@reddit

Go in and then vomit all over the floor and tell them it was their bright idea. In all seriousness, they could ask for a medical report but in the absence of that it's a funny area. Yes, even when genuinely ill and with a doctors note.

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Redditceodork@reddit

If you're sick how could you go in?

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Yet_One_More_Idiot@reddit

Tbqh, I do this anyway - go into the office, try to work for like 30 minutes, head home. That way, they can see I'm not simply faking it. The problem I have is, I have chronic illness. So even on good days, they're used to me looking sick, so it's no big deal. That's why I go in - so that they can see firsthand just how much I really am like death warmed up.

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AtmosphereDue9802@reddit

Simply tell them if u felt well enough to go in you wouldn't be calling in sick

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PinkGinFairy@reddit

Have they learned nothing from the pandemic? When you’re ill, why would they want you to come and spread the germs?

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tom_oakley@reddit

That's insane. The point of calling in sick is to spare your colleagues having you turn up all pestilent and getting your death on them. Stay the fuck home.

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Pure_Translator_9833@reddit

I hate how companies treat people when off sick. Last week I felt awful, I took 3 days off to recover from such an awful virus I had. Manager was being so weird with me I decided to go back in on Friday. It’s now Monday and after a day at work I feel as bad as I did last week. Take the time to recover or it’ll drag out!

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JayR_97@reddit

Its utter bullshit because forcing sick people to come in sick just makes everyone else sick.

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Pure_Translator_9833@reddit

I’m a plumber so he didn’t care. God knows how many houses I’ve had to go to and possibly passed it on

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InfectedByEli@reddit

This. But also, many companies are using the Bradford Factor to pinpoint sickies that are a danger to corporate profits. Basically it's No. of instances squared multiplied by the total number of days. So if you have three days off, then come in for two and then need a further two days due to coming back too early, your BF score will be 2^(2) x 5 = 20. But if you took five days off in one go and got better properly it would be 1^(2) x 5 = 5. anything over 100 is cause for concern. So consider you need to take three days off later on, your new BF score will be 3^(2) x 8 = 72, and then a further two days because you went back early to "show willing", 4^(2) x 10 = 160. Bingo, you're on a disciplinary for being ill. Fuck corporations.

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quenishi@reddit

Fortunately I've never been in a company they use it as a hard metric, but I did trigger it once when I came back from having split days off due to illness (felt OK in the morning, didn't last). Had the most pointless meeting ever afterwards. Yep, had a viral illness. How do I stop having 'em? By not being near people with viral illnesses. How do I do that? Um. Yeah. Couldn't WFH at that job due to the sensitive nature of the work.

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rdxc1a2t@reddit

The Bradford Factor is the biggest load of shit, not least because when I was last ill I worked out I couldn't have another bout of illness without going over the limit but I could have two more days right then, even though I was at that point feeling better, and so I took more time off than I needed.

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FragmentOfZeus@reddit

“Just popping in to show you that I’m sick. Oh by the way it’s Norovirus” Then proceed to vom and shit all over the floor

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Spottyjamie@reddit

Cough or poop on them

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Many_Baker8996@reddit

Sorry can’t work today… my daughter gave me nits from her school. I’ll be in in ten minutes so you can check them. Cheers!

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Banditofbingofame@reddit

I'd be asking who in the store is qualified to provide a diagnosis.

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magammon@reddit

I used to have a manager who did a trick like this “just come in and see how you feel after a couple of hours”. Then once you are in and do a couple of hours would use every tool to get you to stay. Used to hate that.

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chonkyclouds@reddit

Isn't the whole point of calling in sick that you're too sick to attend work? "Oh, you have the flu? Why don't you come in and show us all you have the flu, spreading it to all of us in the process, as well as anyone you might meet along the way?" Alternatively: "Oh, you injured yourself? How about you put unnecessary strain on your injury by traveling to work to show us how injured you are instead of recovering at home?" Yeah, fantastic idea. Idiots.

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DJDJDJ80@reddit

Just read your employment contract and sickness policy. If it says you need to call, then you've fulfilled your obligation. If it says they have the right to call you in, then they can do that. Does nobody read their contract?

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Necessary-Sink5298@reddit

Sometime better to have 3 days off sick rather than one as they wouldn't believe you so I say three days off then go back. 😐

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splendid_idea@reddit

If they use the Bradford equation for working out absence points it's 100% better to have several days off at once. It is based on occurrences rather than number of days

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Lemonadebicycle@reddit

If your shop prepares or sells food, I’m sure your local council Environmental Health’s food hygiene inspectors would be interested to know that sick people are being asked to present themselves at work.

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sash71@reddit

The whole point when you're sick is that you can't go anywhere. Who the hell expects their employees to leave the house if they are ill? This is one of the most stupid and insane things I have read about an employer.

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Zabkian@reddit

I can't see they could get away with it, the regulations around self-certification suggest that you take reasonable efforts to notify of sickness via a suitable method. If you are sick you shouldn't put yourself or others at risk, I can't see this meeting HSE standards is you are turning up to work sick and unfit to work and then spreading infection.

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ohmyblahblah@reddit

Sounds nuts. Is it an American company by any chance? They seem to have trouble getting their heads round the difference between american employment law and uk law

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RaeJacksDotCom@reddit

They can ask, and you can refuse. They also can request to come to your house, and you can say no. But only to an extent before you're required to prove it (I'm talking if you have a week off etc) On days you're sick, just be sure to call a doctor for a phone appointment. At least it gives you a 'paper trail' of your sickness.

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peaccc@reddit

Just check your companies policy, policies are there to be followed 😁

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flingeflangeflonge@reddit

"Can my boss come round my house, take a crap on my bed, shoot my dog, and empty my bank account? I'm not sure so thought I'd ask on r/Askuk".

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hojicha001@reddit

>Can my boss come round my house, take a crap on my bed, shoot my dog, and empty my bank account? You work for Amber Heard?

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davyrobin4@reddit (OP)

Hello, babes, I have common sense, just there's nothing on this topic online, so I thought I would cut to the chase! Can you find an answer for me? Oh no, then sit down hun 👸👍

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flingeflangeflonge@reddit

> Can you find an answer for me? Parp.

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keepthebear@reddit

That sounds ridiculous. I get migraines, there's no way I'm driving to work and finding a parking spot just to tell them I have a migraine, they know it's not worth the bother and you may as well stay and work. Plus how do you tell them early enough for them to find a replacement? I've had jobs an hour away from home by public transport. And what if you're contagious, make sure to sneeze on everything as you go in! I don't think it's enforceable, you have every right to sick days

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AceBv1@reddit

100% you need to take this up with a centralised office for the company, this is likely not bran policy, and government guidance is >Self-certification If employees are off work for 7 days or less, they do not need to give their employer a fit note or other proof of sickness from a healthcare professional. When they return to work, their employer can ask them to confirm they’ve been off sick. This is called ‘self-certification’. The employer and employee will agree on how the employee should do this. They might need to fill in a form or send details of their sick leave by email. likely this is a scare tactic to stop hungover workers calling in sick. It feels like it should be illegal. Either contact ACAS, or your Union rep.

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Typical_Ad_210@reddit

Better asking on r/legaladviceuk tbh.

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Big_Poppa_T@reddit

Your legal entitlement to up to 7 calendar days self certified sickness is completely unaffected by any company policy that your employer may choose to invent. No need to go in to your place of work in person to self certify

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r-og@reddit

> Do I have to still cone in? I've never heard of coning as a form of transport. Do you use the cones as stilts, or get inside a giant cone and roll to work?

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Saatanlik@reddit

Wait, are they allowed to do that?!

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FlyBuy3@reddit

I love this sub. Fucking legends here.

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glasgowgeg@reddit

Ask that what medical qualifications the person on-site has that allows them to accurately diagnose you as sick.

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whoops53@reddit

Ex retail here - yes, if you aren't dead, you go into work. If you have broken your leg, you may sit at the till.

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Lassitude1001@reddit

Current retail here, fuck that. If you're ill you're ill, you call in sick and tell them you'll call to let them know when you'll be back in.

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whoops53@reddit

Ha! Good luck with that my friend. If they don't hound you on a daily/hourly basis to get yourself back in, you don't have a job to go back to.

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Lassitude1001@reddit

That's not how contracts work in the UK. Sounds like you were either on probation or are in the US.

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whoops53@reddit

Oh please....I was a manager of 3 shops, and had a pulled muscle in my leg which meant I had to walk with crutches as well as take in stock, serve at tills, do KPI's and organise team meetings. My personal phone became a work phone and there was no such thing as time off, booking a holiday (they had to be done at the start of the year for the *entire* year). The phrase "I can't" wasn't recognised.

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Lassitude1001@reddit

So as the manager you failed yourself? That's on you.

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whoops53@reddit

No failing here....I took them for a little financial ride before dumping them. It was fun, no regrets. Wouldn't wish it on anyone though.

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RYAN_BENJAMIN@reddit

You mean, this is the mentality retail managers and supervisors have, right? And how ridiculous it is?

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BigDsLittleD@reddit

Ex retail here. Fuck that.

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Kinitawowi64@reddit

Unless it's Boxing Day, in which case even death isn't an exception.

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Weak-Snow-4470@reddit

Then they'll say , if you were able to come in, you're not that sick, so you can work your shift. Fuck that, if they ask, say no.

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CustardCreamBot@reddit

**[OP or Mod marked this as the best answer](/r/AskUK/comments/1525b2a/can_my_work_ask_me_to_come_in_to_confirm_im_sick/jsck1sw/), given by u/davyrobin4** Cheers yeah ringing acas in the morning, cheers, yeah there's nothing online about it --- [_^What ^is ^this?_](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/comments/jjrte1/askuk_hits_200k_new_feature_mark_an_answer/)

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Another_No-one@reddit

Britain, 2023. I fucking despair.

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Big_Mac_Is_Red@reddit

Do they have a doctor on site to give a diagnosis? Tell them to do one. You're too sick to go in.

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polomintz123@reddit

Exactly too many managers think they automatically qualify in many fields without any experience

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steelerfaye@reddit

Christ. What are they asking for if you want compassionate leave? Grandma's finger?

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Bc2193@reddit

Even if they make you go in, you just go and insist you are sick. If they keep asking what’s wrong - Diarrhoea

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Evil_Knavel@reddit

The answer to those types of questions should be along the line of "I'm not asking for permission to take the day off, I'm telling you I won't be in today".

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ComplexOccam@reddit

I strongly advise you don’t…. Also that’s just a micro management policy that for your own sanity, leave. If you’re off with vomiting, diarrhoea, broken leg, concussion etc, you would absolutely not be making it in to store. If they believe someone’s absence rate is too high they can manage them out the business the proper way.

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oh_no3000@reddit

Medical information is private protected data. You don't have to prove shit....or you could go the opposite route and say if they'll pay for a taxi and a fecal cleaning fee you'll happily come in to shit your pants in the store.

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BoopingBurrito@reddit

Send them an email with this link: [https://www.gov.uk/taking-sick-leave](https://www.gov.uk/taking-sick-leave) And this link: [https://www.acas.org.uk/fit-notes-and-proof-of-sickness](https://www.acas.org.uk/fit-notes-and-proof-of-sickness)

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DaN_86G@reddit

Lol come in shit yourself and leave

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Noyou21@reddit

Tell them you have violent diarrhoea and can’t leave the house, say they are welcome to come to your house to check that you are on the toilet.

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Arkslippy@reddit

If the manager insists you come in, you just come in, and then dramatically collapse in the store, insist on an ambulance. When you come back to work after a week, you will have a new manager

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Tlou3please@reddit

>I'm too ill to come in >Okay no problem, just come in first Absolutely get fucked

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weirds0up@reddit

No. You are legally allowed to self-certify for 7 days.

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Brendan110_0@reddit

No, it's actually a form of bullying and should be reported to HR as such.

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tmstms@reddit

You have to come in to say you can't come in?

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colin_staples@reddit

Well you're here now, you may as well do some work

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Bilbo_Buggin@reddit

No they can’t make you go in. They can ask, sure, but they don’t really have any right to make you go in. If you’re calling in sick, that that’s you out for the day.

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WheresTheExitGuys@reddit

Yes. But you can just as easily decline.

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tcpukl@reddit

Surely a doctor's note should be the requirement.?

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Thenedslittlegirl@reddit

Not for the first 7 days

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idiedforwutnow@reddit

You could email them back asking if it's legal for them to request this. Might scare them enough to take it back. Also, if it's a chain/franchise, there are avenues you can take. It all depends on how much energy you want to put into fighting it. Most dodgy employers are relying on you not knowing your rights.

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LesnarsBattleScream@reddit

Do you have a Union? If so, I'd have a quick chat with them. Seems like absolute codswallop.

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Rossco1874@reddit

Join usdaw union online they absolutely can't do this.

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PathCareful2600@reddit

Um no. They can't. You might have to get a drs not after a certain amount of time. They'll just say "well.youve made it in so you're fine'

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TheGreatGrappaApe@reddit

Absolutely not.

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geraltsthiccass@reddit

Take one for the team and go in and shit yourself. Tell them you had to pry yourself off the pan cause its that kind of sickness even if it isn't. Watch that rule swiftly get changed.

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RowRow1990@reddit

No they can't. Then can ask for a doctors note, but that's about it

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dvc214@reddit

In the UK you can self certify yourself as sick for a week. After that you need the evidence of a doctor's note. Work cannot undo your self-certification, however, if they don't believe you're acting in good faith, then you might be labelled as untrustworthy and find your way managed out of the business. I'd change jobs ... this email tells you that your company doesn't trust it's employees. Not a good culture to be part of.

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Accomplished-Art7737@reddit

No way, I’m fairly sure that’s gonna breach several employment and equality laws. Contact ACAS.

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marmite_crisps@reddit

World is going crazy. Beyond belief.

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flingeflangeflonge@reddit

> Beyond belief. Well now..funny you should say that..

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willuminati91@reddit

Name and shame the store.

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Quizzymo@reddit

Ask them to come and sit with you in the doctors waiting room and that you’ll welcome the companionship

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JohnR2299@reddit

Tell them to come to you if they are that interested and bring some chicken soup

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StevieSmall999@reddit

Feels like a trick to me, I imagine if someone got there and wasn't like, visibly crippled, they'd say "see, you're okay, you're here now, may as well work the shift!" In an appallingly upbeat and insincere tone... That's when you vomit on them

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KaidsCousin@reddit

Your work requires you to come to work to prove your sick? In the sincerest possible terms, they can shove that policy up their fucking bum hole.

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smokeywokeypokey@reddit

You can self certify sickness up to a week, you don't need their approval. Over a week, you need a Dr's note, again, you don't need their approval.

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twentiethcenturyduck@reddit

It is a professional courtesy to inform your employer that you are off sick, not a statutory requirement. You are only required to explain the reason for your absence on your return. Sensible rules really, bit difficult to ring in if you’re in a coma for example. Obviously the employer may have concerns for your welfare and call you.

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PoppySkyPineapple@reddit

Absolutely not.

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Fezzverbal@reddit

No. If you had a contagious illness they would be putting people in danger for no reason. You're only required to provide a doctor's note after 7 days of absence. Which you can do online these days and provide it in an email to your employer. They can say whatever they want but you work within the UK under UK employment law.

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Legitimate-Bath1798@reddit

They can tell you're I'll just by looking ? Wow they should apply for a job in the medical services , it would save a fortune in mri, cat scans, and blood tests . " We don't need to check Mr X's shit for parasites just get twatty bollocks over there to look at him, job done"

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Ochib@reddit

Come in an vomit on the floor and then say “I told you I was sick”

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CarpeCyprinidae@reddit

Nice easy one here: Nope - just say "no, its not required"

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voyager44@reddit

No, that's rediculous 🤣

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NotTheOnlyOutcome@reddit

That would fall under something like harassment laws. So basically no, they can't legally ask. You are entitled to self certify sickness for a 7 days. After that they can insist on a doctor's note.

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buymybone@reddit

No, not unless you play ball? Tell them you have an absolutely barbaric case of diarrhoea, they shan't ask again.

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