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blueinsa

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Anyone specialises and who could maybe advise on the following please.

Winter flu has ravaged our workplace the last 2 weeks. Many have had to take sick leave, including myself, after collapsing in work last Wednesday, I will add and ending up in A&E with my flu.

Anyway, today it’s been made clear that no pay so that’s 2 1/2 days pay I’ve lost.

Oh well, thems the rules I thought to then notice several sales staff and certain department managers have also not turned up so I’ve asked how they are to be told, also sick with the flu. I then hear reception saying one of these individuals in WFH so I say, “thought they where sick”? Erm, hem, erm, they are I’m told but they are ok to wfh.

That’s code for they’re getting paid and before it’s asked, it’s not written into anyone’s contracts for paid sick leave I know.

Now don’t get me wrong, I understand the WFH principle but surely to god it’s a piss take to hide behind that to pay certain individuals whilst telling others unlucky, we are docking your wage.

Is it worth speaking to HR with a view to raising a grievance on this?
 
blueinsa said:
Anyone specialises and who could maybe advise on the following please.

Winter flu has ravaged our workplace the last 2 weeks. Many have had to take sick leave, including myself, after collapsing in work last Wednesday, I will add and ending up in A&E with my flu.

Anyway, today it’s been made clear that no pay so that’s 2 1/2 days pay I’ve lost.

Oh well, thems the rules I thought to then notice several sales staff and certain department managers have also not turned up so I’ve asked how they are to be told, also sick with the flu. I then hear reception saying one of these individuals in WFH so I say, “thought they where sick”? Erm, hem, erm, they are I’m told but they are ok to wfh.

That’s code for they’re getting paid and before it’s asked, it’s not written into anyone’s contracts for paid sick leave I know.

Now don’t get me wrong, I understand the WFH principle but surely to god it’s a piss take to hide behind that to pay certain individuals whilst telling others unlucky, we are docking your wage.

Is it worth speaking to HR with a view to raising a grievance on this?
Click to expand...
I don't think you have enough evidence that they aren't actually wfh to make any realistic challenge.
 
I am assuming you are not a unionised environment.
Is it normal in your workplace that sick pay is not offered and it is not contracted to anyone?
After 3 days, you are legally entitled to statutory sick pay of £118.75 per week.
Do you have an employee handbook detailing company procedure?
 
oldius said:
I am assuming you are not a unionised environment.
Is it normal in your workplace that sick pay is not offered and it is not contracted to anyone?
After 3 days, you are legally entitled to statutory sick pay of £118.75 per week.
Do you have an employee handbook detailing company procedure?
Click to expand...

We do have a company handbook which states no sick pay although it makes no mention of WFH arrangements as they’re normally not a thing in our environment.

Understand SSP but I went sick on a Wednesday afternoon and took the Thursday and Friday so don’t qualify.

System is designed to make you take the piss and have at least a week off tbh.
 
blueinsa said:
Anyone specialises and who could maybe advise on the following please.

Winter flu has ravaged our workplace the last 2 weeks. Many have had to take sick leave, including myself, after collapsing in work last Wednesday, I will add and ending up in A&E with my flu.

Anyway, today it’s been made clear that no pay so that’s 2 1/2 days pay I’ve lost.

Oh well, thems the rules I thought to then notice several sales staff and certain department managers have also not turned up so I’ve asked how they are to be told, also sick with the flu. I then hear reception saying one of these individuals in WFH so I say, “thought they where sick”? Erm, hem, erm, they are I’m told but they are ok to wfh.

That’s code for they’re getting paid and before it’s asked, it’s not written into anyone’s contracts for paid sick leave I know.

Now don’t get me wrong, I understand the WFH principle but surely to god it’s a piss take to hide behind that to pay certain individuals whilst telling others unlucky, we are docking your wage.

Is it worth speaking to HR with a view to raising a grievance on this?
Click to expand...

My first thoughts are does their role mean they are capable of working from home? Is there any trail that proves they have done so.
Are you capable of working from home?

Finally you dont have to be in a union anyone can make a grievance through acas if you have been discriminated against.

Just for your own curiosity their is an acas helpline for advice. Its free and confidential. Let us know if you ring them.

My gut feeling is if they arent actually doing any substantial work and there isnt a good reason why they are treated better than other staff then they are breaking employment law. Helpline below.

Contact us | Acas

Contact details for Acas, including phone numbers to call our helpline, training and other Acas services.
www.acas.org.uk www.acas.org.uk
 
hilts said:
My first thoughts are does their role mean they are capable of working from home? Is there any trail that proves they have done so.
Are you capable of working from home?

Finally you dont have to be in a union anyone can make a grievance through acas if you have been discriminated against.

Just for your own curiosity their is an acas helpline for advice. Its free and confidential. Let us know if you ring them.

My gut feeling is if they arent actually doing any substantial work and there isnt a good reason why they are treated better than other staff then they are breaking employment law. Helpline below.

Contact us | Acas

Contact details for Acas, including phone numbers to call our helpline, training and other Acas services.
www.acas.org.uk www.acas.org.uk
Click to expand...

Cheers, will ring them tomorrow.

Could I work from home? Honest answer is no buts that’s because I feel our industry requires us to be on site and in office. I’m old school. They take sales calls, I take parts calls. I have a work mobile so calls can be directed via that and I can log onto the systems required so yes, technically I could but genuinely don’t feel it would be right in the same way I don’t feel it’s right for them or the transport manager who hasn’t appeared for 3 days etc etc.
 
blueinsa said:
Cheers, will ring them tomorrow.

Could I work from home? Honest answer is no buts that’s because I feel our industry requires us to be on site and in office. I’m old school. They take sales calls, I take parts calls. I have a work mobile so calls can be directed via that and I can log onto the systems required so yes, technically I could but genuinely don’t feel it would be right in the same way I don’t feel it’s right for them or the transport manager who hasn’t appeared for 3 days etc etc.
Click to expand...
If they dont normally work from home from time to time it sounds like a bit of a piss take, no doubt they will say they took calls did emails blah blah.

Anyhow as well as a written contract we all have an implied contract as everything cant be put into a written one.

Basically standard practices that have been done previously are implied and if these change there needs to be some form of consultation.
Being off sick means you are unfit to work so you cant really be off sick and WFH at the same time.
Their only get out is if they dont want the flu to spread and ONLY they can work from home.
 
hilts said:
Their only get out is if they dont want the flu to spread and ONLY they can work from home.
Click to expand...

I would argue their policy of no work, no pay being applied to the majority means they don’t give a fuck about it spreading as I spent the Monday and Tuesday of last week as well as Wednesday morning in there feeling terrible and I wasn’t alone. I’m still sick now, again as are others who are in because they won’t get paid.
 
Been working for 2 organisations for 35 years and never not known sick pay.

Is that a regular thing for what sounds like a large company for a full time employee?

Sounds a bit shit mate, best of luck.
 
ysmsa said:
Been working for 2 organisations for 35 years and never not known sick pay.

Is that a regular thing for what sounds like a large company for a full time employee?

Sounds a bit shit mate, best of luck.
Click to expand...
Sick pay beyond statuary is becoming less and less, ive only had it with one of my last 4 companies.
 
halfmist said:
Someone’s right,…the thread does need moving ….to the minor irritations one.
Why do people use abbreviations that nobody else knows what the fuck (WTF) they are going on about.
Click to expand...

Now you know.

Feel free to fuck off and ignore the thread you irritating twat ;-)
 
WFH has been a standard abbreviation for over 5 years. Of all the things at hand, is that really the bone of contention here?

FFS WTF is it with FOCs getting OTT irritated because they've been MIA with abbreviations, FML! SMH, TBH. Ah well NVM, G2G.

Anyway, back to the point. Not offering sick pay is dogshit, why are people still doing that in 2025. For most, offering it is actually an incentive for people to get back to work quicker, because after 3 days they 'drop' to statutory. Without it, people are incentivised to stretch illness out.

If WFH (sorry, working from home) is an option, then you would think the other people would do it in some sort of pattern rather than out of the blue when illnesses are about.

The question would be why wasn't that option offered up to you, when you were evidently ill. There is an open discuss to be had there, at the very least.
 
As others have stated, you need to ask some questions, that can either be informal or you can raise a grievance on the basis you have not been treated equally. They may say you can't work from home and the other guy can but the point here is to let them know you are aware and you are not happy, they may change their policy on that basis?
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
 
blueinsa said:
Anyone specialises and who could maybe advise on the following please.

Winter flu has ravaged our workplace the last 2 weeks. Many have had to take sick leave, including myself, after collapsing in work last Wednesday, I will add and ending up in A&E with my flu.

Anyway, today it’s been made clear that no pay so that’s 2 1/2 days pay I’ve lost.

Oh well, thems the rules I thought to then notice several sales staff and certain department managers have also not turned up so I’ve asked how they are to be told, also sick with the flu. I then hear reception saying one of these individuals in WFH so I say, “thought they where sick”? Erm, hem, erm, they are I’m told but they are ok to wfh.

That’s code for they’re getting paid and before it’s asked, it’s not written into anyone’s contracts for paid sick leave I know.

Now don’t get me wrong, I understand the WFH principle but surely to god it’s a piss take to hide behind that to pay certain individuals whilst telling others unlucky, we are docking your wage.

Is it worth speaking to HR with a view to raising a grievance on this?
Click to expand...


Never mind all that.

Hope you're recovering well mate.
 
Do you have visibility to see if those who were WFH were actually working?

Progressing this could make you very unpopular with those who were WFH
 
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