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[Drinking] Skiver wins tribunal
- Thread starter Easy 10
- Start date
Many years ago, my first job after graduating was working for a major car manufacturer and I was assigned to Liverpool where my job involved liaising with the dealerships and taking care of stuff that needed taking care of. One day I was called by the HR manager of a large dealer group who said they had reached the final stage of a discplinary hearing with a service technician. She wanted me to sit in on the meeting as it was likely to end in dismissal, followed by the right of appeal and they wanted the manufacturer represented.
Turned out this guy was contracted to work five and half days a week but had a pattern of absence that showed he called in sick every second Saturday, when Liverpool had a home game. When it was put to him that his absence showed a pattern that led the company to believe he wasn't really sick, he hung his head and said, "Yeah - you got me. I'm sorry. It's me gran you see. She's not well and my mam goes to visit her every other Saturday. I have to be at home to look after my little brother whilst she's out."
The HR manager then said, "The thing is - it seems to us that your mother supposedly visits your gran everytime Liverpool are playing at home."
To his credit, the guy sat there for a second, then with a completey straight face, said. "Jeez - I'd never thought of that. You don't think she's swinging the lead, do ya?"
,
He got a final written....
Turned out this guy was contracted to work five and half days a week but had a pattern of absence that showed he called in sick every second Saturday, when Liverpool had a home game. When it was put to him that his absence showed a pattern that led the company to believe he wasn't really sick, he hung his head and said, "Yeah - you got me. I'm sorry. It's me gran you see. She's not well and my mam goes to visit her every other Saturday. I have to be at home to look after my little brother whilst she's out."
The HR manager then said, "The thing is - it seems to us that your mother supposedly visits your gran everytime Liverpool are playing at home."
To his credit, the guy sat there for a second, then with a completey straight face, said. "Jeez - I'd never thought of that. You don't think she's swinging the lead, do ya?"
,
He got a final written....
Sirnormangall
Well-known member
- Sep 21, 2017
- 2,967
I think this thread should be renamed “Bell cheeses NOT at work” to run in parallel with the rival thread on here for those Bell cheeses who are capable of getting to work.
jakarta
Well-known member
I worked in lovely Widnes in the Chemical Industry back in the 1990's in the Factory Occupational Health Dept and we had several 'Long Term' absentees who were too ill to work.
Not so ill that they couldn't do Booze Cruises and then be found selling cases of wine at Car Boot Sales, still it must have been therapy of a sort...
Not so ill that they couldn't do Booze Cruises and then be found selling cases of wine at Car Boot Sales, still it must have been therapy of a sort...
MattBackHome
Well-known member
- Jul 7, 2003
- 11,723
And more robust disciplinary processes, it would seem.
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I had one of those about 25 years ago - it's unbelievably painful. I had to go to hospital for an operation on my arse and, like you, had to explain to the HR manager. It was about a week before Christmas so, it's fair to say, there wasn't much work going on but I managed to do a few bits and pieces ... standing up at my PC.
I've heard of anyone else with the same affliction, it sounds like a joke but it's no laughing matter.
Super Steve Earle
Well-known member
But I think we're all in agreement on the key points:
He's seriously ill with COPD
He bunked off
He shouldn't be smoking
Lots of people with COPD do smoke anyway and it's hard to stop
He got caught bang to rights
Bit stupid of him getting caught
He got very lucky when the company nadged up the dismissal
Not sure about the hassle for his work colleagues picking up his slack though - someone else is getting paid for his shift if he's not.
Love from a proud work shirker who has bunked off down the pub on more than a couple of occasions (but not a malingerer!)
In the work environment, absence makes your mates work harder. Nobody gets paid extra when they have to cover someone who has skived off or 'pulled a sickie'. I worked with someone with regular absences and pushing for a package on health grounds. Despite the nature of his problems, he was was always fit enough for a round of golf or to get to the pub without buying a round. The miserable g1t certainly wasn't a popular team mate at work, the lazy, sickie pulling *******.
McTavish
Well-known member
- Nov 5, 2014
- 1,562
A friend of mine was sacked whilst off work on long term stress-related illness. He was dismissed in part because he was, on his GP's advice, taking exercise by playing tennis and this was discovered by his employer.
He was awarded almost £800,000!
MattBackHome
Well-known member
- Jul 7, 2003
- 11,723
Unforgiveable, IMO
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
Exercise is well known and good advice for battling stress and depression. Some employers are still in the dark ages.
No I think you've got this badly wrong.
There is the intolerant gammony half who thinks he’s a work shy shirker that no doubt caused hassle for someone else in his workplace as they picked up his slack, and the other half who actually on balance probably agree with that assessment but don't feel he should be sacked for pulling a sickie when legal process hasn't been followed properly, The reason for that is that it would otherwise open the door to all manner of bullying employers sacking staff they don't like much on a whim.
It's just a shame that the thick gammon half can't blame EU employee protection law anymore.
Baker lite
Banned
I won’t be dogging round your way…sounds horrendous.
SeagullDubai
Well-known member
- May 13, 2016
- 3,551
I worked for a company where we did 4 on 4 off shifts. One guy went sick on his 4 on, worked o/t on his 4 off and went sick again for his 4 on. The management tried to take action but the union stepped in and told them you can’t penalize people for health problems. The management then backed off.
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[emoji23] Feel better now you got that off your chest [emoji23]
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Normal Rob
Well-known member
1999 i tore my achilles and was off for the best part of 3 months. I did get the company I worked for at the time to set me up with a computer at home but the connectivity back then was so shite that it was virtually useless so i went to the pub most days (I was in a walking cast after the first 2-3 weeks). It was that or daytime tele! I often joined my colleagues in the work pub early evening. No-one batted an eyelid, they were just jealous. I did put on about 20lbs over that period, despite my left leg withering away considerably.
Baker lite
Banned
I believe he’s very emotional at the moment...big anniversary coming up.
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Strange thing to say. Did you you feel better having got your own tired opinion off your chest?
MattBackHome
Well-known member
- Jul 7, 2003
- 11,723
I'm off down the pub.
Blimey you are grumpy today, who’s put 50p in your meter?
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