Hi, i have recently been off work sick for a month, during this time i had previously booked some annual leave. So it turns out i am off on painkillers etc unable to go on holiday. My company have paid me and docked my holiday entitlement, and cheekily docked me 3 days pay for the period after i am assumed to have 'returned to work from my holiday, when i was obviously sick throughout anyway. i emailed my h r department who clarified this was how it had been calculated, buy am i not legally entitled to transfer holiday if i am off sick ? My company have avoided answering this ?

Dear All My wife works for a local authority, in a school, as a midday supervisor. It has just been half term but prior to this she was off for two days due to sickness. Also, when my wife was due to return to work, I was rushed into hospital, in an ambulance, with chest pains. Fortunatley it was not a heart attack. However due to test etc my wife was up all night at the hospital and as a result not fit to go to work. The business manager has now sent her a text saying that the need a sick note as she has been off for two days before half term then a day after. Is this correct? I feel that it is not as technically my wife was only of sick for two days prior to the half term but is not free to pick her own annual leave, so she cannot even choose to convert her holidays into sick leave as other employees are free to do, even though she was not sick. The other day should fall under a familly emergency. Am I right in thinking this? Thank you in adanvce

I have recently been very unwell and in hospital and was unable to cancel my upgraded Vodafone contract within the specified 14 days of renewal on the 12 January, 2015. I phoned Vodafone today to explain the situation and was shocked to find out that they have no process to deal with such situations and I am tied into an 18 month contract, despite the fact that I am unwell, can no longer work and quite frankly am unable to pay the tariff I am locked into. I asked for them to reduce the tariff and the only reply I could get was 'You are outside the 14 days of terms and conditions'. I asked if they had an appeal process by which I could explain my situation and support this with medical evidence. The reply was' You are outside the 14 days of terms and conditions'. I explained that I had not set up or even put the sim card into the new iphone5 they had sent me and I was perfectly happy to return the phone as long as they could reduce my tariff. The answer I got was 'You are outside the 14 days of terms and conditions' I asked to speak to a manager to discuss this - the answer I got was 'No mangers do not discuss these issues - you are outside the 14 days of terms and conditions. This is outrageous with a company as large as Vodafone that they have no system or support or flexibly for extenuating circumstances such as myself and I am sure other people. I have been advised that Lee the Vodafone rep should be able to advise me on how to move forward from the dreadful situation as I am unable to pay the current tariff and quite frankly am stressed enough with illness without this extra, totally unreasonable response and behaviour from Vodafone. I am currently working with Stepchange Debt Management Charity, so will ask if they have any advise on how to move forward. Please can you advise?

My granddaughter works full-time at a private nursery. She has a contract. She was once off sick for a day and didn't get paid, and was told that was the employer's policy. Is this right?

Hi brief run down. My daughter who has mental health issues (and covered under the equalities act) was signed off work with mental health related issues two weeks ago, however due to the time of year and the job she does I suggested she asks the company for support to enable her to keep herself in work (IE following company policy of supporting her own attendance.) However, it became apparent that the support was not forthcoming and she went off sick with the full backing of the senior manager. However, today she gets a letter from the personnel manager giving the normal drivel about wanting to support, but if the illness is going to be long term they may have to terminate her employment? 1. She had attempted to support her attendance 2. Senior manager was aware that she was going to take the time off whilst her medication and mental wellbeing were being sorted 3. The sick note states the end of this week when she was looking to go back in 4. The company didn't meet with her in order to see what support she may need in fact, she says that when she went in the union rep who said he was going to arrange a support meeting told her to just smile and get on with the job? ( How accurate that is, or if added to I don't know. ) This letter has now caused further stress leading to a relapse and is in my opinion etreemily insensitive. As a union rep at the same place I am fuming, but need to keep out of it. So what are others thoughts on this issue what redress do others see? Regards, Bill

Hi Just looking for a bit of advice. My husband has been on DLA for just over 2 years and in May he was asked to apply for PIP. I filled out the forms for him and sent all evidence from each consultant he sees. We received a letter in June to say all had been received and his assessment would be in 12-16 weeks. I called just before the 16 weeks and was told it would now be 26 weeks but ATOS would be coming to us. His last ATOS assessment for ESA I had to take him and we actually found the lady very nice and she included me quite a bit in the assessment. He was placed in the SG. Is a home visit usual/unusual? Should I be worried? Thanks

Hi People, I have been on the NHS temporary staffing for over 4 years and working full time during this time for 37.5 hours each week. I understand that I should have the same rights as a full time employee now since I have been on the temp bank for this long. I have been sick for 3 days over Christmas with the flu and I have been told that i am not entitled to any sick pay as I am only entitled to SSP if I have been sick for 4 or more days and because I am a temporary worker I am do not qualify for occupational sick pay. Is this correct and legal???

Hi all, I was given a 4 week sick note today and will be posting it tomorrow and am worried about posting it over the xmas period in case they dont get it in time and I dont get paid. In the past I used to send them recorded, but every time I did that they would not get them to the right department and they were saying they hadn't received it until I rang them to tell them I had sent it recorded, so dont know what to do, because obviously I wont know if they have received it or not as they will be shut over xmas- any ideas? Thanks x

HI guys/girls My daughter's 8 month daughter is in GOSH waiting cancer treatment,her work is NOT going to pay for the time she needs off to deal with this. what is her rights to benefits (she has worked fulltime all of life and for this company for the last 5 yrs )she has 2 weeks holiday which she is using at the min,they have said she can have time off but unpaid any advice would be helpfull Thankyou

Hi, I am in 3rd month of sick leave from the NHS and awaiting an operation that may solve my health issues, (tumour on adrenal gland causing high BP and chronic nausea) my NHS Trust has just interviewed my grade of management for yet another restructure - the 5th in as many years -and my current post appears in the new restructure but despite being the most experienced candidate and a successful manager, (having been interviewed by email questions, due to my condition) I have been told I was unsuccessful for the job I have been doing for 14 years. No disciplinary or capability marks against my name and apart from this year we have always exceeding all targets - this year is the first year that has not happened, which is in keeping with the national trends. They have offered my role to another manager, who has no subject area experience or specialist knowledge, leaving me 'displaced' and as I am unlikely to get my operation and recover within the three month displacement period - will effectively leave me redundant. My Questions are; whilst my sick period will take up the three months do I have to consider lesser, not equivalent roles, if offered ? - I feel they may not want to pay my redundancy. Am I entitled to have the outstanding holiday pay paid to me upon the end of the three month period ? Given the widespread disbelief that I was not given this role, inside and outside the service, including service commissioners, etc. - then if this is some kind of unfair dismissal because of sick leave or politics - what kind of financial rewards are offered at tribunals - don't want to go there if it is not worth it given the stress factors and my health? Appreciate any support/advice or comments you can offer

Good Evening, I am new to the forum and have found some really useful information and helpful people so thought I would seek some advice if someone can point me in the right direction please. I have received a couple of letters from Dryden Fairfax Solicitors chasing an old mortgage debt on behalf of Lloyds Banks. I have not had a mortgage with this company since before 1998. They are asking for over £7k shortfall in the sale of the property from 17 years ago and are saying that I have made payments previously and these payments are an admission of liability, this is just not true. I was declared bankrupt around this time and we lost our family home. The mortgage debt was declared in the bankruptcy declarations and home was repossessed by Lloyds. Should I be surprised that they are chasing me now after so long? Am I under any legal obligation to pay of this amount after so long and the fact the mortgage was declared in bankruptcy proceedings? The solicitors is threatening enforcement and court action including Charging Orders, Attachment of Earnings and Warrant of Control. I have never received any contact from Llyods or any other company previously regarding this debt. Any help or direction anyone could offer would be much appreciated. This was a really hard time for us 17 years ago and this company dredging it up after so long has left me extremely anxious. Thanks for any help.

Hi all. I am on ESA (first time on it) and my sick note runs out on October 28th (12 weeks) I have sent my ATOS form back recorded post and obviously now playing the waiting game for an appointment. When is the best time to renew my sick note so that my claim/pay is not affected? I have heard that it is best to get this in to the DWP around a month before expiry of the old one so around the end of this month to see my GP? Also, will my GP be able to issue one early as the old one would not have expired? I want to ensure I have no problems with payments and getting the information to DWP for processing in good time. Many thanks

my brother has had a accident [his fault fell off a ladder at home] and broke his foot.now as he drives a truck hes off work and getting sick pay.now hes bored and short of cash and a agency has offered him 2 days work a week just sitting in a office checking papers.if he does this can he still claim sick pay or will he lose it?

Hi guys, im currently on probation at work, ive been off sick (stress)from work about 4-5 months, theirs going to be a review held sometime next week and my manager has advised the outcome could be end of contract(its a fixed term contract til end of next year) my query is i understand ive been off 4 months out of a 6 month probation, so it doesnt look good. i want some advice has anyone been through something similar because i was thinking of resigning i dont really want to be sacked. thanks

Hi, I have a problem with my left foot which is being investigated by my Doctor, I have to have x-rays to establish if I have a Fracture or another problem. My doctor has not signed me off work and I have told my employer that I can drive or walk fine, however my employer has decided that I am sick and unable to work until I can prove otherwise. They have told me I'm to stay off sick but this is something which I really cannot do as I don't get sick pay and have a family to support. Where do I stand with this? Can they determine I'm unfit for work even though I've seen a Doctor and he didn't think it necessary to sign me off, or are they making their own rules up and have no right to insist I stay off sick? All this was decided by my manager last night at 6pm so it was too late for me to speak to HR or get back to the Docs for a fit for work certificate and as I'm due to work today I'm already missing out on a days pay. Thanks for any advise

Hi there! I'm really concerned because I received a letter for a disciplinary meeting next week, reason: absence from work and no attendance for a meeting on the 11. May 2014. I've been off sick since April '14 and always called in to inform them about my sick note and sent it on the same day via post. On the 5th May the assistant manager (managers brother) called me to arrange a meeting to "come back to work". I had an accident and because of my hip pain, I'm not able to sit in a car for long (the company is around 20-25mins away). I told him, that I cannot attend a meeting at the company, but we could discuss this over the phone. The assistant manager declined my idea and wanted to speak to the manager again. I never received a call again and because my sick not is probably extending I thought it would be fine as long as the manager wouldn't contact me. After I received the letter I called the company to explain that I don't agree with "absence from work" and tried to explain the previous phone call, but the assistant manager (managers wife) said "you can discuss this with the manager next week" and "if you cannot attend, you may be dismissed" Would this be a unfair dismissal because I'm off sick and cannot attend? Besides that the reason is absolute nonsense? I'm still in probation period, does this matter? What should I do? I feel a bit lost now. Thank you very much for any advice! Edit: If it comes to the worse and I get dismissed from work, will our benefits be affected? My partner is receiving ESA, I send my SSP1 form yesterday to get paid for my sick days.. so am I claim ESA too as long as the sick note lasts?)

Dear Caggers, I have worked for NHS as a community nurse for nearly 30 years now. Last financial year (April 2013 to end of march 2014) I had two major operations. The first operation was in may 2013 and I took 4 weeks paid sick leave. Then I had a second more complex one in October which landed me in a coma for 10 days. I had 3 months sick leave. I went back to work on 20th January 2014. I was put on a phased return for 6 weeks ( which incidentally was pretty much full time work) . My Case load was very busy and no one at work mentioned to me I ought to use up my annual leave before the end of the year. Then around beginning of march I was asked to go and take up post in a different team that was short of staff to help out for a short period of time ( one year). I agreed to go and started in the new team on 7/4/14. On my part I assumed because of my special circumstances I would not have any problem carrying it over. Recently I have had my annual leave balance from last year checked. I was told from my yearly entitlement of 33 days I had only taken 13 days which leaves 20 days annual leave to carry over to this year. Well my new manager is not happy and is quoting Trust policy that if any one goes on long term sick (21 days and over)then the amount they can carry forward in the next year is based on a 28 day 'statutory' entitlement. However if they were able to take their full 33 days within that period of a year it would be fine. My case is, I argue, exactly that after returning from my sick leave in Jan 2014 I was put on 6 weeks phased return. After that I was then asked to go and help out urgently in a different team who was short of staff. As stated above I picked the new team on 7/4/14. I argue that no management person or occupational health ever informed me of this supposedly recent change and no one encouraged me to use up my leave upon me returning to work in January. On the contrary there was an urgency for me getting into a new team to help out. There was also very little time left for me to exhaust all of my 33 days annual leave from last year. I feel I am being penalised for being unwell. has any one experience any such problems? can anyone provide useful advice?

Hello Please can anyone advise me on where/what to do next I work in a small butcher shop (6 staff) for the past 6 years, A part of my job involves unloading the meat wagon of beef quaters (220lb+) into the fridges, then cutting them into smaller managable loads (120lb) and walking them 25 yards into the shop. Ive never been shown a correct way of carrying (or any manual handling training at all within my role)Due to never been shown the correct way i have always carried it in a bear hug. Due to doing this for the past 5 years i've ended up diagnosed with degenerative disc desiease in my lower back due to lifting heavy loads over a long period. Which sometimes when flared up can be a crippling pain...i've only had 4 weeks off work in the past 6 years!! When I do any damage to my back it is not apparent at the time and may take a few days before i feel the acute pain, So i've never logged these incidents in an accident book. Whilst saying that when i have hurt my back, management have never taken it upon themselves to tell me to write the incidents in an accident book and when ever anyone hurts themselves at work sarcastic comments are made about the use of an accident book. Any mention of an accident book and its brushed under the carpet and laughed at and most definately not taken seriously. Two weeks ago another incident has done damage again, but this time to the upper part of my back and I have been off work sick. I've just come back from seeing the doctor and having xrays for a possible collapsed vertibrae.... Im only 34 and can't see myself working like this for another 6 months, i have debts to keep up with, i was loyal to the company until i was told by a work colleague last week the manager called me a 'lazy Bastard' haha with the company being at fault with no Manual handling training, do I claim? how do i claim? do i contact H&SE? Within my job there are limited options to change job role for lighter duties so to speak and I was advised by my gp to seriously consider my job. thanks!!

Hi all, I am looking a little bit of advice once again, so I hope someone can point me in the right direction. I have been on Long Term Sick Leave for nearly 2 and half years now. I have recently found out that the comapny I work for, has lost the contract that I would have been working on, and the work is transferring to another part of the UK. My employer wants to offer me another position, albeit temporary for now, until a permanent position becomes available. The thing is, I will not be able to ever take up this post due to my ongoing illness and treatments, and I only recently sent in another sick line to work for another 6 months. Obviously if i do not take the position offered I understand that my contract will transfer to the new company. With my continuing illness, it is highly unlikely that I will be returning to work at any time in the near future. So my question is this, should I allow my contract to transfer and then accept redundancy if it is offered. Many thanks in advance.

Hi, I am hoping for a little advice if any. I have currently been signed off sick by my GP since October 2013. To cut a long story short i was off 2 years previously with neck and back pain, i work in a call centre and after numerous visits to physio and an MRI i was diagnosed with cervical spondylosis and from C3 -C7 my discs were totally worn. After 5 months absence i returned to work but cut my hours down from 37.5 to 25 per week. Since returning ive constantly complained of being made to sit for long periods of time ( OH and the works private GP) had both put in reports that i must have time away from desk as sitting aggravates the nerves, anyway ive persevered with the pain for 2 years until it got so bad i couldnt move or get up for work. So to date, ive seen a muscular skeletal specialist in december who was quite concerned that the pain was now in multiple joints and sent me for blood tests for rheumatoid arthritis but due to her being involved in a car accident i had 2 appointments cancelled last month and i am finally seeing her this week for the result and what the next steps are for treatment for me. My point is which i need help with, i am constantly getting phone calls from work, sometimes 5 times a week asking if im better, when will i be back etc. These are questions i do not have answers to. I have attended monthly welfare meetings and have had a 1st formal notification in january 2014. They have again contacted me (4 times in 2 days) saying they want me in for weekly welfare meetings. Now due to constant pain even with medication and public transport taking 1 1/2 hours to get there i am finding it is making my condition worse and told them this and that i was unable to go in weekly but was happy for them to visit my home to conduct these. Basically i was told on this occasion they would but after that i have to make my own way there and back ( we are also moving to new premises further away which will result in it taking me 2 1/2 hours to get there) . What i would like to know is 1) Is it right to make me attend a weekly welfare meeting and 2) is repeated unnecessary calls legal. I am really starting to feel stressed everytime the phone rings and more so afterwards as the conversation and demands play around in my mind. I have spoke with ACAS who said i can request home visits in which i have done and also complain about the call volume. I spoke with HR today who basically said try sort it with your manager, then ops manager ( both of whom are ringing me constantly) next step write a letter to the service manager of the department which i will be doing today but i really feel like im wasting my time as ive worked for this company almost 7 years and seen the same thing happen to collegues who have eventually left the job or been dismissed . Sorry this post is long, i have tried to list as much as i could to give a clear picture.

Hi, I have been off work for some months now after a pulmonary embolism and treatment for an enlarged right ventricle (found during my stay in hospital) I was signed as OK for sedentary duties some weeks ago but my employer said they have nothing for me and I must remain off work. I have received a letter from them informing me all pay and sick pay has now ended. I am currently being made to jump through hoops to prove I am able to do my job at some point before they will consider letting me back on a phased return. I tried to make a claim online but was told I would have to do it via post as for some reason they had my address at somewhere I had never lived and so I failed security..???? I am a single adult...kids at home but non dependant. I have a mortgage which is only a 10 year one so quite high payments and I have £7500 in the bank. Hopefully I will be back at work within a month but in the meantime as you see, I do have enough to pay my bills although that money was earmarked to pay off part of my mortgage which is part interest only. I also have an insurance policy for sickness which is paying me £300 per month...nowhere near my outgoings but it helps. I have worked for this employer for 22 years so don't consider myself a scrounger but my question to those in the know is will I actually get anything or will my circumstances mean its pointless claiming. The other side is that a benefit payment into my account will apparently trash my credit rating for a while (it happened to my daughter...told by the TSB) Any thoughts on my predicament...? Thanks in advance.

Hi all, I am hoping one of you kind people can help me if possible. My son has been claiming ESA since November 2013, I am primarily dealing with his claim because he is unable to understand fully the process and deal with all the forms, calls, letters, doctor etc...anyway his doctor gave him a sick note (med statement) from November 19 2013 for 6 months, we received a letter saying it was only valid till March 19 2014. My first question is, can they do this, shave 2 months from the doctors sick note? My second question is I called the doctor to explain the situation and they told me to call 2 days before his note runs out and the doctor will look at it and give him another one. I was wondering as I will have to pick the note up from the doctor and then take it to the JCP office, it is quite difficult trying to get there on the 19th when its due. Can I ask for the note from the 14th March (this Friday) instead? Is it possible to get a new sick note start date from 14th instead of the 19th or do I have to wait till 19th? If I do have to wait till the 19th then I won't be able to get it to JCP till 21st (Friday), will this mess up my son's claim? Many thanks in advance,

Hi, I'm new here and only found this lovely place by looking on google. I have been working for my current employer since June 2011 (temp till 12 Dec 2011 made perm). My company was well aware I had long term illness issues which I do everything in my power to control. Last year I had a PIP done (Performance Improvement Plan) as they said my sick leave was to high. I accepted this and tried to make sure I was here as much as I can be. But now since I have had time off again it has been brought up again. This time there are going back to the time I started I have had 32.5 days off sick (24 individual occasions), 9 of those were related to my chronic lower back injury and pain, 6 to migraines, 1 for time off with stress, rest thing like cold ect... Now they are using it all saying I have to go back to the occupational health nurse who prior wrote a report to say I am classed under the disability act and that the conditions were ones that were not going to change at all. Some background, I have had 2 surgeries on my lower back for collapsed L5/S1 disc. Both failed. The last operation caused damage to my sciatic nerve, which causes chronic lower back pain, back spasms and stiffness. I suffer from Migraines caused by stress. I am currently receiving help from a psychologist for stress. I worked my butt off to get off my PIP and even came to work when I really should not have. What is my standing on how to go to HR and deal with all of this as my manager is now calling into question my capability to do my job.

Hey guys, I just wanted to ask a quick question... Today I went to the doctors to see if they could help me with all the stress and anxiety I'm going through lately, and the doctor was extremely helpful and handed me a "Statement of Fitness for Work" note stating that I'm not suitable for work so I can take a break from the JC and help myself get back on my feet. What I'm wondering is... I'm supposed to be going out to the course I attend every Friday, but since I have this note, that's obviously dated today, Thursday the 13, will I still have to attend since I haven't seen my advisor yet? I'm going to see her on the usual day on Tuesday, and that's when I'll let her know what happened at the doctors and hand her the note. If I phone up both the place I attend my course and the Job Centre and tell them that I have this note will I have permission to not attend? Or do I have to wait till I see my advisor next for it to count. It seems like a weird question, I'm sorry, I just don't want to get the sanction hammer since they like to give them out quite freely. Also, this isn't really any worry, but what do I do about my jobsearch for this week, do I still go on as I'd usually do until I see her next?

Hi Everyone, I shall do this the proper way and introduce myself first since this is my first post My name is Dan and I am from Leeds! Moving on.... I'm having some difficulties with my employment. The company I currently work for employ 200+ staff, but they are a family run business if that makes a difference. The business grew extremely fast over the last 4 years, 4 years ago they only had 30+ staff. However in terms of management, they still act like they are running a small business. From 2012 I was working for this company as a sub-contractor, since I was working for them 40+ hours per week they later decided to offer me full time employment on the books in Feb 2013 to which I accepted. I signed a 'offer letter' which was a very basic contract in a sense with a 6 month probationary period. After the 6 month probationary period ended I asked if I could now sign onto a new permanent employment contract, I was told I wouldn't need to as my 'offer letter' remains as my permanent employment contract after the 6 month probationary has expired. Me not knowing too much on employment just acknowledged what I was told and left it as that. 7 months into my employment, the company was starting to show signs that it was struggling with its bills. Suppliers started holding accounts every couple of weeks, subcontractors payments were becoming more and more late. My wages were unaffected at the time. The company was busy, it was a game of politics between the company and its clients to which payments to our company were withheld, usually because of incorrect specification and jobs running late etc. Subcontractors and suppliers not being paid started to cause a downward spiral in effect. 9 months into my employment, I had been asked to start working away and work overtime to try push these jobs to completion. I didn't really fancy it but I thought for the sake of my job I better do it. Biggest regret I have now. I was pretty much spending my entire time working 300 miles away from home, I would set off home on a Saturday morning and then I would return back to my hotel Sunday night. Not much of a life! and my partner at the time was not best pleased either. It comes to pay day, I only got paid a basic wage. No overtime, no driving time or working away bonus that I was promised. My payroll manager had conveniently gone on holiday for 2 weeks from the pay day, the temporary person covering payroll couldn't help me and advised me to wait until she returns from holiday. I raised the issue with my department head and he said pretty much the same and it was out of his control. So I carried on working away hoping I could sort it when the payroll manager returns. When she finally did I went to see her, apparently I had been filling in my timesheets wrong and that's why I was only paid basic? So my immediate reply was "I have been filling in these time sheets exactly the same as I have for the past 9 months, nobody has raised any issues with them before". I was told I would have to have a meeting with my department head, HR and payroll the next week to review my timesheets. The meeting got postponed the day before I was due to go in, and again and again. I was concerned by this point to which I managed to have a sit down with my department head. We went over the timesheets, there was very little mistakes if any. He said he would deal with payroll immediately and I would have the moneys owed in my next pay (which was due in a few days). Payday came which was on Christmas Eve! surprise surprise, basic wage again. No overtime from the last month or the month in arrears. At that point our office was closed until after the new year, so nothing I could do. After the new year on the first week back to work, I refused to work away until I had the money. Again everyone gave me their assurances that I would get paid but they just kept fobbing me off. As well as problems with pay I still had other issues with them which I have not mentioned. The organisation skills, getting chucked onto jobs with the wrong information, Our HR department is completely useless, they just feed you with crap and don't help like they should do. I could go on forever how bad things were getting. The second day I found out 35 workers had just been made redundant, so alarm bells were ringing. After a hell of a lot of hassle with money, jobs, staff. I was no longer my self. I was starting to argue with my partner a lot, we shortly split up over it. I started having money troubles and I just had no fight left in me, I just became isolated. I saw my doctor, went through with him everything that had happened and how I felt. He prescribed me some tablets to try gain sleep and pick myself back up, but he signed me off work for 2 weeks as he determined I was not well enough to go due to occupational stress. So as of the 20th of this month I have been off on sick leave. I am due to return on Monday 3rd of Feb to which I will be having a meeting regarding the stress caused by work. Today, I received my payslip in the post! They have paid me basic yet again! But not only that... It shows on my wage slip my standard full month wage, then my national insurance and payee tax has been deducted calculated from my full months wage. Then, they have deducted sick leave of £960 after I have paid tax's on a full months wage! But shouldn't they have deducted sick leave the next following month?? I have only been off sick by 8 working days so far and they have taken 70% of my wage from me?? Please, I really need some help with this as I feel I am becoming even more stressed about it all now. I need to really know, A - Can they take sick leave off my wage in advance? B - Would I be doing wrong by demanding for a cheque for all moneys owed in this meeting before I return to work? C - Should I have signed a new contract after my 6 month probationary expired? D - Are they allowed to make deductions from my wage without notifying me? E - Is sick pay immediate from the day you don't come into work? Please if you have read my story, and there is other ammunition for my meeting on Monday please let me know. I know this is one hell of a post, but to those who have read it thoroughly. Thank you so much for your time, I really appreciate your help. Dan