Can my employer visit me at home without notice.

[Talisman]

I am currently off sick with severe depression. My manager came to visit me today without giving any notice at all, they just turned up at my address.

Are they allowed to do this or do they have to give me some warning?

 

Any help would be appreciated. I am part of a union but I think this may have been an issue that was overlooked as opposed to a deliberate breach of employment law if the above is the case. Thanks in advance.

[will lliw]

I am currently off sick with severe depression. My manager came to visit me today without giving any notice at all, they just turned up at my address.

Are they allowed to do this or do they have to give me some warning?

 

Any help would be appreciated. I am part of a union but I think this may have been an issue that was overlooked as opposed to a deliberate breach of employment law if the above is the case. Thanks in advance.

 

Hi, I hope you ok. Im no expert but have been in managment for a little while. Im sure that if you have made your employer aware that you are off work for mental health reasons there is no way they should call round to see you without notice as this could do more harm than good. However that said, could it be that you boss was genuinly concernd??

[godpikachu]

in a word, no, not without making a prior appointment.

im sure i read on here somewhere you could class it as harrassment and report it to the police.

[dx100uk]

yep i'd go with concern esp if you live on your own & they may have tried but got no response via other methods.

 

i say this only in relation to current news events [nurse in boot?]

 

what are your real issues here? i dont think you actually mind them doing it, but are p'haps worried about 'what' it might imply/lead too?

 

dx

[will lliw]

There is also the new trend of employers wanting to keep a regular contact with employees who are absent. Employers view it as a way to make the employee feel valued and missed but I suppose if your not in a happy frame of mind you may feel your are being harrased.

 

Maybe its worth just finding out what your employers absence policy is and go form there.

[Sidewinder]

It is considered perfectly acceptable to visit an employee at home and is standard advice as a part of any policy to manage long-term sickness absence (as are letters, e mails and phone calls). It would however be good practice to give some advance notice of a visit, and in certain circumstances (for example if your condition had been caused by the person making the visit) it could be counter productive.

 

Employers need to have policies in place to manage sickness absence and in the case of long-term absence it is normal to maintain contact with the employee to keep you up to date with what is happening at work perhaps, or to explore ways in which your return might be made easier. It wouldn't be considered harassment in the first instance unless you had made it clear that you were unhappy to receive a home visit - after all, why wouuld it be unacceptable for a caring employer (if that is how they wish to be perceived) to want to come and see you to find out how you are?

 

What was the nature of the visit anyway? Were you put under any undue pressure? I would be a little careful in refusing visits outright (unless there is a clear problem with the employer being the root of the problem) as the employer may then feel that you have something to hide.

[BubbleCat]

Hi Talisman,

 

sorry to hear you are not well and do hope you are on the road to recovery. Certainly the unexpected visit could irritate your health.

 

It is common place for any employer these days, to look after the welfare of the employee and as such if you are covered by a medical certificate, your manager or HR should arrange how this contact will be made i.e. phone.

 

If a "home" visit is necessary, then out of courtesy or protocol, your manager or HR should contact you in the 1st instance to make sure it is convenient for you, you are comfortable with the arrangement being proposed and from a legal perspective you are entitled to representation, which they have failed to give you notice to arrange. You may have wanted someone present i.e. union rep, friend etc, which is your right. You may not have wanted the visit at your home and there is no reason why it could not have been arranged to take place somewhere neutral i.e. coffee shop. This can be part of your rehabilitation, as could any other activity, so don't fret about being seen out of your home.

 

As SW quite rightly says, if the person who called on you was / is part of the equasion to your condition, this could lead to a set back.

 

Have you got any burning issues with the home visit, other than you were not consulted?

 

Findout what your employers protocol is for long term sickness and post back up what your findings are.