First Formal Attendance Review

[finaldj]

Looking for some advice.

 

I've got a first formal attendance meeting coming Tuesday 3rd November unsure if this is actually a stage 1 meeting at this point or just a formal meeting.

 

As I work for the NHS I'm above the Trust's 3.5% threshold over the last 12 months. my sickness stands at 4.7%.

 

I was off sick in April for about 2 weeks putting my sickness to 5.5% from an earlier episode that had my just under the 3.5% cut off point.

 

The Junior sister had a back to work meeting on the 7th April but because it was 5.5% had to refer this to the Senior sister. this can sometimes take a week or 2 depending on how busy the ward is. however the meeting didn't take place till late June where my sickness had dropped to 4.8%

 

She set a target of 0% sickness until our next review date end of September putting this in writing what our meeting was about however she put 5.5% instead of 4.8% on the letter, an oversight of course that I pointed out.. However September came and went and the week we were supposed to meet never took place as she had decided to book leave for a week.

 

I reminded her when she came back start of October that our meeting never took place and she said she'll sort something out but this never happened. towards the end of October I was off 2 days with D&V.

 

She had a back to work interview with me on Friday 23rd October apologised for not having the review meeting and talked about my sickness again. But because of the 2 days it took my sickness from 4.8% to 4.9%

 

So she said it hadn't improved and that this would have to go to a Formal Meeting. but I pointed out that it had improved as it was 5.5% in April and now only 4.9% and that I only had 2 days sick in 6 1/2 months.

 

She didn't even respond to that. She did point out that 5 days sickness was about to come off the rolling months soon and would contact HR to find out what to do next as once the 5 days come off my sickness would have dropped below 4%.

 

She knew I was on holiday last week so I returned home yesterday to find a letter had come dated the 27th October for a formal meeting to take place 3rd November.

 

They want a meeting because.

 

My attendance remains unsatisfactory despite the recent monitoring period

 

My level of absence for the last 12 months remians above the trusts policy of 3.5%

 

I feel they haven't given me enough notice knowing I was away on leave not even giving me a chance to contact a Union as I am with Unison (will contact these on Monday)

 

I don't even have a copy of my sickness record for the last 12 months to look at which I assume would have been inc in the letter.

 

I know this is no big meeting but these can easily escalate to something bigger if not dealt with sooner.

[ericsbrother]

were you asent on a number of occasions for minor things or was it once for something more serious? If the latter no problem, it is just box ticking. If the former is there a pattern to your absences? Just things to talk about....

[unclebulgaria67]

Having run these meetings in a different environment, it is to understand the reasons for sickness, looking at each occasion and seeing what actions you can take to get your sickness down. If you suffer from a long running medical issue which your employer knows about, then it might be you should see your GP to see what you can do to avoid work absences. Each case is going to be different, so it is difficult to advise. Were your employers aware of any ongoing medical issues, when they employed you ? If so and you continue to suffer, there is mot much they can do, other than suggest you obtain Doctors advice and follow it.

 

You should really take someone with you that you trust to act as witness. Then they cannot say things, which are then not included in any official notes for the meeting.

 

If you have been employed less than 2 years, then it is potentially more serious, as you have less protection.