Contacting a sick employee to ask for confirmation on an event
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;
up vote
5
down vote
favorite
I am interested in whether (and if yes, how?) you would go about contacting an employee on sick leave in this very specific situation:
There are three people involved: CEO Carl, Manager Mike and Employee Eric.
Eric calls in sick on Monday. Mike and Carl have good reason to believe Eric is not really sick but rather venting off anger originating from a dispute with Carl.
Eric is scheduled to attend a conference on Tuesday. Eric did not mention whether he'll be back on Tuesday to attend the conference. So Carl and Mike have to assume that he'll not attend and thus have a conference ticket to spare.
Before Carl and Mike give the conference ticket to someone else: do they contact Eric to find out whether he'll be attending the conference? Note that this conference is one of the yearly highlights for Eric; Mike is aware of that.
Specifically in German legislation: how would they have to phrase the question so that they don't get in conflict with the law?
communication germany sickness time-off
edited 3 hours ago
DarkCygnus
31.1k1359135
asked 3 hours ago
marstato
1545
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
favorite
I am interested in whether (and if yes, how?) you would go about contacting an employee on sick leave in this very specific situation:
There are three people involved: CEO Carl, Manager Mike and Employee Eric.
Eric calls in sick on Monday. Mike and Carl have good reason to believe Eric is not really sick but rather venting off anger originating from a dispute with Carl.
Eric is scheduled to attend a conference on Tuesday. Eric did not mention whether he'll be back on Tuesday to attend the conference. So Carl and Mike have to assume that he'll not attend and thus have a conference ticket to spare.
Before Carl and Mike give the conference ticket to someone else: do they contact Eric to find out whether he'll be attending the conference? Note that this conference is one of the yearly highlights for Eric; Mike is aware of that.
Specifically in German legislation: how would they have to phrase the question so that they don't get in conflict with the law?
communication germany sickness time-off
edited 3 hours ago
DarkCygnus
31.1k1359135
asked 3 hours ago
marstato
1545
2
Okay. So that tells me that Eric wasn't sick. I think you shouldn't have been deceptive about the question and should have written the truth about what actually happened.
– Joe Strazzere
3 hours ago
"he was so upset from the dispute that he felt unfit for work. " - okay. Yes, I actually read the question. As I wrote, it would have been better for you to write what actually happened. That way you'd get a reality-based answer rather than something you could use as a legal ploy. Perhaps Eric's manager actually knew that he was "not exactly sick"?
– Joe Strazzere
3 hours ago
1
Why do you expect there might be any sort of legal issue to asking them this question? Do you think the problem might come from just contacting someone on sick leave or because you're asking them whether they're feeling better?
– Dukeling
1 hour ago
@Dukeling both. I've seen people in germany being really sensitive when contacted on sickleave. So this might be an important consideration for the employer.
– marstato
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
favorite
up vote
5
down vote
favorite
I am interested in whether (and if yes, how?) you would go about contacting an employee on sick leave in this very specific situation:
There are three people involved: CEO Carl, Manager Mike and Employee Eric.
Eric calls in sick on Monday. Mike and Carl have good reason to believe Eric is not really sick but rather venting off anger originating from a dispute with Carl.
Eric is scheduled to attend a conference on Tuesday. Eric did not mention whether he'll be back on Tuesday to attend the conference. So Carl and Mike have to assume that he'll not attend and thus have a conference ticket to spare.
Before Carl and Mike give the conference ticket to someone else: do they contact Eric to find out whether he'll be attending the conference? Note that this conference is one of the yearly highlights for Eric; Mike is aware of that.
Specifically in German legislation: how would they have to phrase the question so that they don't get in conflict with the law?
communication germany sickness time-off
edited 3 hours ago
DarkCygnus
31.1k1359135
asked 3 hours ago
marstato
1545
I am interested in whether (and if yes, how?) you would go about contacting an employee on sick leave in this very specific situation:
There are three people involved: CEO Carl, Manager Mike and Employee Eric.
Eric calls in sick on Monday. Mike and Carl have good reason to believe Eric is not really sick but rather venting off anger originating from a dispute with Carl.
Eric is scheduled to attend a conference on Tuesday. Eric did not mention whether he'll be back on Tuesday to attend the conference. So Carl and Mike have to assume that he'll not attend and thus have a conference ticket to spare.
Before Carl and Mike give the conference ticket to someone else: do they contact Eric to find out whether he'll be attending the conference? Note that this conference is one of the yearly highlights for Eric; Mike is aware of that.
Specifically in German legislation: how would they have to phrase the question so that they don't get in conflict with the law?
communication germany sickness time-off
communication germany sickness time-off
edited 3 hours ago
DarkCygnus
31.1k1359135
asked 3 hours ago
marstato
1545
edited 3 hours ago
DarkCygnus
31.1k1359135
asked 3 hours ago
marstato
1545
edited 3 hours ago
DarkCygnus
31.1k1359135
edited 3 hours ago
DarkCygnus
31.1k1359135
edited 3 hours ago
DarkCygnus
31.1k1359135
31.1k1359135
asked 3 hours ago
marstato
1545
asked 3 hours ago
marstato
1545
asked 3 hours ago
marstato
1545
1545
2
Okay. So that tells me that Eric wasn't sick. I think you shouldn't have been deceptive about the question and should have written the truth about what actually happened.
– Joe Strazzere
3 hours ago
"he was so upset from the dispute that he felt unfit for work. " - okay. Yes, I actually read the question. As I wrote, it would have been better for you to write what actually happened. That way you'd get a reality-based answer rather than something you could use as a legal ploy. Perhaps Eric's manager actually knew that he was "not exactly sick"?
– Joe Strazzere
3 hours ago
1
Why do you expect there might be any sort of legal issue to asking them this question? Do you think the problem might come from just contacting someone on sick leave or because you're asking them whether they're feeling better?
– Dukeling
1 hour ago
@Dukeling both. I've seen people in germany being really sensitive when contacted on sickleave. So this might be an important consideration for the employer.
– marstato
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
2
Okay. So that tells me that Eric wasn't sick. I think you shouldn't have been deceptive about the question and should have written the truth about what actually happened.
– Joe Strazzere
3 hours ago
"he was so upset from the dispute that he felt unfit for work. " - okay. Yes, I actually read the question. As I wrote, it would have been better for you to write what actually happened. That way you'd get a reality-based answer rather than something you could use as a legal ploy. Perhaps Eric's manager actually knew that he was "not exactly sick"?
– Joe Strazzere
3 hours ago
1
Why do you expect there might be any sort of legal issue to asking them this question? Do you think the problem might come from just contacting someone on sick leave or because you're asking them whether they're feeling better?
– Dukeling
1 hour ago
@Dukeling both. I've seen people in germany being really sensitive when contacted on sickleave. So this might be an important consideration for the employer.
– marstato
1 hour ago
2
2
Okay. So that tells me that Eric wasn't sick. I think you shouldn't have been deceptive about the question and should have written the truth about what actually happened.
– Joe Strazzere
3 hours ago
Okay. So that tells me that Eric wasn't sick. I think you shouldn't have been deceptive about the question and should have written the truth about what actually happened.
– Joe Strazzere
3 hours ago
"he was so upset from the dispute that he felt unfit for work. " - okay. Yes, I actually read the question. As I wrote, it would have been better for you to write what actually happened. That way you'd get a reality-based answer rather than something you could use as a legal ploy. Perhaps Eric's manager actually knew that he was "not exactly sick"?
– Joe Strazzere
3 hours ago
"he was so upset from the dispute that he felt unfit for work. " - okay. Yes, I actually read the question. As I wrote, it would have been better for you to write what actually happened. That way you'd get a reality-based answer rather than something you could use as a legal ploy. Perhaps Eric's manager actually knew that he was "not exactly sick"?
– Joe Strazzere
3 hours ago
1
1
Why do you expect there might be any sort of legal issue to asking them this question? Do you think the problem might come from just contacting someone on sick leave or because you're asking them whether they're feeling better?
– Dukeling
1 hour ago
Why do you expect there might be any sort of legal issue to asking them this question? Do you think the problem might come from just contacting someone on sick leave or because you're asking them whether they're feeling better?
– Dukeling
1 hour ago
@Dukeling both. I've seen people in germany being really sensitive when contacted on sickleave. So this might be an important consideration for the employer.
– marstato
1 hour ago
@Dukeling both. I've seen people in germany being really sensitive when contacted on sickleave. So this might be an important consideration for the employer.
– marstato
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
11
down vote
accepted
So Carl and Mike have to assume that he'll not attend and thus have a conference ticket to spare.
Don't assume, ask.
Eric already called in sick, so try contacting him by that same mean. Consider giving him a call in case there is a chance he won't see his email.
Now, being written or spoken, try something in the lines of:
Hello Eric. Sorry to hear you feel sick, I hope you get well soon. Just remember that tomorrow is the conference, so tell us if you don't think you will make it.
answered 3 hours ago
DarkCygnus
31.1k1359135
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
IANAL and I am not German.
If Mike and/or Carl have Eric's contact information, then they could just call him and ask: "Hey, we heard you're sick, are you going to make it to the conference?" In my estimation, the "we heard that" does not violate privacy laws; if a person is away from the office on unscheduled vacation, the common thing to hear (at least in my experience) is that the person is sick. Using company-usual contact methods (company email, internal chat, etc) is preferable if it is reasonable to believe that Eric will access those things while sick.
If Carl and Mike make a reasonable effort to contact Eric, and there is no response, then (imo) Carl and Mike can give away Eric's ticket. But first Carl and Mike should make their best good-faith effort to contact Eric to check if his illness is going to take him out of commission the day of the conference (sometimes you just don't feel well one day and want to skip work but are not actually "sick"; just because Eric comes in the next day perfectly healthy does not mean he lied about taking a sick day).
answered 3 hours ago
Ertai87
4,527417
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
Specifically in German legislation: how would they have to phrase the question so that they don't get in conflict with the law?
There is no problem with the law no matter how you phrase it. Even a direct "I don't believe you are sick, please bring your doctor's note on Tuesday" would not break any law (assuming the employee has a contract that requires him to bring a note or you have sufficient indication that he might be faking it). For any non-German reading this, please remember Germany has no concept of "sick day allowance". You are sick when a doctor says you're sick. Going to the doctor and getting such a note is free (well, already included in your mandatory health insurance). And the employer is allowed to ask for proof in form of a doctors note, most put it into their contracts.
Please note that "strictly speaking not illegal" might not be the level you want to communicate with employees. Personally, I would feel very offended if someone thought I'd be faking it. So being nice and respectful certainly does not hurt.
You may also not want to disturb a sick employee by anything intrusive like a phone call. This is not an emergency, neither for the company nor for him.
Send him a message, maybe EMail or SMS if you have his cell number. I will shamelessly plagiarize the existing answer and modify it a bit:
Hello Eric. Sorry to hear you feel sick, I hope you get well soon. Tomorrow is the conference. If you cannot make it, we need to send a replacement and they need to know before they leave the office today at 16:30. So please contact us before 16:30 and tell us if you can make it tomorrow.
The point here is to set a clean limit. It's not arbitrary, it's a deadline for the business requirement that the trip has to be scheduled and the person needs to plan for the following day. But it leaves no room for interpretation what happens if the employee does not communicate (because if they are sick and maybe went to bed or took a lot of painkillers, not communicating would be the default).
answered 42 mins ago
nvoigt
45.8k19110152
"Personally, I would feel very offended if someone thought I'd be faking it." - that's perfectly understandable. In this case, Eric actually was faking it, so he would be unlikely to be offended.
– Joe Strazzere
34 mins ago
add a comment |Â
StackExchange.ready(function ()
$("#show-editor-button input, #show-editor-button button").click(function ()
var showEditor = function()
$("#show-editor-button").hide();
$("#post-form").removeClass("dno");
StackExchange.editor.finallyInit();
;
var useFancy = $(this).data('confirm-use-fancy');
if(useFancy == 'True')
var popupTitle = $(this).data('confirm-fancy-title');
var popupBody = $(this).data('confirm-fancy-body');
var popupAccept = $(this).data('confirm-fancy-accept-button');
$(this).loadPopup(
url: '/post/self-answer-popup',
loaded: function(popup)
var pTitle = $(popup).find('h2');
var pBody = $(popup).find('.popup-body');
var pSubmit = $(popup).find('.popup-submit');
pTitle.text(popupTitle);
pBody.html(popupBody);
pSubmit.val(popupAccept).click(showEditor);
)
else
var confirmText = $(this).data('confirm-text');
if (confirmText ? confirm(confirmText) : true)
showEditor();
);
);
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
11
down vote
accepted
So Carl and Mike have to assume that he'll not attend and thus have a conference ticket to spare.
Don't assume, ask.
Eric already called in sick, so try contacting him by that same mean. Consider giving him a call in case there is a chance he won't see his email.
Now, being written or spoken, try something in the lines of:
Hello Eric. Sorry to hear you feel sick, I hope you get well soon. Just remember that tomorrow is the conference, so tell us if you don't think you will make it.
answered 3 hours ago
DarkCygnus
31.1k1359135
add a comment |Â
up vote
11
down vote
accepted
So Carl and Mike have to assume that he'll not attend and thus have a conference ticket to spare.
Don't assume, ask.
Eric already called in sick, so try contacting him by that same mean. Consider giving him a call in case there is a chance he won't see his email.
Now, being written or spoken, try something in the lines of:
Hello Eric. Sorry to hear you feel sick, I hope you get well soon. Just remember that tomorrow is the conference, so tell us if you don't think you will make it.
answered 3 hours ago
DarkCygnus
31.1k1359135
add a comment |Â
up vote
11
down vote
accepted
up vote
11
down vote
accepted
So Carl and Mike have to assume that he'll not attend and thus have a conference ticket to spare.
Don't assume, ask.
Eric already called in sick, so try contacting him by that same mean. Consider giving him a call in case there is a chance he won't see his email.
Now, being written or spoken, try something in the lines of:
Hello Eric. Sorry to hear you feel sick, I hope you get well soon. Just remember that tomorrow is the conference, so tell us if you don't think you will make it.
answered 3 hours ago
DarkCygnus
31.1k1359135
So Carl and Mike have to assume that he'll not attend and thus have a conference ticket to spare.
Don't assume, ask.
Eric already called in sick, so try contacting him by that same mean. Consider giving him a call in case there is a chance he won't see his email.
Now, being written or spoken, try something in the lines of:
Hello Eric. Sorry to hear you feel sick, I hope you get well soon. Just remember that tomorrow is the conference, so tell us if you don't think you will make it.
answered 3 hours ago
DarkCygnus
31.1k1359135
answered 3 hours ago
DarkCygnus
31.1k1359135
answered 3 hours ago
DarkCygnus
31.1k1359135
answered 3 hours ago
DarkCygnus
31.1k1359135
31.1k1359135
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
IANAL and I am not German.
If Mike and/or Carl have Eric's contact information, then they could just call him and ask: "Hey, we heard you're sick, are you going to make it to the conference?" In my estimation, the "we heard that" does not violate privacy laws; if a person is away from the office on unscheduled vacation, the common thing to hear (at least in my experience) is that the person is sick. Using company-usual contact methods (company email, internal chat, etc) is preferable if it is reasonable to believe that Eric will access those things while sick.
If Carl and Mike make a reasonable effort to contact Eric, and there is no response, then (imo) Carl and Mike can give away Eric's ticket. But first Carl and Mike should make their best good-faith effort to contact Eric to check if his illness is going to take him out of commission the day of the conference (sometimes you just don't feel well one day and want to skip work but are not actually "sick"; just because Eric comes in the next day perfectly healthy does not mean he lied about taking a sick day).
answered 3 hours ago
Ertai87
4,527417
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
IANAL and I am not German.
If Mike and/or Carl have Eric's contact information, then they could just call him and ask: "Hey, we heard you're sick, are you going to make it to the conference?" In my estimation, the "we heard that" does not violate privacy laws; if a person is away from the office on unscheduled vacation, the common thing to hear (at least in my experience) is that the person is sick. Using company-usual contact methods (company email, internal chat, etc) is preferable if it is reasonable to believe that Eric will access those things while sick.
If Carl and Mike make a reasonable effort to contact Eric, and there is no response, then (imo) Carl and Mike can give away Eric's ticket. But first Carl and Mike should make their best good-faith effort to contact Eric to check if his illness is going to take him out of commission the day of the conference (sometimes you just don't feel well one day and want to skip work but are not actually "sick"; just because Eric comes in the next day perfectly healthy does not mean he lied about taking a sick day).
answered 3 hours ago
Ertai87
4,527417
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
IANAL and I am not German.
If Mike and/or Carl have Eric's contact information, then they could just call him and ask: "Hey, we heard you're sick, are you going to make it to the conference?" In my estimation, the "we heard that" does not violate privacy laws; if a person is away from the office on unscheduled vacation, the common thing to hear (at least in my experience) is that the person is sick. Using company-usual contact methods (company email, internal chat, etc) is preferable if it is reasonable to believe that Eric will access those things while sick.
If Carl and Mike make a reasonable effort to contact Eric, and there is no response, then (imo) Carl and Mike can give away Eric's ticket. But first Carl and Mike should make their best good-faith effort to contact Eric to check if his illness is going to take him out of commission the day of the conference (sometimes you just don't feel well one day and want to skip work but are not actually "sick"; just because Eric comes in the next day perfectly healthy does not mean he lied about taking a sick day).
answered 3 hours ago
Ertai87
4,527417
IANAL and I am not German.
If Mike and/or Carl have Eric's contact information, then they could just call him and ask: "Hey, we heard you're sick, are you going to make it to the conference?" In my estimation, the "we heard that" does not violate privacy laws; if a person is away from the office on unscheduled vacation, the common thing to hear (at least in my experience) is that the person is sick. Using company-usual contact methods (company email, internal chat, etc) is preferable if it is reasonable to believe that Eric will access those things while sick.
If Carl and Mike make a reasonable effort to contact Eric, and there is no response, then (imo) Carl and Mike can give away Eric's ticket. But first Carl and Mike should make their best good-faith effort to contact Eric to check if his illness is going to take him out of commission the day of the conference (sometimes you just don't feel well one day and want to skip work but are not actually "sick"; just because Eric comes in the next day perfectly healthy does not mean he lied about taking a sick day).
answered 3 hours ago
Ertai87
4,527417
answered 3 hours ago
Ertai87
4,527417
answered 3 hours ago
Ertai87
4,527417
answered 3 hours ago
Ertai87
4,527417
4,527417
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
Specifically in German legislation: how would they have to phrase the question so that they don't get in conflict with the law?
There is no problem with the law no matter how you phrase it. Even a direct "I don't believe you are sick, please bring your doctor's note on Tuesday" would not break any law (assuming the employee has a contract that requires him to bring a note or you have sufficient indication that he might be faking it). For any non-German reading this, please remember Germany has no concept of "sick day allowance". You are sick when a doctor says you're sick. Going to the doctor and getting such a note is free (well, already included in your mandatory health insurance). And the employer is allowed to ask for proof in form of a doctors note, most put it into their contracts.
Please note that "strictly speaking not illegal" might not be the level you want to communicate with employees. Personally, I would feel very offended if someone thought I'd be faking it. So being nice and respectful certainly does not hurt.
You may also not want to disturb a sick employee by anything intrusive like a phone call. This is not an emergency, neither for the company nor for him.
Send him a message, maybe EMail or SMS if you have his cell number. I will shamelessly plagiarize the existing answer and modify it a bit:
Hello Eric. Sorry to hear you feel sick, I hope you get well soon. Tomorrow is the conference. If you cannot make it, we need to send a replacement and they need to know before they leave the office today at 16:30. So please contact us before 16:30 and tell us if you can make it tomorrow.
The point here is to set a clean limit. It's not arbitrary, it's a deadline for the business requirement that the trip has to be scheduled and the person needs to plan for the following day. But it leaves no room for interpretation what happens if the employee does not communicate (because if they are sick and maybe went to bed or took a lot of painkillers, not communicating would be the default).
answered 42 mins ago
nvoigt
45.8k19110152
"Personally, I would feel very offended if someone thought I'd be faking it." - that's perfectly understandable. In this case, Eric actually was faking it, so he would be unlikely to be offended.
– Joe Strazzere
34 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
Specifically in German legislation: how would they have to phrase the question so that they don't get in conflict with the law?
There is no problem with the law no matter how you phrase it. Even a direct "I don't believe you are sick, please bring your doctor's note on Tuesday" would not break any law (assuming the employee has a contract that requires him to bring a note or you have sufficient indication that he might be faking it). For any non-German reading this, please remember Germany has no concept of "sick day allowance". You are sick when a doctor says you're sick. Going to the doctor and getting such a note is free (well, already included in your mandatory health insurance). And the employer is allowed to ask for proof in form of a doctors note, most put it into their contracts.
Please note that "strictly speaking not illegal" might not be the level you want to communicate with employees. Personally, I would feel very offended if someone thought I'd be faking it. So being nice and respectful certainly does not hurt.
You may also not want to disturb a sick employee by anything intrusive like a phone call. This is not an emergency, neither for the company nor for him.
Send him a message, maybe EMail or SMS if you have his cell number. I will shamelessly plagiarize the existing answer and modify it a bit:
Hello Eric. Sorry to hear you feel sick, I hope you get well soon. Tomorrow is the conference. If you cannot make it, we need to send a replacement and they need to know before they leave the office today at 16:30. So please contact us before 16:30 and tell us if you can make it tomorrow.
The point here is to set a clean limit. It's not arbitrary, it's a deadline for the business requirement that the trip has to be scheduled and the person needs to plan for the following day. But it leaves no room for interpretation what happens if the employee does not communicate (because if they are sick and maybe went to bed or took a lot of painkillers, not communicating would be the default).
answered 42 mins ago
nvoigt
45.8k19110152
"Personally, I would feel very offended if someone thought I'd be faking it." - that's perfectly understandable. In this case, Eric actually was faking it, so he would be unlikely to be offended.
– Joe Strazzere
34 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
Specifically in German legislation: how would they have to phrase the question so that they don't get in conflict with the law?
There is no problem with the law no matter how you phrase it. Even a direct "I don't believe you are sick, please bring your doctor's note on Tuesday" would not break any law (assuming the employee has a contract that requires him to bring a note or you have sufficient indication that he might be faking it). For any non-German reading this, please remember Germany has no concept of "sick day allowance". You are sick when a doctor says you're sick. Going to the doctor and getting such a note is free (well, already included in your mandatory health insurance). And the employer is allowed to ask for proof in form of a doctors note, most put it into their contracts.
Please note that "strictly speaking not illegal" might not be the level you want to communicate with employees. Personally, I would feel very offended if someone thought I'd be faking it. So being nice and respectful certainly does not hurt.
You may also not want to disturb a sick employee by anything intrusive like a phone call. This is not an emergency, neither for the company nor for him.
Send him a message, maybe EMail or SMS if you have his cell number. I will shamelessly plagiarize the existing answer and modify it a bit:
Hello Eric. Sorry to hear you feel sick, I hope you get well soon. Tomorrow is the conference. If you cannot make it, we need to send a replacement and they need to know before they leave the office today at 16:30. So please contact us before 16:30 and tell us if you can make it tomorrow.
The point here is to set a clean limit. It's not arbitrary, it's a deadline for the business requirement that the trip has to be scheduled and the person needs to plan for the following day. But it leaves no room for interpretation what happens if the employee does not communicate (because if they are sick and maybe went to bed or took a lot of painkillers, not communicating would be the default).
answered 42 mins ago
nvoigt
45.8k19110152
Specifically in German legislation: how would they have to phrase the question so that they don't get in conflict with the law?
There is no problem with the law no matter how you phrase it. Even a direct "I don't believe you are sick, please bring your doctor's note on Tuesday" would not break any law (assuming the employee has a contract that requires him to bring a note or you have sufficient indication that he might be faking it). For any non-German reading this, please remember Germany has no concept of "sick day allowance". You are sick when a doctor says you're sick. Going to the doctor and getting such a note is free (well, already included in your mandatory health insurance). And the employer is allowed to ask for proof in form of a doctors note, most put it into their contracts.
Please note that "strictly speaking not illegal" might not be the level you want to communicate with employees. Personally, I would feel very offended if someone thought I'd be faking it. So being nice and respectful certainly does not hurt.
You may also not want to disturb a sick employee by anything intrusive like a phone call. This is not an emergency, neither for the company nor for him.
Send him a message, maybe EMail or SMS if you have his cell number. I will shamelessly plagiarize the existing answer and modify it a bit:
Hello Eric. Sorry to hear you feel sick, I hope you get well soon. Tomorrow is the conference. If you cannot make it, we need to send a replacement and they need to know before they leave the office today at 16:30. So please contact us before 16:30 and tell us if you can make it tomorrow.
The point here is to set a clean limit. It's not arbitrary, it's a deadline for the business requirement that the trip has to be scheduled and the person needs to plan for the following day. But it leaves no room for interpretation what happens if the employee does not communicate (because if they are sick and maybe went to bed or took a lot of painkillers, not communicating would be the default).
answered 42 mins ago
nvoigt
45.8k19110152
answered 42 mins ago
nvoigt
45.8k19110152
answered 42 mins ago
nvoigt
45.8k19110152
answered 42 mins ago
nvoigt
45.8k19110152
45.8k19110152
"Personally, I would feel very offended if someone thought I'd be faking it." - that's perfectly understandable. In this case, Eric actually was faking it, so he would be unlikely to be offended.
– Joe Strazzere
34 mins ago
add a comment |Â
"Personally, I would feel very offended if someone thought I'd be faking it." - that's perfectly understandable. In this case, Eric actually was faking it, so he would be unlikely to be offended.
– Joe Strazzere
34 mins ago
"Personally, I would feel very offended if someone thought I'd be faking it." - that's perfectly understandable. In this case, Eric actually was faking it, so he would be unlikely to be offended.
– Joe Strazzere
34 mins ago
"Personally, I would feel very offended if someone thought I'd be faking it." - that's perfectly understandable. In this case, Eric actually was faking it, so he would be unlikely to be offended.
– Joe Strazzere
34 mins ago
add a comment |Â
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fworkplace.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f122209%2fcontacting-a-sick-employee-to-ask-for-confirmation-on-an-event%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
2
Okay. So that tells me that Eric wasn't sick. I think you shouldn't have been deceptive about the question and should have written the truth about what actually happened.
– Joe Strazzere
3 hours ago
"he was so upset from the dispute that he felt unfit for work. " - okay. Yes, I actually read the question. As I wrote, it would have been better for you to write what actually happened. That way you'd get a reality-based answer rather than something you could use as a legal ploy. Perhaps Eric's manager actually knew that he was "not exactly sick"?
– Joe Strazzere
3 hours ago
1
Why do you expect there might be any sort of legal issue to asking them this question? Do you think the problem might come from just contacting someone on sick leave or because you're asking them whether they're feeling better?
– Dukeling
1 hour ago
@Dukeling both. I've seen people in germany being really sensitive when contacted on sickleave. So this might be an important consideration for the employer.
– marstato
1 hour ago