Warning letter while off sick

A friend of mine received in the post while out sick a warning from his employer about the amount of days he has taken due to sickness.This is his first warning in the job where he has worked for over 20 years, He does not know whether to write back to this letter. He has supplied doctors note when required.Should the employer have rang him first or asked him in for a meeting,he feels he is been bullied to get back to work.He is not in a union any advice appreciated.What should he do next as he is due back to work this week.

Re: Warning letter while of sick

Anything useful on www.entemp.ie or www.employmentrights.ie ?

Any employer who is paying discretionary 'company' sick pay is entitled to follow up on what they see as excessive leave. How they do this though should be in accordance with their own sick leave policy (and of course with up-to-date employment legislation).

Your friend should ask to view this policy - in fact they should've sent a copy of the policy with the warning. Does he know what their policy is?

He should really also have the right to appeal the warning if he feels the warning has been unfairly given for whatever the circumstances.

Regards the way they communicated with him - Some companies will write to their employee first, others may arrange a meeting to express their concern. Your friend should first make sure they are being consistent with their sick leave policy. If they are following their own policy fairly, and they are in keeping with the law, then there may not be much your friend can do to avoid the warning. However, he should speak to his direct manager or the HR person as soon as he returns to work. Hope this helps..

The company may not have a written policy (small companies don't have the resources for such things). A phone call would have been a better first option. Dodo, why doesn't your friend phone his boss and ask why the letter was sent and what's going on? It may be that your friend has not communicated his position very well and his employer is frustrated. It may also be the case that the employer is an ass and is acting in character.

A question further to the OP's, this happened to someone I know too but apparently the HR person in charge rang their GP. Their doctor found this highly unusual. Is this allowed???

Companies more and more, are asking employees on long term sick, consistently sick to visit the company doctor.

The legality of this maybe explored soon, when company doctor and employee doctor reports conflict , and company take action .I.E Fire Employee.

maybe you should seek advice fron a Union on this issue.Doctor is stating you are sick , and unavailable to work, and company disregard this recomendation, I wonder have they checked legality of their actions.

Checked this out.


If there is a company doctor, he should go to him, informing his own doctor beforehand. He should also ask own Doctors opinion on company stance on illness, and apparent disregard about doctors report.

He can ring employer to get picture of whats going on, and state he is available to go to company specified doctor if neccessary.