Hello all,
I have worked for a company for just under 6 yrs and I am not on any disciplinary action at all.
I currently broke my absence objectives and have been invited to a disciplinary meeting for excessive absence next week therfore I believed that the next step would be a verbal warning, however;
I was off from work for a week with IBS symptoms (work are aware of my condition) and towards the end of the week I was feeling better so I went out for a couple of hours with my friends on the saturday with the intention to return to work on the monday.
As I had been off all week I was slightly stressed so I wanted to relax, so I went to a bar in the evening but did not drink.
Monday arrived and my symptoms started again so I had another 2 days off, I returned to work on the Wednesday only to find that someone saw me out and had advised my manager and now my employer is accusing me of breach of trust, potentially gross misconduct (but it doesnt say GM on the disciplinary letter but does in the companys procedure)
The witness said that I was drinking which is untrue, however because I admitted being out (as I didnt deliberatly do anything wrong) but didnt drink, HR do not need a witness statement from them, even if they did I believe it would just be my word against theres?
Work gave me some information on my condition last year about how stress can trigger IBS, and a way to relieve stress is to talk to friends, which is what I did.
I have spoken to my doctor who has written up a letter saying due to my symptoms I was unfit for my duties (diahrea and I work in a call centre, not ideal to say the least!!) and that I informed him I felt going out wasnt a problem symptom free, aslong as toilets was available.
This situation has put alot of stress on me and isnt helping my condition atall (do I mention this in the meeting?)
I am going to be having other tests with a specialist to see if it could be anything other than IBS or to control my condition.
I have been advised in confidence by colleagues that I do not have to worry as I havent been suspended and I may just get a written of final written, yet have been advised by ACAS and Citizens advise that this doesnt necessarily mean I wont be dismissed.
I am a member of a union and they will be attending the meeting.
Can work give me a verbal for the absence and then dismiss me or just dismiss me, or am I worrying too much?
It isnt like I have been violent or stole.
Work are basically saying if you was out saturday then why wasnt you in work monday, which I could understand if I was in a pub drunk of a monday morning
Please any advice would be brilliant.
Sorry for the essay!