Readers of the regular bloggers on Hospital Dr will surely be impressed at the number of times they refer to accessing work e-mails whilst on holiday. Something to do with loyalty, dedication and commitment perhaps (or, is it a sign of the times that being away for a short while enjoying their holidays actually fills them with concern about what is going on behind their backs?).
Two stories this week made me wonder whether the latter is truer than I originally thought. The first concerned a consultant who whilst on holiday in Africa had been ambushed, had his money stolen, and was threatened with his life. Having survived this trauma he managed to get back to his hotel to find his return to the UK delayed as a result of Iceland’s second attempt to ruin the British economy, so he opened his e-mail to tell his trust what had happened and his predicament. The reply was a pretty sad, but not untypical: “Take the time as unpaid leave.”
The second (again true) story comes from another consultant stuck in Portugal with his wife and four young children. His story is similar to many who had been stuck in foreign parts although not many had, like him, been required to deal with the sudden death of a fellow ‘strandee’ whilst queuing for tickets to get home.
He was unable to resuscitate the fellow passenger; he was also unable to book a passage home in time for his Monday morning clinic. He advised his trust ‘business manager’ of his plans and confirmed that he had followed the advice of consular officials, the travel company and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
The trust is not impressed; he is now desperately trying to get home with four tired children, an upset wife and daunted by the prospect of disciplinary proceedings.
Sound familiar? It reminds me of the management response when staff were caught in snow drifts, ice and road closures only a few weeks ago. “Get here or else” is surely not the sign of a caring, sympathetic management.
Are these isolated examples? I am sure Hospital Dr and its readers would like to know…
Tags: Managers
One of my colleagues got caught in Europe and was delayed in getting back to work. Everyone was sympathetic but it was largely dealt with by the CD and the consultants, and cover organised. ‘Business managers’ and their ilke need not be involved.