Long Term Sick and Shark Wrestling

[TheAnimus]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-21753342

A charity worker has been sacked after his bosses saw footage of him wrestling a shark in Australia while he was on sick leave for stress.

Paul Marshallsea, 62, from Merthyr Tydfil, grabbed the shark by the tail as it swam towards children and dragged it to deeper water off Bulcock Beach.

His story made headlines across the world and lifeguards praised him.

He has been sacked by the Pant and Dowlais Boys and Girls Club which blamed a "breakdown" of confidence

The charity in question and its tight financies can be seen here.

Now the problem is, someone who is on long term sick for stress, for 8 months, is found on holiday with their partner, also on long term sick, it paints a sorry picture.

Going on the premise he wasn't gaming the system, its awfully unfair on a small company which looking at its expendeture to income couldn't afford to simply hire a replacement.

[Jay]

If they are off sick how can they afford to go to Aus?

[Domestic_Ginger]

Stress is supposed to be serious but does it stop you going on holiday; I would have thought it would be one of the best things for you. But I agree, if your partner is also on stress leave and you've been off for 8 months I can't be sympathetic. However due to the length of time being off surely he is not collecting much from the charity. I imagine it would be statutory after 6 months.

The charity's former project co-ordinator, said: "If I hadn't gone in to save the kids on that beach that day my wife and I would still have a job."

[Jay]

Here is a picture of the event

[TheAnimus]

If they are off sick how can they afford to go to Aus?

Because your entilted to sick pay after 4 days, most companies feel your entitled to it from day 1. Most people also have savings, and if I was worried about my health from stress, I would look at a holiday. Heck I took (un paid!) weeks off last year to de-stress, kick back and refresh my mind.

The charity's former project co-ordinator, said: "If I hadn't gone in to save the kids on that beach that day my wife and I would still have a job."

Or you could have been more upfront about your health with them and herralded a hero. I mean just a simple email.

"Hi Bob,

Still feeling ****ty, don't want to talk about it, but rest assured I'm getting help.

On advice to try and unwind we're blowing the last of our savings on this holiday....."

Presentation is key!

[Andy3536]

Because your entilted to sick pay after 4 days, most companies feel your entitled to it from day 1. Most people also have savings, and if I was worried about my health from stress, I would look at a holiday. Heck I took (un paid!) weeks off last year to de-stress, kick back and refresh my mind.Or you could have been more upfront about your health with them and herralded a hero. I mean just a simple email.

"Hi Bob,

Still feeling ****ty, don't want to talk about it, but rest assured I'm getting help.

On advice to try and unwind we're blowing the last of our savings on this holiday....."

Presentation is key!

Presentation or not. If he was following doctors advice, then at any future tribunal the origional employers won't have a leg to stand on.
That is an IF though, provided the doctor saw him regularly and he didn't take the proverbial. 8 months seems a bit extreame, but whether or not the guy was doing the right thing will be down to his GP if it goes to a tribunal, not whether he told his former employers the ins and outs of his week. Although that would have been good manners.

[TheAnimus]

I thought not? 28 weeks, then its good will of employer?

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/paye/employee...p-overview.htm

[Saracen]

I'd want to know a lot more than I do about that particular case before being judgemental about it, and about the exact status with the employer, but in principle, I can't see any conflict between long term serious stress and a holiday, Australia or not.

Whether it contravenes employment contrscts, or sick rules, or benefit rules if they're being claimed I don't know. But not everyone relies on earnings for a holiday. As was said earlier, some people have savings, or an inheritance, or a lottery win, or .... etc.

[Spank]

I wouldn't of thought that getting in the sea with a shark would be good for your stress level, that and getting fired he's gonna need another holiday.

[fuddam]

I wouldn't of thought that getting in the sea with a shark would be good for your stress level, that and getting fired he's gonna need another holiday.

lol!

[csgohan4]

There are always two sides of the story, who knows how he was like working for them? regardless, surely he wasn't paid for the full 8 months off.

[BobF64]

Assuming there isnt more to this story than has already been told, the charity trustees seem to be making a right arse of themselves, their email makes it sound like they consider his current leave to be something more like a physical condition.

I think the trustees make it worse for themselves by seeming to react without sufficient investigation, such that the couple were advised to take a holiday by their doctor.

[csgohan4]

Work related stress or any kind of mental stress and being advised to go on holiday perhaps is a testament to how the company was working them. Going on holiday surely is a good idea to relieve stress?

[Lucio]

I can see the employer's point of view, if you're capable of dealing with a life threatening event, you're capable of standing up to the pressures of work. Whilst mental bealth issues are never clear cut, you can certainly make a case that he was taking the piss after 8 months and that he had no intention of returning to work.

[Jay]

He may have had an issue with a member of staff, boss etc that was causing the stress. Although if your job is too much for you you must really look for a new job rather than going off with stress.

I had dealt with extreme stress in the workplace and when it got too much I just moved on to a new job, there is no doubt I could have gone to the doctors and been given a note as it was almost literally killing me but if I can change the situation then I will.

Its still a shame for him though, no good deed goes unpunished.

[BobF64]

I can see the employer's point of view, if you're capable of dealing with a life threatening event, you're capable of standing up to the pressures of work.

Which might be understandable if he went on a shark wrestling holiday, but people react to 'emergency' situations differently to normal rational thinking.