How to Handle a Manager Ignoring Sick Leave Requests During a Critical COVID Situation?

Dear all, my manager has not approved my leave. HR knows that I am COVID positive, and my condition is critical. I can't visit the branch to regularize my attendance. As discussed with HR, he informed me that my manager would apply for leave and approve it from his end, but he has not done so. I regularly follow up, but he does not pick up my phone calls or reply to messages. It seems intentional. I am in a financial crisis and cannot afford to survive without my salary in this pandemic situation. Please advise on what I should do. HR mentioned that he can't force the supervisor to input sick leave and approve it.

Approaching for Leave Approval

You may follow up using other contacts, such as requesting your colleagues to put in a word in your favor, speaking to higher-ups above your manager, or taking it up through HR and requesting their help. In case there is a trade union in the setup, you can also approach them. As a last resort, I would suggest using the office of the Collector/Commissioner or the government machinery.

Dear member,

What is happening with you is unfortunate. Sometimes we have to face a mix of unfavorable events as well as unfavorable actions from seniors. Anyway, do not lose your spirit.

I recommend you prepare a handwritten application for leave. In this application, write down when you were infected with COVID-19, what kind of treatment you are taking, etc. If you are able to take a printout, then attach a copy of the medical report that shows you are COVID-19 positive. Send the letter by Speed Post to your company. Later, scan the copy of the letter along with the receipt from the post office and send the application to HR. Write to them that you had approached your HOD; however, you are yet to receive approval for the leave, hence the application. If you do not receive a reply from HR, then send one more letter to the MD of the company. However, do not rush to send the application to the MD. Wait for 3-4 days since you sent the first application to HR. I hope you get a positive reply from the MD.

General Comments: Across India, the second wave of COVID-19 is on the rise. Against this backdrop, if an employee is in distress due to a COVID-19 infection, HR is supposed to stand by the employee. As a representative of the employees, they should take up the work on behalf of the employee. However, if HR remains inactive, then it is very unfortunate.

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar

I am a little surprised by the attitude of the company. In all the cases I am seeing, employers are more than happy to grant leave the moment the employee informs them they are sick, even without waiting for a COVID test. If they come to the office, they are likely to force more people to take sick leave or get quarantined.

You need to formally send a letter to the company informing them of your infection and ask them to grant you paid leave for the period until the doctor allows you to return to the office.

Government Orders Regarding COVID Leave

In Maharashtra, the government has ordered that anyone who is infected by COVID will be given full pay until recovery. Your state may have a similar clause. I suggest you check the notification issued by the government.

Furthermore, you can call 1075 (COVID help desk) and seek their advice on the fact that your company is refusing to grant leave until you physically report to the office and explain to them how risky that is. It is likely the District Collector will issue a warning to the employer.

You are suffering from COVID, and your senior as well as HR are not cooperating with you; it is a very bad management practice. Even small shop owners are understanding the problem.

Although you should prepare a leave application and enclose your doctor's prescription, test reports, and medicine bill, and send it to your senior and cc it to your HR. I hope if your senior is a human being, they must consider your problem. If not, you can show your intimation letter to the top management.

Let's not get frustrated; believe in God. If you are right, He will definitely support you. Let's get well soon.

Thanks,
S. Kumar