HR tip: Phone before sick visiting?

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Question:
Should we phone before visiting a sick employee at her home? We are worried about the person’s right to privacy.

Reply:
Yes, you should. The person or her family will then have opportunity to tidy the house and make her presentable. Also many cures can be helped by going for walks, so you need to be sure that your journey is not wasted. You really should only turn up without warning if you have reason to suspect that the employee is feigning illness.

Previous HR and Payroll tips:

January 2010
HR tip: Company car during notice
Company car during notice
After lunch nap
Employee refuses contract

2009 tips

2008 tips

2007 tips