Oh don't worry, you won't piss me off because I know that you give thought to what you write. I was just a bit surprised at going from 'informal' to 'one sickness in eight months and you could be out of a job', as I mentioned my local management team missed my last few reviews - maybe I can say that if they mis my next review *they* are fired...*grin* As the policy goes, I don't need to be put on such a stage, just that I *may*, it's at their discretion - I just think that it's a bit rough to have three people who don't know me decide my 'fate'. It might be why one of my local management team was hugely surprised that they handing this sentence down to me. OHD are those new lot, ATOS, which is why I'm still waiting - even after asking for help for advice, so I'm getting 'punished' before I get the chance to make amends. As for being unlucky, I agree, but luck swings both ways. Do you think that it will do the service any good to give me the sack? I'll tell you something - I think it might do *me* good. I don't lie about sickness - never have, but I get the feeling that they think I just take time off when I like, and if I'm not sick in the next eight months - well, I'm just proving them right aren't I. Oh yes, I should have had a rep. This just shows how much this caught me by surprise.