Workplace health issue

McKneff

Cant you just wear some thicker tights,
I get 100 denier from Tesco/Primark £3/£2

You can also get some over the knee tights or leg warmers that go from ankle to thigh.

TheMidnightOwl

ceridwen wrote: »

Well - all I can say is that your management are being totally pathetic in even raising this as an issue. Its totally your decision - and your decision only - as to whether put a blanket round your knees. End of....

Sounds like your manager has just decided to be a right !!!!! for some reason. Hopefully the Head Manager will think this whole issue is as ridiculous as the rest of us are likely to and say "of course she can continue using her blanket if she wants to".

HOpe this works out for you...

Thank you for your support.. I do personally find the whole issue pathetic also.. I don't want to get into a battle at work.. I just want to able to do my job without discomfort.. I know this is more of a power trip rather than a health and safety matter

mrwurzal

This just seems ridiculous!!!

No Union in the workplace thats fine its a legal right that anyone can join a union so you can join to get the advice on tjis issue.

If there is no designated department for HR at you place of work you speak to your manager and explain until they can give you a reason that would be covered by the Legally acts placed by law NOT to use the blanket which has been covered by your GP.

Use it still until the company can prove that the blanket may be a risk to yours or anyone elses safety. They cannot remove it from you as it is your personal property.

Demand from your manager a reason not to use the blanket and if they cant give you a reason that is viable then you can continue to use it as you have a note from your GP.

TheMidnightOwl

dmg24 wrote: »

You could ask that your employer brings in an external OH Consultant to assess your workplace surroundings. As well as the safety obligations mentioned above, the employer also has an obligation towards your health at work. I am sure that you can reach a compromise.

Thank you for your advice. if the situation isnt resolved then i think i will ask them for external consultant.

ceridwen

TheMidnightOwl wrote: »

Thank you for your support.. I do personally find the whole issue pathetic also.. I don't want to get into a battle at work.. I just want to able to do my job without discomfort.. I know this is more of a power trip rather than a health and safety matter

...sounds like it to me...ie a power trip. Guess your manager is insecure in their job and have chosen you as an "easy battle" to prove themselves and/or they are less intelligent than you and seeking to "bring you down a bit" because they know it...

Been there...done that...more than once...<sigh>

TheMidnightOwl

mrwurzal wrote: »

This just seems ridiculous!!!

No Union in the workplace thats fine its a legal right that anyone can join a union so you can join to get the advice on tjis issue.

If there is no designated department for HR at you place of work you speak to your manager and explain until they can give you a reason that would be covered by the Legally acts placed by law NOT to use the blanket which has been covered by your GP.

Use it still until the company can prove that the blanket may be a risk to yours or anyone elses safety. They cannot remove it from you as it is your personal property.

Demand from your manager a reason not to use the blanket and if they cant give you a reason that is viable then you can continue to use it as you have a note from your GP.

If i refused and used the blanket i would probably be sacked on the spot..
a male manager took me into the office and suggested i wear thermals.. I find this very offensive, having underwear suggested to me..

Oldernotwiser

TheMidnightOwl wrote: »

If i refused and used the blanket i would probably be sacked on the spot..
a male manager took me into the office and suggested i wear thermals.. I find this very offensive, having underwear suggested to me..

Not sure why; it sounds to me like an excellent idea.

TheMidnightOwl

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Not sure why; it sounds to me like an excellent idea.

If i had honestly found something other than the blanket that helped, then i wouldnt be in this situation.. I have tried everything..

ceridwen

I think that probably the best course of action is:

- for every move they make - give them a letter (copy kept) asking for "chapter and verse" as to why (ie a rulebook or something authoritative).

Just keep on and on and on giving them a different version of the same letter each time (keeping a copy yourself of course) and wait for them to get fed-up with trying to enforce a rule that doesnt exist anywhere except in that "power-tripping" managers head.

Personally - I would phrase the first one along the lines of "Whilst I understand that you might have health and safety concerns regarding me using my blanket - I would appreciate it if you could please enumerate what these are - so that I might endeavour to deal with them. Thank you."

That will back them into a corner and make them come up with answers - and it may be at that point that powertripping manager might have to give up "playing that game". You might have to "go one or two rounds with them" before they give up and commonsense prevails - <sigh> - voice of experience time.....<sigh>

...but if there is no valid provable reason then they will have to give in in the end...:D

caeler

Where do you work? Are you in a public place perhaps and they think the blanket looks odd or it doesn't look very nice?! I can't think of any other reason why they resent your blanket so much.

It seems a shame. I can only suggest you persist, explain your symptoms, how the blanket helps you, why heat pads, thermals, etc do not help and what the consequences are of you not being able to use your blanket might be - ie. having more time off sick because of the pain, pain getting worse, affects on your health, etc.

Good Luck and I hope you can work something out.