Can someone help me out here - desperate

suzanne

Hi Lynz, Have pm`d you
Suzanne

lynzpower

OK heres an update I wonder if anyone can help me out here?

I have checked my bank account this morning and Ive been put on half pay. Even though I called on monday and asked if this would happen they said, oh no, you hafve ages yet, youll get paid your full wages on the 20th. Well i havent.

I understand that you are meant to get written notice of a reduction in wages, anyone know about this?

Is there any cash pots I can get hold of? i did speak to the council yesterday about getting registered disabled, but the woman is off, and Ive to call back in 2 weeks. I did enquire about a freedom pass, but thats not much use to me really as I cant use public transport in any case.

Even if I was fit for work now I wouldnt be able to afford to get in

thoroughly stuffed.

Emmzi

http://www.direct.gov.uk/Employment/Employees/Pay/PayArticles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=10027238&chk=zJsbBF

if your employer is refusing to pay you sick pay you’re due, this is classed as an ‘unlawful deduction from wages’

all depends what is says in your contract.. legal amount for ssp is only about £75 a week.

How long have you been off, what does it say in your contract, and have you called payrole to see if they've just made an unintentional !!!!!! of it?

lynzpower

Im on half pay not SSP, emmzi, which is something

I have phoned them, yes theyve cocked it up, they said theyd phone back in 10 mins that was 20 mins ago.

HR is privatised now and no offence to anyone but they dont seem to know thier ar5e from elbow.

the woman said, oh we emailed your manager to tell her you would have a reduction in wages, I said well im not at work and why did you not feel the need to tell me? Answer " erm erm"

ZTD

lynzpower wrote:

I have phoned them, yes theyve cocked it up, they said theyd phone back in 10 mins that was 20 mins ago.

HR is privatised now and no offence to anyone but they dont seem to know thier ar5e from elbow.

No, they don't. Outsourcing is notorious for that.

If they've screwed up by putting you on half pay early (rather than giving you duff information), insist on payment by cheque/BACS. They will try to just put it on next months wages. Remember being paid one month in arrears is contractual.

Depending on how long you've been off, you used to be eligible for the lower level of Incap Ben after about six months/28 weeks. I don't know if that's still the case though dammed Gov keep changing the benefits...

Hope things turn out for you.

jobbingmusician

Also of course, if being paid half pay when you should have been paid full pay means that you have incurred any bank charges, your employer should pay these..:)

lynzpower

just had a call from payroll earlier on they said in fact I should have been on half pay since march. So I suspect I'll have to pay them back.

I said could you have not given me some notice you were going to do this, they tried to avoid the question bascially then said its not payrolls job to do it its HRs and I need to take it up with them. But when I spoke to HR they stated that I shouldnt be losing money for " a good few weeks yet" and that was on monday.

Can they do this? Just withold pay without notice. Im not joking, Im thoroughly stuffed for money now.

jobbingmusician

Can you ask them to send you a copy of your sick leave policy? I suggest you work this out for yourself and check their figures.

What was your last working day? It's normally something like 3m full pay followed by 3m half pay, or 6m of each (or some other figure) depending on how long you have been with the company. In my experience it is very common for employers to get this wrong!!!! If you do have to pay anything back they should accept the repayments over a long period (and perhaps wait for them until you are on full pay again). It might be worth checking, if you've been overpaid, whether you even have to pay the money back as they didn't warn you.

BUt hopefully the HR person was right and you should be on full pay for a while yet............

lynzpower

Seems incapacity benefit is a no go, as Im still getting paid by my employer.

I might be able to get DLA, so thats something, and possibly CTB, im on the phone to CT now, fingers crossed

bluflashlite

Hi Lynz,
Just a thought or two...
Why don't they try some HRT to re-balance the side effects while you keep the coil? It'd probably take an HRT expert to find the right "balance" for you, but my gynae finally put me on a complex but successful HRT plan after many failed months of trying various assortments - my GP still can't fathom my repeat p'scrips, but I'm soooo glad I persevered with it now!

Ask your GP to refer you to another consultant gynae for a 2nd opinion? If he or she refuses, I think you can "insist" on it. Try contacting your PCT's PALS advisor (your GP's Surgery Manager should be able to give you the number).
I know some GP practices are "tied" to use only one hospital, but that is changing with NHS "Choose & Book"

If you choose to go down the route of Formal Complaint against NHS hospital, consultant, or GP's practice, contact ICAS (Independent Complaints Advocacy Service) on 0845 377 3063 - I think ICAS was set-up because CAB simply got too swamped with NHS complaints. They've got a fat booklet that'll keep you informed too.

DLA is only for non-working people, but I think there's a Disabled Working Allowance for the employed? Call Benefits Enquiry Line for guidance on 0800 882200

As far as I understand it, your employer must exhaust all reasonable possibilities of keeping you on the payroll before they can "retire" you on grounds of ill-health.

Finally, it's very true that stress contributes to poor physical health, (probably far more than we ever credit) so be sure to make some "me-time" for yourself. Take a day off by refusing to dwell on any of the problems and relish in lifes pleasures instead, however tiny. then make it a weekly habit! Refresh the soul a little and revitalise your spirits, & hopefully you'll find you a degree or 2 of feel-better-factor.

Hope some of this helps.
Blu.