Stress, Long Term Sickness and Possible Redundancy.

norbreck

OK here goes a very long and complicated problem

I am a General Manager of a business that is part of a large blue chip company. In Nov 2009 I went off work with stress, that was medically diagnosed as workplace stress. My sick notes even said this, and it was down to bullying by my Area Manager. I came back to work in the middle of Dec 2009, and was back for one day, when my Area Manager turned up and apparently shouted and abused me in front of everyone else in the business. Part of this abuse was apparently religious based. I would have thought the best thing to do would be to old a return to work interview, which did not happen. I woke up in hospital two days later after collapsing on the floor at work, two hours after this abuse from my AM. It would appear that in the two hours between my Am finishing what he had to say, and my collapse, I was in the process of preparing myself for suicide, as I found notes that I had written. I spent a total of 4 weeks in hospital and was diagnosed with Amnesia due to stress at work and acute depression. I am under the care of a Psychiatrist, Neurologist, and my GP, and I now take two different anti depressants and 16 other different tablets per day. My life is ruined and in tatters. My career has been destroyed and I cannot remember the last 5 years of my life. And I am now battling an addiction to sleeping tablets, as I literally do not sleep at all. Although I have been off work since Nov 2009, I raised a grievance with my employers about how I had been treated by my AM, but have been advised by doctors not to attend any more meetings, answer mail or take telephone calls from them as this could worsen my medical problems. My SSP has now run out, but now my employers have been harassing me for a meeting, even though they have been told by the medical doctors to back off. The company is restructuring and changing its business model throughout our brands, and I have an idea that they want to make me redundant. If I am on sick due to work related problems, is it a good idea to attend this meeting to see what they want, and what would happen to my benefits, for instance my accommodation comes with my job. I have been employed by the company for 2 years now. I just need some direction as to what they can do to me whilst I am off sick. It is enough what they have done to me already without more added stress.

iamana1ias

norbreck wrote: »

OK here goes a very long and complicated problem

I am a General Manager of a business that is part of a large blue chip company. In Nov 2009 I went off work with stress, that was medically diagnosed as workplace stress. My sick notes even said this, and it was down to bullying by my Area Manager. I came back to work in the middle of Dec 2009, and was back for one day, when my Area Manager turned up and apparently shouted and abused me in front of everyone else in the business. Part of this abuse was apparently religious based. I would have thought the best thing to do would be to old a return to work interview, which did not happen. I woke up in hospital two days later after collapsing on the floor at work, two hours after this abuse from my AM. It would appear that in the two hours between my Am finishing what he had to say, and my collapse, I was in the process of preparing myself for suicide, as I found notes that I had written. I spent a total of 4 weeks in hospital and was diagnosed with Amnesia due to stress at work and acute depression. I am under the care of a Psychiatrist, Neurologist, and my GP, and I now take two different anti depressants and 16 other different tablets per day. My life is ruined and in tatters. My career has been destroyed and I cannot remember the last 5 years of my life. And I am now battling an addiction to sleeping tablets, as I literally do not sleep at all. Although I have been off work since Nov 2009, I raised a grievance with my employers about how I had been treated by my AM, but have been advised by doctors not to attend any more meetings, answer mail or take telephone calls from them as this could worsen my medical problems. My SSP has now run out, but now my employers have been harassing me for a meeting, even though they have been told by the medical doctors to back off. The company is restructuring and changing its business model throughout our brands, and I have an idea that they want to make me redundant. If I am on sick due to work related problems, is it a good idea to attend this meeting to see what they want, and what would happen to my benefits, for instance my accommodation comes with my job. I have been employed by the company for 2 years now. I just need some direction as to what they can do to me whilst I am off sick. It is enough what they have done to me already without more added stress.

What a strange way to recount events.

The short answer is that they can sack you for being incapable of fulfilling your role. They can do that whether or not you meet them.

SarEl

I am not really sure what you are asking, but the previous poster is correct - although I am fairly certain that the DDA will now apply to you so that gives you some limited protections. But the company must attempt to consult with you if your job is at risk - whether you go or not is up to you, but if you do not go (or otherwise engage with this process) then you will have little opportunity to challenge the outcome.

I am constrained to say, however, that "workplace stress" is not a diagnosis - it is an opinion. Your doctor may be able to identify symptoms of "stress" (although that is a pretty meaningless term medically), but the fact that your workplace caused it cannot be determined by anything other than your word for it - he or she wasn't there and has no way of verifying what you have said. Please understand, I am not saying that you aren't telling te truth - only that the doctor cannot deduce that you are from your word alone, any more than any of us can, simply because you posted it here. But if these things have been as bad as you say - and have included possible unlawful discrimination - what have you done about it? Have you submitted grievances? Have you consulted a solicitor? Because if you have not you may well have left it to late to take any legal action, at least in regard to these matters. Personal injury claims have a longer deadline, but are harder to evidence.

So what is it that you want here? To be made redundant? Or not? Bearing in mind that your sickness absence could bring you under capability procedures anyway, without redudnancy being relevant. Do you want to go back to work or not?

LindsayO

iamana1ias wrote: »

What a strange way to recount events.

I assume the OP told things that way because of the amnesia. OP is going on what they have been told by others, rather than what they remember

OP I think you need support in dealing with your employers, consulting a solicitor would be one option. Many allow you a free consult. If you can't afford a lawyer, you may be able to bring a friend with you to the meetings.

I know your doctors are advicing you to cut all contact with your employers, but that advice only applies to your health. In terms of your financial situation it is not necessarily the best advice. I'm not trying to underplay the importance of your health, but if you are entitled to redundancy money this could make a big difference to you financially.

Another source of support would be ACAS, they provide advice on issues relating to employment.
Another would be the Equality and Human Rights Commission. They have a helpline
http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/our-job/advice-from-our-helpline/
and would be able to advice you on the religious aspect