Work related Stress

CraigD

Hi folks,

I am currently signed off by my GP for work related stress. My sick note runs out this coming Friday and I have an appointment to see her. I have told my boss that I am likely to return to work on Monday.

The reason I am off work is because my job is unmanageable as I have taken on a lot of responsibilities from my former manager who left after having an alcohol related breakdown 2 years ago. My colleagues are unsupportive and don't help me out with my workload and only do the minimum required. I answer the phone 90% of the time and even when I don't calls are routed through to me as I am the only person "who knows how to deal with that type of enquiry". Other staff within the company ask for me now by name as they know I will help and have a can do attitude. My manager has heaped more work on my shoulders which isn't value added because of some internal politics with another department. He is trying to justify this work by saying that there is a cost associated (which is passed onto this other department) with handling these sales by our salesmen when in fact there is just myself administrating it :mad:.

I am also bullied by salesmen to prioritise their orders and they don't follow company policy correctly with regard to credit checking customers (which I have highlighted to my manager who sides with the salesmen when he is bullied by the salesmen himself). I am also calling customers to handle sales leads because the salesmen don't want to deal with a tricky customer. My managers response is to say "well done its a team effort". There is one salesman I have complained to my manager about this type of bullying which still carries on.

I have been given a 2% cost of living wage increase this year which I have told my boss is a slap in the face. It is the first wage rise I've had since being hired 3 years ago.

I have contacted HR by phone and email with my concerns. They have responded by saying they will have an informal chat with him and I can have a meeting with him on Monday should I return to work. If I am unhappy with the outcome of this meeting I can then take this up with HR.

What are my rights and can my manager make life difficult for me should I take it further?

Thanks in advance for any advice given .

fuse

Sorry to hear about your situation CraigD, its one i can sympathise with as i have experienced work related stress and helped friends with the same. Its not something thats easy to deal with, and certainly needs to be delt with.

What you really need is for you to resolve the issues that are causing the stress - hopefully that can start to be done if you go back in on monday and chat to your boss and HR about the situation. Almost certainly what your GP will do is issue with a note, which should say to the effect that you should be fit to return back to work but that they may have to make special allowances (if not ask your GP to do that, its on the same form as they issue for sickness)

Only you will know what your boss is likely to do w.r.t making your life difficult - if so keep any evidence you have i.e. emails and always note take in your meetings. If they do cause problems get back on to HR asap. From what you said, it seems like your manager is quite weak and inefficient.

Dealing with stress is a more long term view, and for you to overcome it you need to remove as best you can the things causing it.

CFC

You are sadly learning a valuable lesson - the reward for good work, in most places, is more work.

In your convo on Monday you need to be solutions focussed ie what will help reduce your stress. It sounds as if this will involve not stepping outside your job role to phone leads or process orders which the salesmen have not credit checked appropriately, and asking your manager to prioritse orders in light of the requirements of the business. If you currently come in early, stay late and work through your lunch you need to make it clear that this will stop and discuss how that will impact on work that is completed (or not)

In terms of your pay rise please do make sure not to mention that, as it really is not associated although you may find it upsetting. Also do not mention the internal politics as that is not relevant to the situation although you may find it annoying. Just focus on the facts of how much work you can complete during your working day.

Googlewhacker

The pay thing is irrelivant, you are hardly saying that if the company gave you a 20% increase that the stress wouldn't be there and if you are then surely thats not work related stress and more you feeling undervalued?

My advice is to go into your meeting with a bullet point list of things that are problem and go through them one by one and what you would like to happen.

As said before time away from the problem does not mean the problem has gone away.

teabelly

If you need uninterrupted time then turn the ringer off on your phone. Do this for several hours a day. It's always better to ask for forgiveness than ask for permission. Don't let people chit chat to you and waste your time. It's not the workload it is the lack of priorities. Ignore the bullying sales men. Tell your manager that is also bullied by them to grow a pair or put in a formal grievance about the behaviour!

If you state the problems are affecting your ability to do your job and is costing them money then they're more likely to pay attention. Your welfare is generally lower down the priority list than money.

Then start looking for another job as company cultures don't change much. If it has been carp for 3 years it will carry on being carp! If there is no sign of improvement within 2 months then there won't be.

And get a copy of the 4 hour work week. It has some very good methods for dealing with time wasting people and tasks.

sirmarcus

You have my sympathies.

It is probably worth asking HR whether your company uses an Occupational Health Referral scheme for it's employees ? If it does, I would recommend that you use it. You will probably find that it would help you.

If you haven't done so already, I would also speak to your GP about your specific work problems. Have you considered a gradual return to work plan ? For example, work 2 hrs-per-day 3 days-a-week for the first two weeks, then moving up to 4hrs for the next 2 weeks, etc. Worth discussing with your GP and getting him to write a medical note prescribing this return to work plan to your employer. They will then be obliged to follow it.

Finally are you a member of a union ? If so, I suggest that you discuss your issues with them and perhaps get them to sit in with any meetings that you have with HR and your manager.

CraigD

Thanks a million for the quick replies guys. I can't thank you enough. It is just great to have some positive feedback.

Just an aside I initially requested an informal meeting with my manager however I don't feel comfortable with doing this as he won't take me seriously. By taking up a formal complaint with HR present in the meeting I hope to show I mean business.

A thought: if I return to work Monday and I can't have a meeting before I start work (most likely) how do I stand? I believe that I should have at least a back to work meeting before I start work to ascertain that I am fit to work and to discuss changes to my working conditions to make my working life more bearable.

sirmarcus

CraigD wrote: »

A thought: if I return to work Monday and I can't have a meeting before I start work (most likely) how do I stand? I believe that I should have at least a back to work meeting before I start work to ascertain that I am fit to work and to discuss changes to my working conditions to make my working life more bearable.

This is really what an Occupational Health Referral is for. Your employer would use a 3rd-party independant body (e.g. Grosvenor Health...do a google search on them) to ascertain your fitness to return to work BEFORE you actually do so. You would probably find that you will need to visit an independant doctor local to you, who will the ask you a serious of questions, which will then help G/Health (or whoever) ascertain your fitness to return. They may also consult your own GP.

In the absence of your employer not having an OHR scheme, you will need to get your GP to ascertain your fitness to return. This will obviously be not as formal as a OHR. Discuss with your GP your desired changes to your working conditions (e.g. Working 2 hrs per day for 1st 2 weeks, not taking phone calls for 4hrs per day, etc.). He will then complete a form (NOTE : It is not a sick note. If I remember correctly, it is called a something like 'fitness to return to work' form) that will list your desired return to work working conditions.

Present this form to your employer on Monday and they are then obliged to follow his/her advise.

sirmarcus

CraigD wrote: »

Just an aside I initially requested an informal meeting with my manager however I don't feel comfortable with doing this as he won't take me seriously. By taking up a formal complaint with HR present in the meeting I hope to show I mean business.

As advised previously, get a union rep to sit in the meeting with you as well. If you don't have any union representation, try to get a colleague to sit in the meeting instead. I also suggest that you and they take notes of the meeting and distribute them afterwards. I would also suggest that you request the HR rep to take notes.

You say that you are going to make a formal complaint, which suggests you are looking to use the company's Discipline/Grievance process to take out a grievance against your manager. I suggest that you request HR to advise you of the company's D&G process. I will be surprised if there is not an informal stage prior to the formal one.

I would also suggest that you don't have this meeting on Monday. Take time to gather your thoughts before doing anything and take advise from HR, colleagues, union, etc. As advised in my previous post, you shouldn't have any issues with regards your working conditions. Present the 'fitness to return to work' note from your GP to HR 1st thing Monday morning and the request them to sit with you as you run through your working conditions with your manager.

Good luck and hope this helps.:)

sirmarcus

sirmarcus wrote: »

He will then complete a form (NOTE : It is not a sick note. If I remember correctly, it is called a something like 'fitness to return to work' form) that will list your desired return to work working conditions.

It is now called a 'fit note' and has been in existance since 6/4/10. More information can be found at :

http://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/news/rss/987911/Fit-purpose-Will-GPs-new-fit-note-reduce-sickness-absence/

pinkshoes

This is not meant in a rude way whatsoever, but can I make the suggestion that you take a deep breath, and be more assertive?

I learnt this at work, as I would get work piled on me, which was physically impossible to do within my day (and when I discovered they paid me the lowest in the office, there was NO WAY I was doing unpaid overtime to get things done), so I just said "NO"! It was easy to prove that what I had done was more than enough to fill my 40 hour week. Refusing to answer your phone is a good one, then plan your day so you know what you can get done, and anything you get told to do on top of that, just politely turn round, show them your list of tasks, and tell them that you won't be able to start their work for at least a few days, if not longer...

A combination of assertiveness and organisation will massively reduce your stress levels, and your boss will eventually have to distribute the work to others, or sort another solution out.