How long off is reasonable for a Broken Finger?

kitty_cat_2

I would offer him light duties, the bloke is taking the pi**

katu

It would depend on what he actually does, has he been given medication which makes him drowsy?
Does he have to lift heavy boxes?

SandC

I wonder if he's driving around in his own car?

See what your legal guy says, but just because someone has a doctor's note doesn't mean they can't be disciplined. I think you at least have the right to have his capacity for work assessed by your own medical means - I presume there must be some way for small businesses to do this if they do not have occupational health.

925dancer

I guess it depends on the severity of the break as to what he can do and how long it will take to heal.

Reconstruction with pins etc, 8 weeks would be fair enough for a driving and lifting job.

A hairline fracture as I suspect I had on my big toe whilst at dance college didn't stop me doing anything and only noticed a couple of weeks later after a particular movement sent pain coursing through me that my toe was swollen and bruised!

So minor break, he's taking the pee, severe break and it could possibly be justified. I think the reality is somewhere in the middle.........

katu

SandC wrote: »

but just because someone has a doctor's note doesn't mean they can't be disciplined.

You have to be careful with that because they could say it's discrimination

Hammyman

925dancer wrote: »

I guess it depends on the severity of the break as to what he can do and how long it will take to heal.

Reconstruction with pins etc, 8 weeks would be fair enough for a driving and lifting job.

I had my hand crushed by a clamp truck as it picked up a 2.5 tonne paper reel. I was back at work the following week driving the wagon although I had to bring a mate along to hook up trailers, undo the curtains, strap and unstrap loads etc for about 2 months.

But that was when I was young and stupid.

gingerdad

katu wrote: »

It would depend on what he actually does, has he been given medication which makes him drowsy?
Does he have to lift heavy boxes?

nope can do the job without lifting heavy boxes

gingerdad

paddedjohn wrote: »

since he broke his finger on his holiday he is also entitled to claim his leave back, so if he had 2 weeks paid leave and fell ill during this time then it can be classed as sick leave instead of holidays.

cheers for that you trying to make me feel better.

katu

As his employer you also have a duty to care for his welfare.
You say that he would be fit to do the job because you are down a staff member but his GP has stated otherwise.

If you really think that he is fit to work then you need to consider getting an independant second opinion.

Have you actually found out what he has done? Has he had to have anything done to it etc.... ?

smileylondongal

Do you have an HR department who can advise you in terms of the length of time he is taking off? Whether you suspect he's taking the michael or no, the point is he has a sick note and his doctor believes him. You can't just sack him, I'm afraid, as there's a process. I'd be interested to hear what the law contact you're speaking to later says.