Work Issue

loopydonna

My husband was injured at work. He has had a medical through work, and they have said he is unfit for his normal role, and must be on light duties for the next 6 weeks and they'll review his health again towards the end of this period.

He works in a manual job where everyone is in the office for the first couple of hours of a shift, then goes out into the field for the rest of their shifts. He's kept busy for the first couple of hours helping others with the prep work, but once his colleagues leave the office, he has no work to do.

Management just leave him sitting there all by himself staring at the walls for the rest of the shift. He's a busy sort of person, and it's getting him really down sitting by himself with nothing to do for approx 5 hours a day. He has asked for work, but they just say there is nothing for him to do.

Do they have to give him work to do, or can they just leave him sitting there bored?

He's getting so fed up he's thinking about telling them to stick their job, but that would leave us in severe financial difficulties.

Nile

Hello loopydonna

Does your husband have access to a computer? If yes, he could either improve his skills or learn how to use some software packages. If no, maybe taking a book to read or crosswords/puzzles would help to relieve the monotony.

I hope he's soon feeling better and back to normal duties.

Regards

Nile

loopydonna

No - he doesn't have access to a computer in the room he has to stay in.

He has taken a book to read, but is still bored by the lack of work to do and lack of company. He said he's spending a fortune on the vending machine too, buying drinks and snacks just for something to do :rolleyes:

He has asked to go back on normal duties regardless of the health report as he's so bored, but the company said they have a "duty of care" to keep him off his normal duties.

They are not happy about the injury and he thinks they are giving him nothing to do out of spite.

lexi

hello ld. I do sympathise with your husband. I had a similar situation. I had to light duties for a few weeks after returning to work & it was mind numbing. However i dont think work are being spiteful Just careful. They might not like having to put your husband on light duties, and obviously he is bored. but he must take things easy. Its easy to try & push yourself saying i'm ok ( i know i did it till my workmates stepped in & told the managers what for!) but take easy keep asking if he can do anything around the office to help, even sweeping up! dont risk it cos i eventually went back to my manual job cos i thought i was ready & 5 mths later i was retired thru ill health! i wouldnt want that to happen to your husband.