Work want meeting whilst off sick. Help?

leona71

I have been off sick since November, I'm physically and mentally not able to go into any meeting with my work at the moment.

Received a letter this morning and they want me to meet with their Company Solicitor and my Solicitor on Monday. I think it's to do with a consultation with regards to changes within the department. They want to move on so to speak.

What can I do? Do i have to go to this meeting? I do feel that I will not be able to sit through this meeting let alone answer questions they may have for me.

Any help would be great plz???

Leona

Savvy_Sue

You mention 'your' solicitor, I would speak to them. They might be able to take instructions from you and represent you without you being present.

But if after this length of time you are not able to attend a meeting, your employer might reasonably ask whether there is any prospect of you returning to work under any circumstances. And if there's not, then obviously it's in their best interest to move things on.

ACAS is another possible source of advice and information.

tight_jock

If you are off sick then your doctor has deemed you unft to work in any capacity. This means attending work for meetings too. If solicitors are being involved , then I would get on to acas as already suggested for info before you have to spend out for yours to attend any form of meeting.

If you can`t go, ask for any minutes from the meeting so you have a full record.

dmg24

I was in this situation with a previous employer, with mental health problems. Because of the nature of my condition, I asked that someone from Occupational Health be present.

Obviously it depends on the particular person, but the OH Advisor that came in with me was a fantastic support, and at times paused the meeting in order for me to have a break and to consider my thoughts.

I don't know what the legal position is with regards to you attending this meeting, and I would definitely contact ACAS in this respect. If you do find out, can you let us know please?

Very best of luck with things x

evilwitch

I'd be interested in the outcome as well. I'm signed off from work with post natal depression and they've been pressuring me to go in but I was following tight jock's line of thought, that if you're signed off then you are not fit to attend in any capacity. I hadn't thought of asking for the minutes. Wish i had would have been interesting reading. Shall have to remember that for the future

Last I heard from the place I work was that they were having a meeting with a view to giving me a formal warning for being off sick. Really makes you feel great and want to get back to work.

tanith

Might be worth having a word with your Union Reps if any of you have one... they may be useless when it comes to other stuff but I always found it reassuring to have a Union Rep in the room with me at any 'management' meeting as they know all the procedures backwards and will ask for a break if they think that you are about to say something that will not help your case...