Being sent to occupational health - please help!

Mockingjays

Hello all,

I'm being sent to occupational health due to sickness and don't know what's going to happen to me. I'm really scared.

A bit of background. I've been in my current job 6 years but for the past 4 years have had some heath problems. The one that has caused the most absences is treatment/biopsies for cervical pre-cancerous cells as I've really unlucky with infections. These checks (and time off) are every 6 months at the moment as the pre-cancerous cells keep coming back. I've also had a couple of operations which have both resulted in a month off at a time, and the odd few days with stomach bugs etc. This year (2012) I've had 40 working days off. This has all been genuine, I love my job, and feel devastated that this is happening to me. Other people have had a lot of time off so I'm confused why I'm being picked on, but the fact is I am.

My company doesn't have HR so I'll be sent somewhere else I think, but I'm really scared and don't know what to expect. Does anyone know? I'm really scared because the pre-cancerous cells condition is not going away, and at my last appointment they spoke of more treatment. Can my employer sack me for this? My boyfriend has just been made redundant so we really need my income. The stress of all this is making me ill in itself.

Please help!

I'd be grateful if anyone has any suggestions or knows what i can expect.

GlynD

Stop worrying honestly. Occupational Health are there to help you and you'll get all of your questions (or most of them anyway) answered. Don't stress yourself out.

skibadee

Please try not to get too stressed, OH should be there to look after your bet interests. I hope you get on ok.

BobQ

GlynD wrote: »

Stop worrying honestly. Occupational Health are there to help you and you'll get all of your questions (or most of them anyway) answered. Don't stress yourself out.

I agree. The problem with taking time off with health problems is that employers often do not get the full picture and see a succession of sick notes some of them self -certified. Its not always clear if these problems are interrelated or if they are work related (stress etc) . At certain points these trigger the need to review the situation perhaps because you have exceeded so many days. I suspect that OH is being asked to review the situation with you.

SarEl

Occupational health are nothing to be scared of. Their job is to advise the employer about your health and anything that they ought to be doing or considering to support you. You have a right to see anything they say in their report, so you can ask to see it before it goes to the employer.

Mockingjays

Thanks to everyone who has replied. I feel slightly easier now.

BobQ

Mockingjays wrote: »

.

My company doesn't have HR so I'll be sent somewhere else I think, but I'm really scared and don't know what to expect. Does anyone know? I'm really scared because the pre-cancerous cells condition is not going away, and at my last appointment they spoke of more treatment. Can my employer sack me for this? My boyfriend has just been made redundant so we really need my income. The stress of all this is making me ill in itself.

Please help!

I'd be grateful if anyone has any suggestions or knows what i can expect.

Unless you have been told otherwise there could be all sorts of reasons for this referral. It may be related purely to the number of sick days, but it could also be for other reasons. You said you feel stressed, is it possible your manager has noticed this (maybe its affected your behaviour at work). They may have referred you to see if there is anything they can do to help.

I would go to the meeting prepared to discuss yoiur health and how it may be affecting your work. I suspect it will be a friendly and constructive meeting so try not to worry.

Can your employer sack you for it? Based on what you have said its unlikely, but clearly a long track record of lots of sick leave becomes a concern. (What was 2010 and 2011 like?) Ultimately you can be dismissed for being incapable of doing your job due to a poor sick record but I think its unlikely based on what you have said.

Consider also that if you engage with OH and the employer understands that there are genuine reasons for your time off they are less likely to think about your capacity to do the job than if you are very guarded in what you say to OH or refuse to discuss issues within a confidential interview of this kind.

pinkshoes

I had lots of time off with bladder and kidney infections a few years ago, and had to go and speak to occupational help. They were great, and work even sorted me out an appointment with a specialist, and an operation, avoiding the 18 month NHS waiting list.

Nothing to worry about!

Mockingjays

Thanks to everyone who has replied. I'm still waiting to hear what's going to happen. Not a great start to a new year.