Signed off sick - been offered a new job

GlasweJen

I've been signed off sick from work since 17th December. The sickness is work related and mostly down to my employer refusing to make reasonable adjustments and undoing adjustments put into place prior to the company being taken over.

Since I was signed off I have not had any contact with HR and my requests for assessment for RAs/just talk to my regional manager have been ignored. Additionally my work have refused to disclose wether or not I will get CSP and made massive deductions from my SSP meaning I've been living on DLA, WTC and £200 this month - the council are still processing my claim for LHA but need a letter From my letting agent that they are taking forever to make for me.

I attended 3 interviews last week; I was offered a job on Friday but I'm terrified of telling my work as I'm scared they will withhold my final wage - my current sick note expires mid march and my notice period is 4 weeks.

The job I've been offered is the one I want least of the 3 but I'm seeing it as a break away from my work. The work place is already adjusted but the other 2 jobs were in the sector I want to be in. The company have also asked me to negotiate a shorter notice period which worries me as they seem very desperate and they have been badgering me for a firm answer even though I asked for time to consider their offer (which is in a location a fair bit away and will add to my time out the house).

I'm in two minds about things but realistically I want to be back at work - being off is very frustrating for me.

Does anyone have any advice?

getmore4less

It looks like one way or another this current job will not be working out long terms so make sure you know what you are due when you do leave.


On the CSP/SSP issue check they are doing it right/wrong in case you need to add it to any claim if they fail to pay.

How long have you worked there and what is the company notice to you?
This will determine if they need to pay you full pay during your notice(even if still sick)

If you do leave, they will also need to pay you for your acrued untaken holidays.
(this continues to acrue while sick and carrys over if unable to take it)

The usual recommedation when there are issues with adjustments at work is to stay on the sick till it is sorted or you find suitable alternative.

Sambucus_Nigra

Take the job.

warwicktiger

(Possibly) Stupid question, did you tell the new prospective employer that you are signed off sick?

If not a job offer could be revoked.
Also any employer of any repute would not allow you to wok until your sick note has expired, largely for Insurance reasons.

Sambucus_Nigra

warwicktiger wrote: »

If not a job offer could be revoked.
Also any employer of any repute would not allow you to wok until your sick note has expired, largely for Insurance reasons.

This is incorrect. If a person is signed off from one job it does not mean they are signed off from all jobs.

If the OP is signed off because of the lack of reasonable adjustments and has found a job with the adjustments already embedded then there is no issue. And insurance is a red herring.

GlasweJen

I took up my current position in February 2011 so I'm just about hitting the 2 year mark. Their notice to me is 4 weeks, my notice period to them is the same.

The CSP/SSP issue is that the company sick pay is discretionary, apparently it is negotiated between the employee and their regional manager but because mine hasn't returned any of my calls I can't work out if i am getting this - ive been trying to establish this since December!

Also our holiday period runs from 1st Jan - 31st Dec, allowance is 29 days - can anyone tell me how to work out how many days holiday I have accrued?

Also do I need to stay off work for the next 4 weeks even though I'm perfectly fit to work at my new job?

GlasweJen

I have checked and I started in my current job on 21/02/11

GlasweJen

Ok so called the company this morning to confirm that I would accept their offer and they said that they were about to call me as the manager had asked them to re-advertise the post as I was taking so long to consider - I was offered the job at 5:30pm on Friday when I was clearly on the train!

So glad that I have a new job but I feel a touch uneasy - this could be because I now need to tell my work!

Is there a way I should phrase my notice given that I'm off sick? I don't think I'm entitled to full pay when on notice as my notice period is longer than statutory minimum but I'm not sure I've read this right?

My company has a reputation for not paying the correct wages in the last pay so I'm going to do my sums and see what I think I should get in final notice, would it be cheeky to ask for CSP to be paid in final wages as I've been left waiting for so long or should I just drop it and run?

getmore4less

You are still employed so can't really start the new job until the current one is terminates so should work(sick) the full notice unless negotiated to be shorter.

Holiday pay.(does the 29 include bank holiday)
start with last years any not taken carry over because you were sick at end of holiday year.
(include the BH not taken/paid)

This year including notice will be around 11 weeks so prorata can do this once we know the total days inc BH.

GlasweJen

The 29 days does include bank holidays. The phrasing is "you are entitled to 29 days paid holiday per calendar year, which takes into account bank holidays. It also includes 2 statutory holidays, New Year's Day and Christmas Day".

There is also a line that states "the company reserves the right to require you to take any outstanding holidays prior to leaving" does this mean they can make me work (sick) for 4 weeks plus my holiday days?