Friends rights on sickness?

dori2o

Undervalued wrote: »

True, to a point.

The size of the company is very relevant as generally a tribunal, who would ultimately have to decided what is reasonable, will expect more from a larger organisation than a small company.

Although some organisations will go far further than the law would insist, "reasonable adjustments" are often a lot less than people fondly imagine.

Im only making reference to the company which the OP is posting about. It seems that the company has multiple branches (15 within 15 miles according to the post), which would indicate that it is not a small company.

Either way, to tell an employee who suffers from a disability that they can have NO FURTHER TIME OFF or be sacked is completely unreasonable IMO.

If this is the case then in order to get the issue down in writing oficcially, then the OP's friend should immediately submit a grievance direct to their managers manager/head office.

Viberduo

Thought I would update, friend luckily now is staying with friends made in hospital(that worries me a little as he doesnt know them) he has lost his license(not sure why but I assume his health is dangerous) and local council is giving him emergency accomodation in the area but not for a few weeks(which doesnt sound emergency to me if it takes a few weeks)

Muskey

You have described uncontrolled diabetes type 1....testing hourly, lots of snacks, lots of injections and medication, etc.
This means he is no longer considered safe to drive by DVLA/DVSA until his diabetes is adequately controlled and he is considered stable.
When his doctor is happy to let him drive again, he will be able to reapply for a driving license, but it will only be valid for between 1 and 3 years and he will need medical testing each time it needs to be renewed after that.

Viberduo

Thought I would do another update, spoke to him on phone and he is much chirpier than he has been in years, turns out his medication was the wrong type for him.

He also says the employer is suddenly giving him any help he needs to the point they are all sweet, telling him they have no problem if he needs to have a hospital appointment, or with breaks etc.

I wonder if that had anything to do with the fact when he collapsed he had a lot of witnesses.

Takeaway_Addict

Viberduo wrote: »

Thought I would do another update, spoke to him on phone and he is much chirpier than he has been in years, turns out his medication was the wrong type for him.

He also says the employer is suddenly giving him any help he needs to the point they are all sweet, telling him they have no problem if he needs to have a hospital appointment, or with breaks etc.

I wonder if that had anything to do with the fact when he collapsed he had a lot of witnesses.

Could be, but also could be that the employer is actually decent and your friends view was affected

bargainbetty

I am going to be a bit harsh here, and for that I apologise, but I would like to offer a rationalised version of events:

Your friend has just acknowledged he was on the worng meds. He has a specturm disorder. These two factors will affect his judgement and statements.

He has said they will fire him if he takes a day off. I think it is possible that they have said he will get a disciplinary if he takes too much time off, which is common in large companies. They use it to investigate the reasons for repeated absence. Paid sick pay also only goes on for so long - it is possible he has already used up his allowance and they are reminding him so he doesn't lose money?

He claims they refused him a day off for a funeral. It is possible that knowing him circumstances regarding needing time off for medical appointments, they suggested/offered that he switch shifts to protect his personal leave/sick days to avoid triggering an investigation.

They refused him a break every hour to check bloods/snack. If he has had diabetes for three years, he will know all the physical signs of needing a boost. He could have a small packet of glucose tablets in his pocket and eat one if he needs it. You don't need to check your levels that often after three years unless you have completely failed to take your meds and protect your own health. They are well within their rights to refuse this unless he provides them with a medical report stating it must be done. Did his doctor do this?

He was probably told that if he was off sick again (while in hospital) that due to time missed it might trigger another investigation (often little more than a chat and a note on a file with long-term illnesses). He chose to discharge himself and return to work against medical advice. If he has been signed off sick, the employer has a real concern if he returns earlier, and can actually send him home.

He has no right to assume that anyone should give him a lift/car share with him. Given his apparent medical history and possible working relationships I wouldn't blame the supervisors for not wanting this as he does appear to assume that everyone is aginst him! You would be afraid to speak in case he took it as an attack. And while employers make reasonable adjustments, requiring people to be uncomfortable in their private vehicles for his benefit is utterly unreasonable of him.

Transfers to local stores are reasonable requests, but can only be done if a role is available and suitable. It is not unreasonable to refuse a worker who has current health issues and unresolved HR investigations a transfer until he/she is cooperating with the team.

Larger employers have Occupational Health teams and HR departments. Tell your friend to work with them (and listen to what they say, rather than demanding what he wants/thinks people are saying).

I'm sorry, but this really sounds like your friend is making life difficult for himself in ways and has decided that he is under attack. I've seen a few cases where a statement is wilfully misinterpreted to support such an attitude and all it does is make things worse.

He needs to work with them and stop making accusations.

Viberduo

bargainbetty wrote: »

I am going to be a bit harsh here, and for that I apologise, but I would like to offer a rationalised version of events:

Your friend has just acknowledged he was on the worng meds. He has a specturm disorder. These two factors will affect his judgement and statements.

He has said they will fire him if he takes a day off. I think it is possible that they have said he will get a disciplinary if he takes too much time off, which is common in large companies. They use it to investigate the reasons for repeated absence. Paid sick pay also only goes on for so long - it is possible he has already used up his allowance and they are reminding him so he doesn't lose money?

He claims they refused him a day off for a funeral. It is possible that knowing him circumstances regarding needing time off for medical appointments, they suggested/offered that he switch shifts to protect his personal leave/sick days to avoid triggering an investigation.

They refused him a break every hour to check bloods/snack. If he has had diabetes for three years, he will know all the physical signs of needing a boost. He could have a small packet of glucose tablets in his pocket and eat one if he needs it. You don't need to check your levels that often after three years unless you have completely failed to take your meds and protect your own health. They are well within their rights to refuse this unless he provides them with a medical report stating it must be done. Did his doctor do this?

He was probably told that if he was off sick again (while in hospital) that due to time missed it might trigger another investigation (often little more than a chat and a note on a file with long-term illnesses). He chose to discharge himself and return to work against medical advice. If he has been signed off sick, the employer has a real concern if he returns earlier, and can actually send him home.

He has no right to assume that anyone should give him a lift/car share with him. Given his apparent medical history and possible working relationships I wouldn't blame the supervisors for not wanting this as he does appear to assume that everyone is aginst him! You would be afraid to speak in case he took it as an attack. And while employers make reasonable adjustments, requiring people to be uncomfortable in their private vehicles for his benefit is utterly unreasonable of him.

Transfers to local stores are reasonable requests, but can only be done if a role is available and suitable. It is not unreasonable to refuse a worker who has current health issues and unresolved HR investigations a transfer until he/she is cooperating with the team.

Larger employers have Occupational Health teams and HR departments. Tell your friend to work with them (and listen to what they say, rather than demanding what he wants/thinks people are saying).

I'm sorry, but this really sounds like your friend is making life difficult for himself in ways and has decided that he is under attack. I've seen a few cases where a statement is wilfully misinterpreted to support such an attitude and all it does is make things worse.

He needs to work with them and stop making accusations.

The issues are now sorted, but how do you know my friend wasnt actually being correct in everything he said? They no longer say they will fire him if he takes a day off in fact they are happy to let him take any time off he needs.

You say he is making life difficult for himself and just interprets it the way he wants, I know from various friends and family about problems they have had with different employers over the years.

I have said it before he doesnt automatically think he is entitled to a lift but he thought(as did all his friends and family) that it would of helped him as well as the person giving him a lift, he didnt think he was entitled to it or anything.

He is a friendly person and if anything goes out of his way to be polite and friendly and would offer to treat someone out of his money i.e offer to take them for a drive, buy them a drink, go to pub with them and pay.