Employer Support Issues

Rog_Jones_75

Hi guys sorry for late reply and thanks for replies.

I had a occupational health visit when I was first off as I was off for a while. It was assessed that the workstation was at fault for my issues so they provided a new workstation which is now ergonomically sound. They never at any stage did a DSE assessment when I went on the work station although that is another story.

I don't want to go on the sick to be honest as I don't get a lot of full sick pay. I appreciate however I may have to but then surely that might I might be shown the door....

My Union rep said they have not followed process properly again when I told him Friday that they had pulled the support plan as it is supposed to be a support plan review not just a meeting between me and my manager where he says its pulled and that is it.

ohreally

Rog_Jones_75 wrote: »

My Union rep said they have not followed process properly again when I told him Friday that they had pulled the support plan as it is supposed to be a support plan review not just a meeting between me and my manager where he says its pulled and that is it.

What has the rep proposed and how is the situation to be handled going forward - this is a conversation you need to have with him, perhaps enquiring if a full time officer could become involved in some capacity given the eventual outcome.

Do you have an occupational pension?

Rog_Jones_75 wrote: »

At the beginning of last year I went off ill from work with carpal tunnel syndrome and was off work for 4 months where I finally had an injection etc which eventually allowed me to go back to work along with a change in work station as it turned out it had caused the issues in my wrists.

Does your employer agree the situation has been caused by the work station?

Rog_Jones_75

Hiya, ohreally speaking to him Monday morning which is when he said he will speak to HR.

Occupational health report states that it was due to my work station yeah with my arms not having the required support which has now been sorted with them providing a new ergonomic work station. Had a medical expert also confirm the condition and cause.

It's all been a right nightmare really.

KayJay

Okay Rog Jones, then basically bad work environment has caused you to have a condition which you have suffered from for over a year. Your union should be looking at you putting a compensation claim in against your employer. Although they have rectified the equipment now, it's rather like shutting the gate when the horse has bolted. Your union will progress this for you through their solicitor. Once you have this disability, just changing the work station is too late. You are bound to have recurrences, which your employer will probably have to provide reasonable adjustments for.
Your union rep should sort this out.

Rog_Jones_75

Hiya kayjay yeah this had started early-mid last year which the union supported and are currently funding. The employer denied liability (solicitor said this was normal) and therefore had to have the medical expert to assess me who confirmed it was carpal tunnel syndrome due to working conditions. I have also got that occupational health report confirming it was caused due to a lack of support in my arms while working leading up to the condition. It is still ongoing... been ages but got to wait I suppose.

In terms of what your saying about the employer having to offer reasonable adjustments it's difficult I think because they don't know I am in the process of making a claim so I suppose they don't think they are at fault for it (personnel manager).

What do you or anyone recommend I say to them tomorrow? Because I do feel strongly that they should be helping me more and certainly not pulling the support plan midway through it especially as recommended by the doctor. Especially because it is really their fault I have the condition.

Main thing is that I don't want to lose my job... #fedup

Takeaway_Addict

How can an employer deny liability for a claim but not know about it?

Just to add, an employer has to make reasonable adjustments because you maybe covered by the equality act, not because they are making a claim.

I think you need to talk to your union before you talk to your employer and ask tehm what they want you to do because if you make a mistake against their advice it could cause you more issues down the line

Errata

Main thing is that I don't want to lose my job... #fedup

That's understandable and if it's a possibility why not talk to your GP about carpal tunnel decompression surgery. It's a ten minute job done under a local anaesthetic with a success rate of just about 100%.

Rog_Jones_75

Hi Errata thanks for your reply.

I had an injection when it was bad before which seemed to relieve it and got as good as it could have got and went back to work so they wouldn't look into that as it seemed to help/work.

On this occasion the doctor is having me take naproxen for a while and then I suppose he may offer to do another injection.... not really sure. I only have or did only have another 2 weeks of lower work duties left which is when I was hoping or praying I would have improved but this course of action from my employer means normal duties as off tomorrow

Rog_Jones_75

Spoke to union contact this morning and not surprisingly to me the PM has not followed process again. It was my six week support review meeting last week when they told me about the support plan being pulled and it should have been with her. Instead it was just my manager and me.

I remember when I was first off back last year I didn't get a meeting with the PM for 8 weeks when the process was 4 and I didn't get a occupational health meeting until I was off for 3 months.

Poor show by HR makes me wonder how she is actually the PM although I have heard that she has been offered redundancy as the company is have a shake up.

Takeaway_Addict

What did the union contact advise to do? Carry on working, go off sick?