Welfare Meeting

BabyDoll

What can I expect during a walfare meeting?

I have spinabifida with other chronic issues relating to this which my doctor wrote a letter about. I was doing 8 hours a day, 6 days a week and wasn't working and was interfering with medical procedures I have to do on a daily basis.

I did ask for part time but told I have to work a year before I could and not a guarantee they will give me it.

Followed procedure, kept them updated on days I had off and went to my GP this monday gone, he's wrote me a fit for work assessment note saying its highly advised I do no more than 24 hours a week, 3 days a week and wants to see me again in October to see if I'm fit for work even on those suggested hours.

Emailed my manager regarding this and she and scheduling want to have welfare meeting this coming Monday at 2PM.

For a welfare meeting, is it still a good idea to have my union? Union can only make 9AM as he has other meetings, work says 2PM and refuses to budge..... which is rubbish in my opinion as they are both there 8AM while 4PM as they don't sit far from so, so know they are in.

So what can I expect? What happens if they can't or won't give me those hours? will it change into a capability hearing and dismiss me? Still in probation period and my first job.

BabyDoll

62 views and no input?

ViolaLass

Shouldn't your union be able to answer these questions?

fira

BabyDoll

Similar thing happened to me around 3 years ago. I need to say though that I was in a permanent position and had worked for the business for more than 2 years. If it helps though, I can let you know the processes that happened to me.

Like you, I’ve an illness that is debilitating and over the 50 years I have had it, it gradually became much worse. I regularly needed to be away from my desk for short periods to take injections and more! The increased tiredness etc. had begun to affect me big-time at work and was stressing me out a good bit. My doctor suggested a fit note for a few months but I said no as the job and getting out, kept me sane. He suggested working less days a week, or shorter hours then wrote out a fit for work assessment along those lines. My work at that time was refusing all requests for reduced hours/days so I figured they’d never agree. When I gave it to my boss she got back to me saying that Welfare Meeting needed to be done and a note-taker would be present.

I did speak to the union rep but he said, rightly or wrongly, that a Welfare Meeting was not a disciplinary and he did not have to be there but would if I wanted him too. I decided to go without him.

The meeting was quite informal although I was always aware of the note-taker. My boss went into the details of the job and what actions in particular caused me problems, she acknowledged my health condition and the recent increasing times I needed to take away from my desk. She then said she was bringing in Occupational Health to meet with me and they would report back to her.

Occupational Health went into much more detail about my illness and how ‘I thought’ it affected my output. I was OK with all of this as I’d no secrets and the business knew of the medical condition anyway.

The report went back to my boss, she then said it was all discussed with Human Resources and they agreed to me working a 3-day week. She also said that they would also make reasonable adjustments if required to help me on the days I was in.

Mind, I did need leave after a year of this because even the shorter week wasn’t helping. That was my decision though.

I am very sorry I can’t answer all of your questions but hope info about what happened at my Welfare Meeting etc might help.

I wish you all the very best.

Bill

sangie595

BabyDoll wrote: »

62 views and no input?

Please be patient. I was one of those viewers last night. I remembered you had posted before and went to read your previous posts. Then decided that I needed to think about it. And it was very late on a Friday night! Like you I have a serious health condition, and by 9 pm on a working day I am knackered!

They cannot simply change this meeting to a capability meeting. I would have preferred it if your union rep was there, but you don't have a right to have them there, so if they refuse to change the meeting time then there is really nothing you can do about that. Can you take a colleague as a witness?

And to be fair, your managers might be in work. It doesn't mean they don't have other things to do. It isn't reasonable to expect them to organise around what you want.

At this point in time, I don't anticipate that a welfare meeting would be much more than what it says on the box. A meeting to discuss your welfare at work in view of your doctor's opinion and to see if the employer can facilitate your request.

However, I suspect that there is some box ticking going on here too. I appreciate that you probably don't want to hear this, but you have been in the job a very short time, and when you took it you committed to working full-time. Given your lack of any work history, it was probably a bad decision on your part to think about going into a full time job when you have not worked previously. But the fact is that you did, and this company, in full possession of the facts, took a chance on you. And it seems that it has not worked out well for either of you. This isn't the first time in a short period of time that you have had difficulty fulfilling the hours the employer requires. For very understandable reasons. But equally, it is understandable that they simply cannot build their company around you and the hours you want to work. This is not personal, and it is nobody's fault. It is just the way it is. If they wanted to discriminate, you'd have never got the job in the first place - it isn't as if your disability is invisible!

First and foremost, this is a workplace and they are employers. Their concern is to deliver the work, and to do so in the most efficient manner. That means reliable staff who work the hours that are set down. These days, with all the rights to flexibility for one thing, another thing, and nothing in particular, it is getting to the point where employers are being asked to let everyone work when they want to! And that isn't practicable. That doesn't mean there shouldn't be leeway to look at changes to working hours, but you need to appreciate their point of view - you are making life difficult for them because you can't do what you promised only a short time ago. So don't look at them as being at fault here - as I said, this is nobody's fault.

I do think you need to think carefully about what you are expecting. Realistically, can you commit to these new hours if they agreed them? They are going to expect you to be at work - more absences from work and changes to working hours are going to try their patience. And whilst they must consider what they can do to support you, it is likely that the next boxes they would be ticking will be the ones leading to capability processes.

As I said, I doubt that you want to hear this, but unfortunately it needs to be said. If you cannot fulfill your working commitments then they will dismiss yo, or you will have to resign. It isn't about them being cruel. But they are employers and not social workers, and their concerns are not about providing you with a job, but about you doing the job that they have. If they agree to a change of hours then you have to meet them more than half way. You need to make sure you are in work every day. They've already taken a chance on you, and wanting more and more isn't going to help you. Even if what you want is necessary, that doesn't mean it is fair!

And remember, it shouldn't be the case but it is - you are an ambassador. If their experience of employing you is negative, then the next disabled person they interview may never get past the door. So you have a job to do to show that people with disabilities are reliable workers. And if you can't bee that, be honest about it. Everyone makes mistakes, and maybe you have bitten of more than you can chew right now.

fira

Sangie595, what a great response and I hope BabyDoll prints it all out. Due to the health reasons I mentioned I'm retired now but it isn't sitting comfortably with me and I'm kind of thinking of looking for something for perhaps 2 days a week. I'm aware that my age and disability might not help but...fingers crossed. If I ever need some help I hope you'll still be on this board!

Bill

sangie595

Chance would be a fine thing. I retired in March, and had a list as long as your arm of all the stuff I was going to do. Then my employers decided to induce me back (although I do only work part-time now), and I haven't made much of a dent in the list! I'm due to have a hip replacement in six weeks and I am hoping that they discover they can live without me whilst I am off!

NeilCr

fira wrote: »

Sangie595, what a great response and I hope BabyDoll prints it all out. Due to the health reasons I mentioned I'm retired now but it isn't sitting comfortably with me and I'm kind of thinking of looking for something for perhaps 2 days a week. I'm aware that my age and disability might not help but...fingers crossed. If I ever need some help I hope you'll still be on this board!

Bill

I'd like to echo this

Sangie595 - that is a fantastic response. This board would be a lot poorer if you weren't contributing to it