Thought I was starting to get sorted - but illness has set me back

MrsTinks

Under very specific conditions: IMPORTANT: Your employee can go back to
work at any time (including before the end of
the fit note) without going back to see their
doctor - even if their doctor has indicated that
they need to assess them again. This will not
breach your Employers Liability Compulsory
Insurance, providing a suitable risk assessment
has taken place if required.

I am going to doubt your employer will carry out a recognized risk assessment especially given your cause of absence is work caused stress? If they don't then their insurance will not apply and they will leave themselves WIDE open to a heap of issues if anything happens. As an employer of a large team in the past and a smaller team now - anyone with a sick note doesn't return without it expiring or their doctor stating they are fit to return. Then again I've not been known for being nasty about peoples sick pay and if possible and practical I let people work from home if they have colds/minor sniffles - partially to prevent contamination of the rest of my teams!

What might work is speaking to your GP and asking for a change to your sick note - so a "may be fit" under certain circumstances - ie reduced hours and so on - they don't have to stick with it but failing to do so could land them in hot water should you decide to take them to a tribunal for constructive dismissal...

MrsTinks

Does your surgery not have appointments you can call up and get on the day? Mine releases them twice a day so worth asking or asking to be put on a cancellation list. Even a phone appointment would be a start. Your GP can over ride the receptionist if they feel it's necessary to get you in.

AdviceSought

MrsTinks wrote: »

Does your surgery not have appointments you can call up and get on the day? Mine releases them twice a day so worth asking or asking to be put on a cancellation list. Even a phone appointment would be a start. Your GP can over ride the receptionist if they feel it's necessary to get you in.

They release them at 8am each day. I'll keep trying but I'm certainly not keen to see either of the two GP's that I complained about.

The first one, basically gave me an aggressive lecture about the damage allowing my diet to slip can have on my health and told me to "sort out" my work situation.

The second one, within 30 seconds, tried to put me on anti-depressants. When I declined those, she told me to contact Citizens Advice and that was it.

EssexHebridean

If you are desperate to see a Doctor there should be a "turn up and wait" system you can use - but of course you may have to see one of the Doctors you'd rather not, UNLESS it is on your notes that you refuse to see them?

However - leaving aside the question of the money issues for a moment though - ARE you fit to return?

AdviceSought

EssexHebridean wrote: »

If you are desperate to see a Doctor there should be a "turn up and wait" system you can use - but of course you may have to see one of the Doctors you'd rather not, UNLESS it is on your notes that you refuse to see them?

However - leaving aside the question of the money issues for a moment though - ARE you fit to return?

I'm not sure. I'm better than I was, but I'm still a good way off feeling myself.

Just feel now that I've no option but to go in and see what happens. If there was any realistic prospect of picking up work relatively quickly, I'd probably resign, but there's almost no hope of that whatsoever.

EssexHebridean

AdviceSought wrote: »

I'm not sure. I'm better than I was, but I'm still a good way off feeling myself.

Just feel now that I've no option but to go in and see what happens. If there was any realistic prospect of picking up work relatively quickly, I'd probably resign, but there's almost no hope of that whatsoever.

Only you can make the call. At this time of year might there be seasonal stuff you could get to tide you over? Having said that, that will likely only help once any notice period you have to give, is over. Dependant on the nature of the stress caused you *may* have redress against them, but that's a whole different subject and not one for this thread, really.

I'm unsure where you stand if you try a return and the COMPANY say you can't go back until your note expires, for whatever reason. It may be worth seeking specialist advice over that question.

chevalier

as the thing that is causing you the most stress is the phone and car payments, you may have to phone them and make an arrangment to pay with them. You mobile phone provider may be able to drop you right down the tariffs to help out, and you maybe able to get a break on your car payments for a month. Far better to ask than to just not pay.

I take it that there isn't anyone (parents eg) who can help out if you explained that you are only getting SSP and not full wages whilst you are off?
good luck
chev

EssexHebridean

Get that SOA sorted so we can see if there's anywhere savings can be made that you're not seeing. You never know.

coolcait

AdviceSought wrote: »

....
I did get this months DPP reduced and I know I can do it again next month.....

I'm sorry to have to say this, because I don't want to add to your stress levels

I'm afraid that whoever told you that this month's DPP is reduced is winging it.

There's a whole process to go through to get the DPP reduced. It doesn't happen anywhere near as quickly as Monday to Wednesday.

On the more positive side, if you go through the proper process you can get the payment reduced for several months - so you don't have the stress of worrying about going back each month to ask about it.

If you had a proper reduction in place, for six months - maybe even a payment break - that would give you space to sort out your health issues and your employment issues.

In your shoes, I'd go back to your money adviser for a second opinion.

AdviceSought

coolcait wrote: »

I'm sorry to have to say this, because I don't want to add to your stress levels

I'm afraid that whoever told you that this month's DPP is reduced is winging it.

There's a whole process to go through to get the DPP reduced. It doesn't happen anywhere near as quickly as Monday to Wednesday.

On the more positive side, if you go through the proper process you can get the payment reduced for several months - so you don't have the stress of worrying about going back each month to ask about it.

If you had a proper reduction in place, for six months - maybe even a payment break - that would give you space to sort out your health issues and your employment issues.

In your shoes, I'd go back to your money adviser for a second opinion.

Hi

What they (Stepchange) told me to do was to cancel the DD and make a manual payment for what I can afford as apparently three months have to be missed before creditors can do anything. So, I'll do the same again for the next payment.

I've now returned to work, although still seeing the GP tomorrow and have a couple of initial consultations with counselling places lined up too.

Thankfully, my early return to work hasn't been as bad as I'd feared.

Does anyone have any experience with income protection insurance? Was wondering if it's something I should consider if I'm essentially not going to get anything other than SSP if I'm ill.

They look pretty cheap, are they too good to be true?