Occupational Health forcing me to take sick leave

Simona_Fire

I!!!8217;m not the OP but I am new so I can see why you might think that. Looks as though things have calmed down in any case.

[Deleted User]

sangie595 wrote: »

You've neither upset nor offended me, so forget that. I give the best advice I can, and it's frustrating when I can see people not seeing that - because sugar coating it means that they will miss what is being said. As you've already noticed - people hear things that aren't said, and more so if they aren't said clearly! Forget it. Let's move on.

Ok. You've got some money. Unfortunate though it is in terms of how you've got it, this is what your brother would have wanted it used for if you could have asked. So you tell your manager, calmly, that in hindsight toy see you've been all over the place, and set hares running, and you think a couple of weeks off would do toy some good and your are going to book a last minute holiday somewhere exotic (not Brighton!) and if they won't agree holiday then fine, you won't argue, but you need some time to consider your options and you'd appreciate it IF they can agree to it being holiday. Start putting that relationship back on a stable footing, because right now your manager is probably as scared as you are. Having your staff tell you they might kill themselves is not something that comes in the management handbook.

Then yes, you need to relax and think calmly. What redeployment might be available? What about moving down to something less responsible for a time? How about retraining for something entirely new? Think about every option, and figure out what makes you happy. If it's none of the above, think again! Then work out the steps you need to take to get there.

And forget about thinking you've failed. You aren't Superman? Get over it, who is? ! Stuff happens. Things go wrong. The measure of the person is not in success or failure, but the fact that they carry on and what they make of it and themselves. You haven't failed - you've just set your targets too high for now and need to give yourself a break. Hell, tomorrow morning I'll be in hospital for a four + hour operation, and I'm sat here arguing with you about your job?!! I'd like to be walking the dog by Friday, but that ain't going to happen. I have to accept that it's a long road to recovery. Mental illness is no different. You are expecting too much of yourself and you've hit a wall. It's ok to say that you'll climb it next year.

Then do that!

Thank you for being understanding.

I think I might need to take a step down in responsibility and pay for a while, or do something completely different maybe.

Best of luck with your op tomorrow.

I'm not sure what to say to my employer next or how I'm going to convince OH that I should be allowed back to work. I really don't want this to turn into a long period of sick leave.

Are they likely to try to sack me now I'm off sick again for the third time in 2 years? They might not call it sacking me but something else. Getting me out somehow. I really want to finish off this role on a high.

custardy

Deleted_User wrote: »

Thank you for being understanding.

I think I might need to take a step down in responsibility and pay for a while, or do something completely different maybe.

Best of luck with your op tomorrow.

I'm not sure what to say to my employer next or how I'm going to convince OH that I should be allowed back to work. I really don't want this to turn into a long period of sick leave.

Are they likely to try to sack me now I'm off sick again for the third time in 2 years? They might not call it sacking me but something else. Getting me out somehow. I really want to finish off this role on a high.

Reference your companies sick policy.

sangie595

custardy wrote: »

Reference your companies sick policy.

Yes. It sounds like the employer is large and had comprehensive policies - nobody had the amount of sick leave with pay described here if that isn't true. So the answer may lie in those policies. There will be a bottom line. But whether they are trying to dismiss or not is an impossible guess.

But don't resign. You are better off letting them dismiss if that's what they are going to do. You only resign if that's what you want to do and if you have a good reason to.

[Deleted User]

I had 26 weeks full pay followed by 50% IPB. I understand that may seem generous but it is honestly what I got.

I haven't looked at the employment manual for a while but I don't think it says anything about dismissal for being sick. Only what pay you get if you are sick. Do employers typically say they will dismiss after x weeks or years of sick? That scares me!

I assume my case isn't helped by the fact that I want to work and I'm being made to take sick leave in this case?

I'll go and see if I can find the employment manual now...

[Deleted User]

The employment manual says:

"We reserve the right to terminate your employment irrespective of whether this would, or might,
cause you to forfeit any entitlement to SSP, OSP, IPB or other benefits. This could include, but
is not limited to, where:
- you do not comply with the sickness policy and/or do not participate in any regular reviews of
your health put in place by us through our occupational health providers
- you have not cooperated with the claim process (including completing required
documentation and submitting a claim in a prompt and timely manner)
- you have indicated that you do not wish to submit an IPB claim
- we believe that you are unlikely to be eligible to receive IPB
- a claim has been submitted to the IPB scheme and has been refused by them
- a claim has been subject to a review by the insurers under the IPB scheme and any payment of
benefit has been stopped
- a claim has reached the end of any payment period defined under the terms of the relevant
IPB scheme
- benefits are payable to you under IPB scheme without the need for you to be employed by us.
We will consider our obligations to you and consult with you accordingly during this time."

So it's pretty critical my IPB claim is accepted.

It also says that I have to take sickness absence as sick and not annual leave, however I was advised in the past by HR that I could take sickness as A/L so maybe it's just at their discretion?

Savvy_Sue

custardy wrote: »

Well they are right. You cant be sick,AL & then sick.

We allow that. And our payroll company doesn't question it if we say "Fred, currently signed off, is going to take the week of 4-8th as annual leave, and will revert to SSP wef 11th.

So it's not that you can't do that, but that this company doesn't allow it. Which seems somewhat short-sighted as the OP says she has quite a lot of a/l brought forward.

Deleted_User wrote: »

It also says that I have to take sickness absence as sick and not annual leave, however I was advised in the past by HR that I could take sickness as A/L so maybe it's just at their discretion?

I would definitely ask for some discretion, pointing out that you do have a lot of leave accrued.

[Deleted User]

I asked again to take this week as annual leave and they have agreed.

Thanks everyone!

diggingdude

Best of luck with it OP. I have a meeting with HR about possible redeployment Thursday. I was off 5 and a half months. I would suggest offering very little other than facts, employers tend to manipulate opinion I am finding. Stay strong but truly evaluate whether this job is worth making your life a misery for

suki1964

OP, I was in the same shoes as you at around the same age

I did end up sectioned

I then had a years sick leave and a six month phased return to work.

All was good and I was looking forward to returning full time, 2 months back into full time, I was struggling , in pieces and went sick again

My role wasn't a part time position, it was full time or resign or in my case go for the medical retirement

Medical retirement was going to take two years and I myself felt I couldn't cope with that stress, so I resigned.

I was lucky that my husband could support us both

Wasn't my smartest move but it was the best thing I ever did in my life

Sometimes you just have to put your health first. I will put my hand on heart and say I wouldn't be posting here today if I hadn't jumped when I did


Sangie has given you good advice. Read it and take it on board and from there decide what sort of fight you want and if the fight is really worth it

All the very best of luck to you. Remember , there's more then one job in you, but there is only one you x