Advice needed please

Red-Squirrel_2

Comms69 wrote: »

Yes yes, whatever you say.


I literally gave NO advice.


I suggested that if nausea was a problem then the GP might prescribe medication - I had cyclizine to help.


I said this clearly wasn't urgent - that's not my opinion, but the opinion of the doctor looking after the OP. And I asked it if was a hiatal hernia (which lots of people have and don't know about; which had moved, or grown, or whatever, as I have that and would happily share how I cope.


But yes im ignorant...


Like I said, you're behaviour is pathetic.

How would a hiatus hernia move and where to?

Like I said, your understanding of your condition is poor, and of the OP’s even poorer, so you should have stuck to employment advice.

The OP is on the urgent list for surgery. It’s not an emergency but hat doesn’t mean it’s not urgent. If left untreated too long it can indeed become an emergency.

Comms69

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

How would a hiatus hernia move and where to? Sliding Hiatal Hernia - just for reference since you don't believe me https://www.healthline.com/health/hiatal-hernia#types

Like I said, your understanding of your condition is poor, and of the OP’s even poorer, so you should have stuck to employment advice. - I didn't offer any advice. I asked a question. My understanding on my condition is just fine, thanks. I wont pretend to know anything about the OPs, since he/she hasn't confirms what kind of hernia it is.

The OP is on the urgent list for surgery. It’s not an emergency but hat doesn’t mean it’s not urgent. If left untreated too long it can indeed become an emergency.

The OP is on the standard 12 week waiting list. Indeed it can become an emergency; at the minute it's not. But my point was that the OP could get nausea tablets to help with the wait...

Red-Squirrel_2

Comms69 wrote: »

Sliding Hiatal Hernia - just for reference since you don't believe me https://www.healthline.com/health/hiatal-hernia#types



The OP is on the standard 12 week waiting list. Indeed it can become an emergency; at the minute it's not. But my point was that the OP could get nausea tablets to help with the wait...

Oh dear.

I know how important it is to you to always be right, but nobody is, it’s not possible, and that’s ok.

Ozzuk

I put up with something similar for a year (before going private) so I know how you feel.

talk to your doctor about ways you can alleviate the symptons (I think you can get stuff to wear that helps).

Do you have occ health? Maybe they can also advise, offer ways to work at your desk, better chair etc.

Maybe you'll get lucky and your work will be flexible - my employer is great but I didn't consider asking to work from home, neither did the 3-4 other people having the same op (consultant was doing well!). It is a very common problem (that can lead to serious issues).

Looneybird

Hi,

First of all I'd like to thank everyone for their advice.

The reason I posted this request for help is that I have already had surgery earlier this year to remove a gall bladder and unfortunately this has caused the hernia I now have. This also means that I have had time off already this year because of my previous surgery and this means that I do not have very much paid sick leave left.

As I mentioned previously my work could be done anywhere, the problem is not about me not being able to do the work, the problem is about me not being able to sit in a desk sitting position for very long. Currently I am sitting on my sofa with my legs up and am able to work on my laptop without any problems as my midriff is not being compressed. This is the usual position that I assume when I am on my laptop at home, though I agree it has not been assessed to DSE requirements it also has not caused me any long-term damage in the past 15 or so years. To be perfectly honest I don't care where I work as long as I don't have to sit in a position that causes me to feel physically sick.

Anyway, from your responses the bottom line is that I have no 'rights' to ask for a more comfortable work environment so my choices are either to go to work and be in pain and discomfort or be signed off and not be paid.

Again, I would like to thank you for your reponses as they have been very informative.

sangie595

Looneybird wrote: »

Hi,

First of all I'd like to thank everyone for their advice.

The reason I posted this request for help is that I have already had surgery earlier this year to remove a gall bladder and unfortunately this has caused the hernia I now have. This also means that I have had time off already this year because of my previous surgery and this means that I do not have very much paid sick leave left.

As I mentioned previously my work could be done anywhere, the problem is not about me not being able to do the work, the problem is about me not being able to sit in a desk sitting position for very long. Currently I am sitting on my sofa with my legs up and am able to work on my laptop without any problems as my midriff is not being compressed. This is the usual position that I assume when I am on my laptop at home, though I agree it has not been assessed to DSE requirements it also has not caused me any long-term damage in the past 15 or so years. To be perfectly honest I don't care where I work as long as I don't have to sit in a position that causes me to feel physically sick.

Anyway, from your responses the bottom line is that I have no 'rights' to ask for a more comfortable work environment so my choices are either to go to work and be in pain and discomfort or be signed off and not be paid.

Again, I would like to thank you for your reponses as they have been very informative.

There is a massive difference between what you do for a bit of time at home in your personal time and what you do full time and for an employer. What you are describing is, in fact, exactly as I was working, and I can tell you for an absolute fact that not in a million years would it ever pass a DSE assessment! Perhaps your are prepared to take the risk of doing that for a full working week for at least three months. I can tell you that it would be irresponsible in the extreme for an employer to do it. Even with your agreement to it, it could land them in a potentially expensive medico-legal case. You aren't allowed to "let them off responsibility" - if it's work they are responsible.

And not having caused you any noticeable damage in the last 15 years (you've been sat working several hours a day on your sofa for 15 years???) doesn't mean it won't. Long term damage to joints and spine can emerge decades later. Or the results of that 15 years could emerge next year!

I know it's not what you want to hear, but you actually do have other choices, several of which have been explained. You can ask for a proper workplace DSE to see if anything can be done to support you further. You can ask your doctor if they can assist you with medication. You could ask for occupational health advice. It does not have to be "this or nothing", and approaching it with that attitude will do you no favours with your manager.

Undervalued

Looneybird wrote: »

Anyway, from your responses the bottom line is that I have no 'rights' to ask for a more comfortable work environment so my choices are either to go to work and be in pain and discomfort or be signed off and not be paid.

Again, I would like to thank you for your reponses as they have been very informative.

As I have said a couple of times you can certainly "ask" and they may agree. If you don't ask you don't get as they say!

What you don't have is the right to insist and the employer is perfectly entitled to refuse and treat you as off sick according to their normal policies.

sangie595

Undervalued wrote: »

As I have said a couple of times you can certainly "ask" and they may agree. If you don't ask you don't get as they say!

What you don't have is the right to insist and the employer is perfectly entitled to refuse and treat you as off sick according to their normal policies.

I think the OPs problem is that they have already asked, and been told no. So they hoped that they could insist.

Compromise along the lines of suggestions made by several people may be the best way of seeing if there is any middle point - they've "asked and didn't get" already!

Undervalued

sangie595 wrote: »

I think the OPs problem is that they have already asked, and been told no. So they hoped that they could insist.

Compromise along the lines of suggestions made by several people may be the best way of seeing if there is any middle point - they've "asked and didn't get" already!

Yes but at that point did they have a "fit" note from the doctor with a recommendation that they could manage some work at home?

That gives the employer the choice of paying at least SSP for no work at all or getting at least some work done from home.

sangie595

Undervalued wrote: »

Yes but at that point did they have a "fit" note from the doctor with a recommendation that they could manage some work at home?

That gives the employer the choice of paying at least SSP for no work at all or getting at least some work done from home.

True, but that wouldn't cover the health and safety implications. They basically want to work in a situation which would be very ill advised for any employer to agree to. This isn't a case of them sitting at a proper desk on a proper chair at home. They've said they can't do that anywhere. The doctor can comment that they could work from home, but the doctor isn't able to ascertain that it is safe for them to do so. We are very flexible - and probably more cautious than many employers - and we insist on DSE being completed for anyone who works from home for anything more than an odd hour here or there. And we also insist on seeing that everything is implemented - and we don't pay for it either! Few employers allow home working to the extent we do, and we are still very cautious because we have a responsibility for safe working conditions.

The OP doesn't have much sick pay left, SSP or otherwise. That's why they want to work from home - because if they are unable to work they will be unpaid. Which I have a lot of sympathy with. Hence, suggesting that compromise and exploring other options might be a good way forward, so that they might be able to earn something. I'm not sure how much sick pay they've claimed, but if it's likely to run out soon, even if it's just SSP that's six months used. That may also be a factor here, if the OP has had that sort of time off sick already, then an extended period of working from home, and that in less than ideal circumstances, and which could go on much longer, may not be manageable.