OH signed me fit when not

Cham5

Hi all, looking for some much needed advice right now, Here below is my account.

I’m currently signed off work by my GP and have been for about a 5 weeks. A close relative of mine passed away about 3 weeks ago so I was off for 2 weeks before they passed with stress and have been of for 3 more weeks after. Now along with the relative passing There have been a few other family problems that happened after the death which is all adding to my stress levels. Now also, a few weeks before she passed I was also off work with a work related bullying issue which was a very tough time as well, I came back for about 2 weeks after the issue was resolved and then the family member passed away and all the other family problems that have arose in the time scale. I’ve been very sick and haven’t been sleeping or eating I’m losing weight and have feel like my worlds come crashing down the last month with my relative passing and also the previous months having to deal with a work related issue.

Now to my problem. I’ve had a Occupational health appointment and these are the toughest not to mention coldest people I’ve ever come across and there job is to get you back into work.

After explaining the stress I’ve had and am currently going through I was signed of Fit to work in 3 weeks when my current sick note ends. I mentioned the previous months of work related stress (before the relative passed) to my Occupational health nurse who repeatedly told me that this has nothing to do with my bereavement and this is a bereavment case. I told her about my other family problems I’m having with other family members, she then had the same reply that this has nothing to do with bereavment.

I explained that in the space of about 4 months I’ve practically been under stress for all of it yet she was only interested in the death and kept repeating and disregarding everything apart from my bereavment. My mental state right now is worse then it’s ever been and now she’s telling me I’m coming back to work when I am in no way ready.

There was no mention of having to liaise with my GP it was simply I’m coming back after my sick note ends.

I’ve dealt with this person in the past and know other people who have to and we all say the same, she really doesn’t care about your wellbeing and is solely there to get you back into work.

I suppose I’m just after some advice to where I stand if I don’t return after my sick note is up? Which I don’t think I will be cos now I feel even MORE stressed after hearing my OH nurse. Are they not meant to speak to a GP before they sign you off and also shouldn’t they be taking into account all the issues regarding my mentel health and not just bereavment which is clearly not the only thing affecting me.

Thanks for reading

~Beanie~

You just need to go to your GP and get signed off for longer if necessary, I'm sure OH can only advise, they can't possibly know whether you will be fit for work in 3 weeks or not.

Cheeky_Monkey

How long have you worked there?

Cham5

~Beanie~ wrote: »

You just need to go to your GP and get signed off for longer if necessary, I'm sure OH can only advise, they can't possibly know whether you will be fit for work in 3 weeks or not.

Exactly my point, how can she possibly now if I’ll be ok? She clearly doesn’t think I’m ok now otherwise she would of signed me off yesterday when I had my appointment so how can she say I’ll be ok in 3 weeks. I have a whole load of things going on right now, I nearly killed myself in a car crash in the midst of all this and she completely disregarded everything apart from my bereavment. I work in a very dangerous environment and it is not the place to be without 100% focus. I can’t sleep or eat I’ve lost lots of weight but they didn’t care just was focus and getting me fit.

She has put in her recommendation that I am fit. I don’t know what I will be like in 3 weeks time but I don’t feel any better now that’s for sure

Cham5

Cheeky_Monkey wrote: »

How long have you worked there?

I’ve been there for 9 years and prior to the last few months have an exemplary record with sickness and other things

Comms69

Cham5 wrote: »

Hi all, looking for some much needed advice right now, Here below is my account.

I’m currently signed off work by my GP and have been for about a 5 weeks. A close relative of mine passed away about 3 weeks ago so I was off for 2 weeks before they passed with stress and have been of for 3 more weeks after. Now along with the relative passing There have been a few other family problems that happened after the death which is all adding to my stress levels. - I think you need to remember that your personal problems are nothing to do with your employer. Now also, a few weeks before she passed I was also off work with a work related bullying issue which was a very tough time as well, I came back for about 2 weeks after the issue was resolved and then the family member passed away and all the other family problems that have arose in the time scale. - so in summary you've been off work for 7 out of 9 weeks? I’ve been very sick and haven’t been sleeping or eating I’m losing weight and have feel like my worlds come crashing down the last month with my relative passing and also the previous months having to deal with a work related issue.

Now to my problem. I’ve had a Occupational health appointment and these are the toughest not to mention coldest people I’ve ever come across and there job is to get you back into work. - No their job is to ensure that the employer provides whatever support is appropriate to get you back into work.

After explaining the stress I’ve had and am currently going through I was signed of Fit to work in 3 weeks when my current sick note ends. I mentioned the previous months of work related stress (before the relative passed) to my Occupational health nurse who repeatedly told me that this has nothing to do with my bereavement and this is a bereavment case. I told her about my other family problems I’m having with other family members, she then had the same reply that this has nothing to do with bereavment. - and really she's right.

I explained that in the space of about 4 months I’ve practically been under stress for all of it yet she was only interested in the death and kept repeating and disregarding everything apart from my bereavment. My mental state right now is worse then it’s ever been and now she’s telling me I’m coming back to work when I am in no way ready. - And how long do you feel you need?

There was no mention of having to liaise with my GP it was simply I’m coming back after my sick note ends.

I’ve dealt with this person in the past and know other people who have to and we all say the same, she really doesn’t care about your wellbeing and is solely there to get you back into work. - Your employer doesn't have to care about you.

I suppose I’m just after some advice to where I stand if I don’t return after my sick note is up? - depends. I suspect they'll begin to implement their next stage sickness policy Which I don’t think I will be cos now I feel even MORE stressed after hearing my OH nurse. Are they not meant to speak to a GP before they sign you off - no and also shouldn’t they be taking into account all the issues regarding my mentel health and not just bereavment which is clearly not the only thing affecting me.

Thanks for reading

In reality your employer expects you to work. If you aren't working, then eventually they will get rid of you.


Caring isn't a requirement.

ReadingTim

Comms69 wrote: »

In reality your employer expects you to work. If you aren't working, then eventually they will get rid of you.

Caring isn't a requirement.

...And the fact that OH are involved suggests the process of getting rid of you has started....

Cham5

Cheeky_Monkey wrote: »

How long have you worked there?

Comms69 wrote: »

In reality your employer expects you to work. If you aren't working, then eventually they will get rid of you.


Caring isn't a requirement.

ReadingTim wrote: »

...And the fact that OH are involved suggests the process of getting rid of you has started....

Oh is standard procedure where I work. After 2 weeks of everyone has a OH referral

Cham5

Comms69 wrote: »

In reality your employer expects you to work. If you aren't working, then eventually they will get rid of you.


Caring isn't a requirement.

I’m not asking her to care for me I’m expecting her to take Into account all the problems that are affecting me right now? I’ve never once said I’m off work Solely for bereavment. I’m off work because of numerous things which are ongoing. Issues regarding me and my family which are having an effect on my mental state.

How can she possibly disregard everything I’ve told her and only listen to the bereavment ? I know myself, in such a dangerous environment I work in that now isn’t a good time to return or me returning will benefit me.

Comms69

Cham5 wrote: »

I’m not asking her to care for me I’m expecting her to take Into account all the problems that are affecting me right now? - Indeed, but you should be reminded that these are personal problems, not work problems. I’ve never once said I’m off work Solely for bereavment. I’m off work because of numerous things which are ongoing. Issues regarding me and my family which are having an effect on my mental state.

How can she possibly disregard everything I’ve told her and only listen to the bereavment ? I know myself, in such a dangerous environment I work in that now isn’t a good time to return or me returning will benefit me.

The point is ofcourse, this is an easy option if they want to get rid of you. No redundancy, no real difficulties.


Just follow the sickness policy until dismissal.

ReadingTim

Cham5 wrote: »

Oh is standard procedure where I work. After 2 weeks of everyone has a OH referral

Ever considered why this might be? If it's not to facilitate the termination of employees on capability grounds directly, then it's certainly a jolly useful by-product of said procedure....