OH signed me fit when not

Les79

sangie595 wrote: »

Provided that they consider both elements of the "options". Long term sickness with no job - and unless they just won the lottery, that means benefits- is an option for those prepared to live in poverty, possibly for the rest of their life. By no means an option without a lot of stress.

Potentially true, though OP has a lot going for them (on paper) with their previous employment history.

Because.... Long term sickness, and two months is in that bracket, is hard to sell to a new employer. Right now the only thing they have going for them is more than two years service.

Meh, I think in extreme circumstances you can sell a few months sickness to a new employer if you are ready to continue work. Life throws up all kinds of rubbish and any reasonable employer would appreciate that.

They won't have that in a new job, and even if they can sell themselves to a new employer with that amount of sickness on their record, they need to be aware that the slightest sniffle in the first two years could leave the employer erring on the side of not wishing to pay long term sickness absence.

Absolutely true, a good cautionary note.

And that is, of course, all before one even considers that alleged bullying may not be actual bullying. We see that often enough on here. So I'm not questioning whether theOP is right about that or on what happened. We don't know and it's not relevant. But one person's perception is not the same as another's.

Well, I may be wrong in my interpretation but it seems like the bullying was "resolved" and this sickness is a totally different thing. That being said, I sort of suspect that OH attitude could either be a cultural bullying issue or an extension of the previous bullying complaint. If true, I feel you may have a point worth exploring... Though OP may be in the right.

And it could be out of the frying pan and into the fire of another job had the same issue - but without two years service, the outcome might be different.

Absolutely true!

Les79

jonnygee2 wrote: »

Given the OPs employer is causing her(/him) stress by suggesting she return to work, I don't think its recommendable she takes her pleas to the job centre. 'Family issues' and a historic bereavement are not going to get you very far in a capability to work assessment so no real prospect of ESA. Could claim JSA but this is not going to be good for stress levels at all.

Well, my understanding was that the JSA needed a reason for leaving the previous job. What would you suggest to them in order to stay in JSA's good books?


I'm not recommending that OP quit the job per se, but get into a situation where they end up LTS on benefits AS ONE OF A FEW OPTIONS AVAILABLE (I, sadly, can't elaborate on how they could achieve that but I suspect that being dismissed on capability grounds would qualify them?).

Realistically left to the benefits system this OP could rapidly become homeless.

On the benefits system the OP would hopefully NOT become homeless, though they'd have a poor quality of life (they may even have savings/insurance, given they've just done 9 years in a job; maybe even retirement age etc).


I would implore OP to make us aware if they were at risk of becoming homeless on government benefits, as they'd find a lot of people (me included) who are willing to help wherever possible (or point in the right direction towards local charities etc).

Much better to negotiate with an employer who seem to be relatively understanding and are offering counselling and occupational health assistance and work back towards the job they know, understand and also have some rights in.

Maybe!


Good idea like! I agree with this. Though I just get the impression that OP won't be following such advice.

jonnygee2

What would you suggest to them in order to stay in JSA's good books?

Well, I wouldn't recommend going near JSA at all if someone telling you to go to work makes you feel stressed.

Though I just get the impression that OP won't be following such advice.

That's up to them I suppose. You are probably right!

sangie595

Les79 wrote: »

Well, I may be wrong in my interpretation but it seems like the bullying was "resolved" and this sickness is a totally different thing. That being said, I sort of suspect that OH attitude could either be a cultural bullying issue or an extension of the previous bullying complaint. If true, I feel you may have a point worth exploring... Though OP may be in the right.!

I don't disagree with your interpretation. That's what I read too. But that doesn't change the possible interpretation. "Heh George, the snowflake doesn't like having their work critiqued" is also "my employer resolved my complaint by having a word with the new manager"! Really depends where you are standing and which conversation you hear, doesn't it? I had cause to mention to a member of my team yesterday that whilst we have flexible hours, a 1.5 hour lunch break every day, and a notation in the digital diary to keep his time clear every day was not career enhancing for one of the most junior members of the team! I'm sure somebody would have interpreted that as bullying. I interpreted it as good career advice!

But even if it was bullying of some sort, it's past. And the OP is still off sick long term. Another thought in the employers head could be "let's get rid now when the the b issue is clearly them and not us" - if your are correct about the culture!

Les79

sangie595 wrote: »

I had cause to mention to a member of my team yesterday that whilst we have flexible hours, a 1.5 hour lunch break every day, and a notation in the digital diary to keep his time clear every day was not career enhancing for one of the most junior members of the team! !

That's a very interesting point tbh.


I'm in a similar boat to that junior member. In my case it is lack of socialising/talking to people (they have taken on a few new people and everyone, except me, are fresh out of university and little experience of real grindy jobs; so they've got their little flames burning bright and these great workplace ideas which would otherwise form part of the toilet paper in some workplaces). The manager has a point to be fair, however this is my nature (though I get on well with people, I just don't get pally too often). It is just unfortunate that in addition:


1. Recent social events have fallen on the night I go to GA to help keep my gambling addiction at bay


2. I'm having some heavy family problems at the moment which is making me upset to say the least


I feel that point 2 needs to be talked about to HR/mentor (manager isn't showing much interest in me) but I feel point 1 would carry a stigma in this workplace.


Frankly, with point 2 I'm erring on the side of "I couldn't give a monkeys about "career enhancing"" but you can't really say that to people lol.


In addition, whilst you do have to respect managers they aren't always right. Believe it or not but my lunch break is a key component of my GA 12 steps and nobody is going to tell me to work (or even socialise; though I do need to make the effort some times) during that hour. In fairness I'm flexible with it and will take around meetings/work etc, but you get my point. There MAY be a valid reason why that person blocks out that time, which you are not aware of.


I've had to resort to covering my !!!! right now. Joined the UNION, documenting every time I speak to someone about work (oh and just to clarify I DO speak to people! I just keep it as brief and simple as possible so I get enough out of it to be able to do the work based on what they want; I worked in a call centre for a few years, I can speak to people haha) and keeping other commentaries. All very impartial like, but more peace of mind hopefully and with luck they'll warm to me.

sangie595

@les79.... No your aren't in the same position, although I understand your situation. In this case, he isn't new in the grindy job world, he's actually very sociable, and a joiner in. But he's chosen, and it is his choice, a career path that means there is an element, especially at this stage, of having to put job first. He's choosing to spend the time in the gym instead.

You see, the problem is that he doesn't need to join the union to cover his back. He is the union! You want to train up to be a full time official, then fine - but there are costs. And one of them is being around when people need you and not in the gym! His argument that he's in the office at 7 am isn't really much help when our members aren't!

So actually I'm fine with people not caring about the job. I say it often enough - it's a job. I see no reason for people to be married to the job, and the wage is all they want. But there are certain career paths where that doesn't play out. Ours is one of them. Back in the day, at his age and stage, the working week was a joke. It was easier for me to count the non-working week as there was so little of it! That hasn't changed. We expect and require dedication, members first, and masses of developmental work and study. It isn't for everyone. But we don't carry anyone who hasn't a passion.