Suspended without pay

matt0677

Hello

Thread title is not completely accurate.  I've been told not to return to work until I'm "fit".

Long version:

I've recently begun to have what I believe to be anxiety attacks.  Three recently at work, maybe over a month to six weeks.  Yesterday, for the second time I was sent home.  I later received a call from my manager who said it's been decided I'm not to return until I've solved the issue.  Two of the attacks seem to have been triggered by a certain part of the job which I find difficult, but have carried out to a decent level up until recently.  That part of the job is mental, but the anxiety it causes, causes severe trembling so I can't write or operate machinery.  There are 4 of us doing the same job and we work as a team - I am fine doing the other parts which is just physical and operating.
I was already seeking help but the NHS is a bit difficult to deal with right now.  I have been referred to a Neurology team by a GP for suspected neuropathy, and have referred myself to a therapist but none of this happens quickly.

I do not get sick pay, just SSP after the first 3 days.  Which means I will not be able to pay the rent.
I have applied for another job and will be looking for others today.  What happened to "light duties"?  I think my employer is being a bit unfair, they are a decent-sized pharmaceuticals company with 2,000 employees.

If I hand my notice in I should get a refund on my savings scheme money which will buy me another month.  I've got credit cards which could buy several more months but that would be digging a hole.  I don't want to default on the rent.

I am effectively a warehouseman / storesperson with a lot of experience, but I seem to have caved in to stress over the past year.  Lots of other stuff has gone wrong.

If you've made it this far any advice would be handy.  I've looked at the benefits system and they may have a safety net but not sure that's any help if I hand my notice in or get sacked.  Does my employer have any obligations?  I've been there under two years so I doubt it...

Thanks for any advice
Matt

Comms69

No obligations. You arent capable of doing the job theyre paying you for. Perfectly fair. 

Undervalued

matt0677 said:

Hello

Thread title is not completely accurate.  I've been told not to return to work until I'm "fit".

Long version:

I've recently begun to have what I believe to be anxiety attacks.  Three recently at work, maybe over a month to six weeks.  Yesterday, for the second time I was sent home.  I later received a call from my manager who said it's been decided I'm not to return until I've solved the issue.  Two of the attacks seem to have been triggered by a certain part of the job which I find difficult, but have carried out to a decent level up until recently.  That part of the job is mental, but the anxiety it causes, causes severe trembling so I can't write or operate machinery.  There are 4 of us doing the same job and we work as a team - I am fine doing the other parts which is just physical and operating.
I was already seeking help but the NHS is a bit difficult to deal with right now.  I have been referred to a Neurology team by a GP for suspected neuropathy, and have referred myself to a therapist but none of this happens quickly.

I do not get sick pay, just SSP after the first 3 days.  Which means I will not be able to pay the rent.
I have applied for another job and will be looking for others today.  What happened to "light duties"?  I think my employer is being a bit unfair, they are a decent-sized pharmaceuticals company with 2,000 employees.

If I hand my notice in I should get a refund on my savings scheme money which will buy me another month.  I've got credit cards which could buy several more months but that would be digging a hole.  I don't want to default on the rent.

I am effectively a warehouseman / storesperson with a lot of experience, but I seem to have caved in to stress over the past year.  Lots of other stuff has gone wrong.

If you've made it this far any advice would be handy.  I've looked at the benefits system and they may have a safety net but not sure that's any help if I hand my notice in or get sacked.  Does my employer have any obligations?  I've been there under two years so I doubt it...

Thanks for any advice
Matt

There is no legal requirement for the employer to make any adjustments unless your illness amounts to a disability (for employment law purposes). So your employer is legally entitled to say "do your full normal job or stay off sick until you can".

Although a GP can make suggestions on a "fit" (i.e sick) note as to what adjustments might allow you to work (e.g light duties) an employer is not in any way obliged to follow these suggestions.

The lack of two years service makes no difference to this, although it does make it easier for your employer to terminate your employment if that is what they choose to do.

Remember the employer is meeting the cost of even SSP, the days of them being able to reclaim it from the government are long gone.

matt0677

Brutal.  Thanks for the advice though.

TELLIT01

Has referral to Occupational Health been suggested?  If not you might wish to raise it.  OH may be able to suggest coping techniques or changes for the company to consider.  I'm surprised the company hasn't already done that considering the size of the company.

Undervalued

TELLIT01 said:

Has referral to Occupational Health been suggested?  If not you might wish to raise it.  OH may be able to suggest coping techniques or changes for the company to consider.  I'm surprised the company hasn't already done that considering the size of the company.

With less than two years service the company would probably only do that if they felt there was likely to be a long term future following a relatively short term illness.

matt0677

I've referred myself to a company, through the NHS, which offers CBT training.  I'm not sure my manager understands this, so it's not getting through to the higher levels.
I'm not sure what Occupational Health is, I'll google.  I think we might be talking about the same thing.
We even have a healthcare scheme.  I've been thrown overboard I think.

Comms69

matt0677 said:

I've referred myself to a company, through the NHS, which offers CBT training.  I'm not sure my manager understands this, so it's not getting through to the higher levels.
I'm not sure what Occupational Health is, I'll google.  I think we might be talking about the same thing.
We even have a healthcare scheme.  I've been thrown overboard I think.

OH is literally what it says on the tin. Either an internal or external service which deals with health issues related to occupation

matt0677

Undervalued said:

matt0677 said:

Hello

Thread title is not completely accurate.  I've been told not to return to work until I'm "fit".

Long version:

I've recently begun to have what I believe to be anxiety attacks.  Three recently at work, maybe over a month to six weeks.  Yesterday, for the second time I was sent home.  I later received a call from my manager who said it's been decided I'm not to return until I've solved the issue.  Two of the attacks seem to have been triggered by a certain part of the job which I find difficult, but have carried out to a decent level up until recently.  That part of the job is mental, but the anxiety it causes, causes severe trembling so I can't write or operate machinery.  There are 4 of us doing the same job and we work as a team - I am fine doing the other parts which is just physical and operating.
I was already seeking help but the NHS is a bit difficult to deal with right now.  I have been referred to a Neurology team by a GP for suspected neuropathy, and have referred myself to a therapist but none of this happens quickly.

I do not get sick pay, just SSP after the first 3 days.  Which means I will not be able to pay the rent.
I have applied for another job and will be looking for others today.  What happened to "light duties"?  I think my employer is being a bit unfair, they are a decent-sized pharmaceuticals company with 2,000 employees.

If I hand my notice in I should get a refund on my savings scheme money which will buy me another month.  I've got credit cards which could buy several more months but that would be digging a hole.  I don't want to default on the rent.

I am effectively a warehouseman / storesperson with a lot of experience, but I seem to have caved in to stress over the past year.  Lots of other stuff has gone wrong.

If you've made it this far any advice would be handy.  I've looked at the benefits system and they may have a safety net but not sure that's any help if I hand my notice in or get sacked.  Does my employer have any obligations?  I've been there under two years so I doubt it...

Thanks for any advice
Matt

There is no legal requirement for the employer to make any adjustments unless your illness amounts to a disability (for employment law purposes). So your employer is legally entitled to say "do your full normal job or stay off sick until you can".

Although a GP can make suggestions on a "fit" (i.e sick) note as to what adjustments might allow you to work (e.g light duties) an employer is not in any way obliged to follow these suggestions.

The lack of two years service makes no difference to this, although it does make it easier for your employer to terminate your employment if that is what they choose to do.

Remember the employer is meeting the cost of even SSP, the days of them being able to reclaim it from the government are long gone.

Sorry, I missed this.  The "brutal" was aimed at the very blunt poster above.
I appreciate the advice, it's as I expected although I didn't know the employer pays SSP, I expected that to come from the government.

Undervalued

matt0677 said:

I've referred myself to a company, through the NHS, which offers CBT training.  I'm not sure my manager understands this, so it's not getting through to the higher levels.
I'm not sure what Occupational Health is, I'll google.  I think we might be talking about the same thing.
We even have a healthcare scheme.  I've been thrown overboard I think.

Maybe.

I'm sorry for your situation but in the current climate many employer's will be nervous about retaining an employee with any type of medical issue which could be long term. Sadly the issues you describe often are. Hopefully yours won't be but the employer has no means of being certain of that.

matt0677

Undervalued said:

TELLIT01 said:

Has referral to Occupational Health been suggested?  If not you might wish to raise it.  OH may be able to suggest coping techniques or changes for the company to consider.  I'm surprised the company hasn't already done that considering the size of the company.

With less than two years service the company would probably only do that if they felt there was likely to be a long term future following a relatively short term illness.

My manager's last review was to "continue training Matt as a potential successor".  My manager is the Site Manager.  The illness has been evident for less than two months and I'm actively seeking treatment.

I know I have no rights, I suppose I'm just venting.