Signed off sick and attending events

74jax

Sncjw said:

I am awaiting oh to Contact me about going back to work with a different kind of covering.

I have to wear a mask no ifs and buts. They know I want to get back to work when I can. It's purely where the stiches are that's the problem.

I can wrwr a bandada on my neck in other places. But even clips and buttons for the strings will cause it to rub on the area.


I have been sleeping alot the last few days but today has been a better day. I am building up the stamina and also going to do some work from hom on Thursday and Friday if I can manage even though its not needed. 

Are you able to do that whilst signed off? 

Gervais3232

I would wait for your employer to get back to you before working from home. Be guided by them so nothing will come back to bite you legally on their part or yours. It sounds like there is a solution to be found around the mask situation so hopefully you will get the opportunity to wear your new outfit(s)

Monsternextdoor

Yes and no

If the event is a wedding, Leaving do etc then go for a few hours, Don't drink and ensure that you keep up with your pain meds. This way you can say 'I didn't want to let you down' but you still aren't well and make your excuses to go home early.

If it's work related do then leave it and wear your dress and go for a meal.

Undervalued

74jax said:

Sncjw said:

I am awaiting oh to Contact me about going back to work with a different kind of covering.

I have to wear a mask no ifs and buts. They know I want to get back to work when I can. It's purely where the stiches are that's the problem.

I can wrwr a bandada on my neck in other places. But even clips and buttons for the strings will cause it to rub on the area.


I have been sleeping alot the last few days but today has been a better day. I am building up the stamina and also going to do some work from hom on Thursday and Friday if I can manage even though its not needed. 

Are you able to do that whilst signed off? 

Yes, there is no legal reason why not.

BrassicWoman

.. return the dress, that seems to be the main concern?

Ditzy_Mitzy

It does seem as if the employer is being rather unreasonable in this situation.  There is no legal requirement to wear face coverings any more, and even when there was there were exemption provisions.  Physical injury, i.e. the surgery, would be one such.  They have created this problem themselves, assuming the OP is otherwise fit and well and willing to return to work.  OP has, presumably, offered to work without a mask on or wear a plastic visor.
I'd be tempted to go to the events.  The employer is the one blocking the return to work, seemingly for spurious reasons.  OP might investigate working at home, too, although that's going to be difficult if she's been signed off for a specific period of time.

[Deleted User]

It does seem as if the employer is being rather unreasonable in this situation.  There is no legal requirement to wear face coverings any more, and even when there was there were exemption provisions.  

If I recall correctly this poster works for the NHS or certainly did in 2015 when they posted about landing a job there - Having very recently interviewed at the NHS I was asked to wear a facemask during the course of the interview (albeit understandably I even was asked to take of my preferred face mask on arrival for a blue paper one) and there were signs to keep it on present in the interview room so it isn't clear free reign in some work places to do without. 

Undervalued

Ditzy_Mitzy said:

It does seem as if the employer is being rather unreasonable in this situation.  There is no legal requirement to wear face coverings any more, and even when there was there were exemption provisions.  Physical injury, i.e. the surgery, would be one such.  They have created this problem themselves, assuming the OP is otherwise fit and well and willing to return to work.  OP has, presumably, offered to work without a mask on or wear a plastic visor.
I'd be tempted to go to the events.  The employer is the one blocking the return to work, seemingly for spurious reasons.  OP might investigate working at home, too, although that's going to be difficult if she's been signed off for a specific period of time.

Whilst that is true the employer has a duty to take reasonable steps to protect the health of all of their employees (and customers etc). Not requiring staff to wear face coverings where reasonably possible could be negligent.

As said before, being "signed off" does not prevent the employee from working. The doctor has advised them to refrain from work, it is not a legal prohibition. If both the employee and employer are happy they can work. Their might be insurance worries but these are generally wildly overstated a bit like printing "Warning, contents may be hot" on a coffee cup.

Sncjw

So just an update.

I am allowed to attend the event. I have done some light work from home this morning to get back into swing of things even though they said it's not really required.

The mask issue depsite not legally have to wear one I do work in a place that requires them.

Thank you for your help. 

Dr_Crypto

There are a number of staff in my department who don’t wear masks because they’re exempt. Like anything a bit of reason is called for but the NHS isn’t always good at that.