Light duties and doctor's fit note

[Lomax]

Hi there, been with RM about 6 months but new to the forum. Just looking for any advice/comments on my current situation.

I have been off for the last couple of weeks after my back went into spasm and I couldn't walk but am now back at work. I was later diagnosed with a slipped disc, which is still causing me a lot of pain, especially in the morning. By the time I get to work I am a bit better but still in significant pain to the point where I am struggling to retain my concentration and have made several uncharacteristic mistakes over the last couple of days.

I have been to see both a doctor and a physio and they both recommend that I take it easy at the moment (while still remaining active). My doctor gave me a fit note recommending light duties that don't put stress on my back for the next two weeks, and if no light duties then to stay at home sick.

I told my managers about this the week before returning but when I returned to work they just expected me to jump onto my old round like nothing happened (didn't even ask how I was) and that using a light trolley was sufficient to comply with my physio's requests. I objected and they relented by allowing me to just take the light parcels and deliver those.

Then the next day I came in, I was put onto a different round that I had never done before, with no guidance regarding my situation. I went to see the manager and he, rudely and off-handily, just told me to 'do my best'. I ended up taking just over half the round and about three quarters of the parcels and still finished nearly an hour late. Not only a new round but I am very slow at the moment. Before I went, I tried to explain that I shouldn't be loading and unloading the van but he just said to get a colleague to help (like they don't have enough on their plates).

Tbh, I really don't feel ready to come back to work but thought I would try it as, up until now, I have got on with the managers and felt a bit sorry for them being so short staffed at the moment. Also, I have recently handed my notice in and so am feeling a bit guilty about that, as they have had about half a dozen or so good posties leave in the last couple of months. I thought they would be happy to have me back in any capacity, even if just doing a bit of indoor work or delivering light parcels from rounds that haven't gone out etc, but they seem pretty insistent on having me do as much of a full delivery as possible.

I guess my question is where do I stand/what should I do? My doctor's note says light duties that don't place stress on my back, but could they just argue that by allowing me to do part of a round they are giving me 'light duties'? I always took light duties to mean indoor work but apparently that isn't always the case. I am just concerned that jumping straight back into deliveries like this is going to set me back to square one or even worse, end up with me in surgery!

Thanks very much for reading, sorry it was so long.

[Haditup]

Many people would Go off sick and get another fit note stating unfit for work ,but I guess you would not qualify for full sick pay and understand why light duties was the chosen option.
You just need to stand your ground and say your back isn’t up-to deliveries.

You also say that you’ve handed your notice in and feel guilty?
If this is correct then why the guilt ,you are looking after what’s best for you and no one else.

[number one]

This is embarrassing on the part of the business and also on your managers behalf. You should have had a back to work interview and this was their opportunity to discuss what you can and can’t do and how the business can accommodate you. A time frame should have been agreed for when it’s reviewed and reassessed. Being in doing something is better than staying at home doing nothing. What it comes down to is simply, the business and managers simply DO NOT CARE

[Lomax]

Many people would Go off sick and get another fit note stating unfit for work ,but I guess you would not qualify for full sick pay and understand why light duties was the chosen option.
You just need to stand your ground and say your back isn’t up-to deliveries.

You also say that you’ve handed your notice in and feel guilty?
If this is correct then why the guilt ,you are looking after what’s best for you and no one else.

At this point I may just do that and call in sick tomorrow. My health is more important to me than money, and I have some savings so I'm not too concerned about not getting full pay. I'm actually sitting here now with the sciatica getting worse after several days of steady improvement.

As for why I feel guilty, I don't know, I guess I just feel like it was the worst time for them as they've had so many people leave recently and they're probably pretty stressed about the situation. I know it's silly as it's just business but I'm always like that when i've left jobs in the past. But don't get me wrong, I don't feel so bad after all this!

This is embarrassing on the part of the business and also on your managers behalf. You should have had a back to work interview and this was their opportunity to discuss what you can and can’t do and how the business can accommodate you. A time frame should have been agreed for when it’s reviewed and reassessed. Being in doing something is better than staying at home doing nothing. What it comes down to is simply, the business and managers simply DO NOT CARE

I didn't even know that about back to work interviews. I think I shall put it to them that I am going to follow my doctor's advice to the letter and if they can't put me on indoor work then I'm not going to come in until the end of my doctor's note, or as Haditup said, get another doctor's not signing me off in full.

Thanks for your help btw.

[Sir Henry]

Look, your managers/RM, despite being ok with you when you were delivering, are showing their true colours when your work rate drops. Get onto your doc and explain the situation, they'll likely issue a more detailed fit note, (my doctor is great, he HATES RM after all the years of dealing with the fallout from shitty screws trying to bypass fit notes).

Return to work meetings: ALWAYS take a rep in with you when a fit note is involved.

Congrats on getting out of the hellhole that is RM

[Lomax]

Hi, I just wanted to post an update. After I had returned to work my back became significantly worse to the point where I decided to call in sick again, imo because they bullied me onto deliveries before I was ready and despite my doctor saying I was to only do light duties. My manager then suggested that since I was leaving that perhaps it would be best if I just didn't return. He also explained that I don't/won't get paid any sick pay (I could have sworn I had been though) but that he will pay some left over holiday I had from last year. I agreed to not return as I know I have been set back a number of weeks in my recovery and so don't think I'll be able to return before my last day anyway.

I do feel as though they handled this all terribly, especially not having the meeting that I have since learned should have occurred, but quite frankly I am happy to get out of there. It's a shame because there were some aspects of the job I like, but the managers are certainly not one of them!

Anyway, just thought I'd let you know what has happened since my post. Thanks for your help once again!

[Clappedoutpostie]

All the best for the future.

[greengiant]

Wishing you all the best for the future, Lomax!

[Sir Henry]

Blow this pop stand and don't look back. The only way is up.