Possible long term sick

[Johnny_Rad]

Hi
It looks like I am going to be off work long term. I have been having hip problems for a while now. After seeing my G.P and having X rays done, the conclusion is that I will have to have surgery on both hips.. I dont know the full implications yet as my first appointment with the surgeon is in 2 weeks time.
I am a rural driver and finding every day difficult at the moment. I am basically getting through the day on painkillers.

I was hoping someone could advise as to where I stand with work, as I will be out of action for a while and not able to do delivery work for a long time. I haven't told my DOM or spoke to my union rep yet. As I am currently on leave.

Any advice would be very grateful.

Thanks

[not me]

well how is your sick record now?
what time off have you had?
how long is the recovery period?

[stokes11eg]

Hi
It looks like I am going to be off work long term. I have been having hip problems for a while now. After seeing my G.P and having X rays done, the conclusion is that I will have to have surgery on both hips.. I dont know the full implications yet as my first appointment with the surgeon is in 2 weeks time.
I am a rural driver and finding every day difficult at the moment. I am basically getting through the day on painkillers.

I was hoping someone could advise as to where I stand with work, as I will be out of action for a while and not able to do delivery work for a long time. I haven't told my DOM or spoke to my union rep yet. As I am currently on leave.

Any advice would be very grateful.

Thanks

Basically, if you are expected to be absent for a period of nine months , R/M will usually look to IHR you. But with this current trend ATOS forcing you in to the workplace, you may not have to worry! Seriously, your health is more important to you than any job. Good Luck. Best advice is to speak to your Manager straight off, and get all the gen.

[music4essex]

Hi Johnny

My dad has just had an hip operation and he was told he will not be able to drive for 12 weeks.

He is walking with crutches and been doing about 300 yrds at present but he is 74

My guess is that though you will be off for a while but if the hip operation is successful then i don't see why you cannot come back to work even if is is for a few hours at a time and build up.

If at the end of the day you are unable to peform any duties then obviously Health retirement will come into it,

You are best to have the operation and see what happens

Good luck
Essex mum

[POSTMAN]

Johnny,guy at my place had a hip op,will have a word with him tomorrow as i can't rem exactly what he had done,how long he was out for and how RM treated it.

[music4essex]

My back hurts to this day, and im only 34 ,18 years in the job !! God help me when im 50

I am 51 LOl and have trouble with my back since the AOD last year off to have an MRI scan next week

When I returned to work after a telephone conversation with Atos i was on delivery using a cycle and done part delivery increasing each week after 4 weeks the LM said you can do a full duty I said No unless you want me off again
I did eventually go to full delivery after 6 weeks but since last october my back has not improved a lot and my thinking is I was pressured into taking on more then I should hence why almost a year on I am having to see a back specialist and a MRI scan, so If I reach 51 in this job the way is is going I will be lucky, and there I was thinking I would go on till 60 lol
I will probably be doing this instead

Essex

[don]

if you have got to have 2 hips then they will do only 1 at a time you will probably have to have 3 months off at least i would take the 3 months of if the manger rings you and tries to get you back earlier tell him no dont let someone who has no medical training tell when its time to come back then when you come back they will put you on stage 1 now the trickey bit i would if possible struggle on till stage one is finished then go get the 2nd hip done they will then put you on another stage 1 but so what they wont be able to do any thing else to you.but it depends if you can carry on working with 1 bad hip what a job cant even be off with something that can affect anyone.

[Johnny_Rad]

Hi
THANKS!!! to everyone for your replys. I visited the surgeon yesterday, and I am going to need both hips replaced, one at a time. It is not going to be a straight forward hip replacement, as there are a number of complications involved.
I haven't spoke to my DOM yet as I was hoping to speak to my union rep first, but he was on leave today. The Dr also said that it would be a good idea to try and get off delivery duty's as it's causing me a lot of pain.
I was wondering if management will be willing to allow me to do indoor work untill I go for the first opp?

I have been with RM for 5 years. I am on a stage 1 at the moment for a single sickness of over two weeks back in December. Up untill then my record was spotless!

I recently transfered offices which is really bad timing, as I had to drop down to a 20hr contract in the process and going to loose a lot of sick pay.. ,

[fishtank]

Hi
The Dr also said that it would be a good idea to try and get off delivery duty's as it's causing me a lot of pain.

It would be really helpful if your Dr would be willing to put this in writing or issue you with a "fit note" stating that delivery work was unsuitable at the moment.

[marky]

would you be covered under the dda. i think you would be, that would open a lot of door's for you and you could do indoor work.
i will check it out for you and get back to you asap.

[Johnny_Rad]

Hi Marky
Not sure what dda is? Any helpful information would be much apprechiated..

Thanks.

[General Mannerheim]

DDA is the Disability Discrimination Act that is supposed to offer people with medical conditions protection and enable you to remain in your job.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeo ... DG_4001071

[gj1023]

The DDA is one thing managers do take notice of, because they know if they don`t they leave themselves open to allsorts of grief. Under it they have to "make reasonable adjustments" to allow you to continue to work. This could be anything, from a simple thing like providing a chair to making changes to work pattern etc.

In my case I needed help with prep, as my arms and hands were affected. Before I was DX, I was only probable, so it was a grey area, so managers were nice when they felt like it. Once I was DX , and they said they were unable to provide help with my prep, there was no " oh you are late out, back , why, no grief over breaking off etc. because they knew they were not compiling with the DDA act. They could not touch me and so left me alone .

[General Mannerheim]

The DDA is one thing managers do take notice of, because they know if they don`t they leave themselves open to allsorts of grief. Under it they have to "make reasonable adjustments" to allow you to continue to work. This could be anything, from a simple thing like providing a chair to making changes to work pattern etc.

In my case I needed help with prep, as my arms and hands were affected. Before I was DX, I was only probable, so it was a grey area, so managers were nice when they felt like it. Once I was DX , and they said they were unable to provide help with my prep, there was no " oh you are late out, back , why, no grief over breaking off etc. because they knew they were not compiling with the DDA act. They could not touch me and so left me alone .

As usual with Royal Fail it is how your manager deals with things.
My DOM wouldn`t even let a guy from Shaw Trust a disability work specialist come in and do a risk assessment,when I asked the arsehole why, he came out with this: "We only have to offer you a job somewhere else to comply with the DDA."

[gj1023]

As usual with Royal Fail it is how your manager deals with things.
My DOM wouldn`t even let a guy from Shaw Trust a disability work specialist come in and do a risk assessment,when I asked the arsehole why, he came out with this: "We only have to offer you a job somewhere else to comply with the DDA."

Well them words are incorrect, as you know to comply with the DDA act they have "make reasonable adjustments" If his idea of that, is to send you somewhere else, then he is in the wrong. You needed to tell him what adjustments you need to do your job and they have to find ways to accommodate your needs. If they can`t then they have to explain why and what they can actually do to help (send you somewhere else , doh)