ATOS - Why do they bother?

[ironmaiden]

Having been off for a few months with work related stress/anxiety,I was referred to ATOS for an assessment . It was a face to face appointment that lasted 2hrs,I found it a distressing experience,having to discuss the issues that had led to my absence.The report was sent back to my office with certain recommendations....all of which were ignored.When challenged,I was told by management that ATOS advice is just that...advice, and management are not mandated to follow it !!! Have you ever heard anything so ridiculous? Since when did RM managers become qualified to make medical judgements ? What is the point of paying ATOS to conduct assessments if the findings are ignored. Yet another example of RM managers abusing their positions.

[daveallum]

Having been off for a few months with work related stress/anxiety,I was referred to ATOS for an assessment . It was a face to face appointment that lasted 2hrs,I found it a distressing experience,having to discuss the issues that had led to my absence.The report was sent back to my office with certain recommendations....all of which were ignored.When challenged,I was told by management that ATOS advice is just that...advice, and management are not mandated to follow it !!! Have you ever heard anything so ridiculous? Since when did RM managers become qualified to make medical judgements ? What is the point of paying ATOS to conduct assessments if the findings are ignored. Yet another example of RM managers abusing their positions.

But they will take their advice if it is in Royal Mail's favour.

[yarbles]

You can bet that if ATOS had assessed you as a skiver, the managers would have followed their advice to the letter

[bogstandard]

you are now golden as i see it.
RM have ignored the advice given and can only expect things to go back to how they were or worse, not that i want that to happen to you.
i would hazard a guess and say that RM will be looking at reasonable adjustments and saying that the adjustments required were/are unreasonable.
Anyhow you will have reached agreement with ATOS covering your return to work and what needs to be done. They will have been given this authority by RM so are acting on behalf of RM with RM's full consent. I'd request another meeting with ATOS and a copy of the notes they sent to RM.

[arnold cheshire]

Having been off for a few months with work related stress/anxiety,I was referred to ATOS for an assessment . It was a face to face appointment that lasted 2hrs,I found it a distressing experience,having to discuss the issues that had led to my absence.The report was sent back to my office with certain recommendations....all of which were ignored.When challenged,I was told by management that ATOS advice is just that...advice, and management are not mandated to follow it !!! Have you ever heard anything so ridiculous? Since when did RM managers become qualified to make medical judgements ? What is the point of paying ATOS to conduct assessments if the findings are ignored. Yet another example of RM managers abusing their positions.

because they get paid millions by royal mail

[Stormproof]

[Lounge Lizard]

- is that cured like ham, rubbing salt into the wound ?

[Oldham600]

If you have been affected by your anxiety for over 12 months then usually you will trigger the employer to take the Equality act 2010 into consideration when making any decisions related to your absence. IF you have evidence of this illness for the qualifying period then I would ask to see the Atos doctor again to get this verifed