off duty for atos phone call

[WARDY]

am i the only one who seems to think that people who are allowed to come off their duty to take a 20 minute phone conversation from atos are taking the piss, maybe it is the managers who allow this that are needing a kick up the arse for allowing it, example, in my depot today, guy complaining about sore arms, and getting phone call from atos, gets call at 10 am and allowed to go away home at 11am whilst we are all out working. this scenario has happened at least another 4 times in our work. they are saying that if atos are phoning them, then they will not be taking the call out on duty or on dinner breaks, when i had to get a call from atos a while ago, i arranged it for them to call me during my break which i think is reasonable, also in our depot some guys demand to get taken off their duty to attend a stage 1 interview and get away with it as they also are allowed to leave early to go home, is it just me or does anyone else agree or disagree with this, i am going for a 1st stage next week and the manager wants me to attend after my duty or if i am back earlier then it would be then, , maybe the hard line guys in my work are getting away with lots more than the guys who are less rebellious and managers dont like confrontations so allow it to happen

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Just from an outsiders view but with some unofficial knowledge about some aspects.

If ATOS is involved (OH Assist) either at the request of management or the employee about a medical condition then technically its a risk assessment of the condition and the work involved so its quite right that calls are taken in work time. Also if OH Assist advise that the employee is to be sent home, then only a very brave (or stupid) manager would go against that advice.

In law Dinner breaks are a rest from work. If that break is interrupted then the employee is allowed to retake the whole break. Taking a call from OH Assist, or having a disciplinary hearing, attendance meeting etc, are by definition about work, so the business is actually saving themselves time by having it during work time not breaks.

They shouldn't be allowed home though, unless they are suspended or need to get documentation/evidence related to the stage meeting.

You can elect to forgo your break, although H&S and HSE would not recommend it and you can elect to hold meeting outside normal working hours. However, it is your RIGHT to have these things happen during working hours whether that means outside rest breaks, during normal working time, or as overtime if managers prefer.

In this case it sounds like the rebellious ones know their rights, and the managers are overstepping their limits by refusing, or not making employees aware of their STATUTORY rights.

[WARDY]

thanks trueblue, i will know the next time if any of these things involve myself before i am in the position to accept vr or stay put