Sick Absence Meeting

Digger1975 · Post by **Digger1975** » 29 Mar 2008, 21:33

Good evening everyone.
I have been off sick from work for the last 8 weeks with a broken leg and am still currently in plaster. I have another appointment at the hospital in 2 weeks which if everything is ok i will be having the plaster removed. After talking to other people who have had the same type of injury i will probably be off for another couple of weeks before returning to work albeit on light duties (sorting, prepping, helping in callers etc). So all in all i will probably have been off for 12 weeks. I realise i will get a stage 1 when i go back and i dont have a problem with that. I have only had 2 days off sick in 5 years before my broken leg! Anyhow enough of the small talk lets get to the point of this post. I received a letter today from my local DSM asking me to attend a meeting. After reading this letter the impression i get is that the DSM is trying to get me back to work asap. At the moment i am covered by a doctors sick note so can i be asked to go back to work? I must admit i am getting a bit bored at home but there is no way i am going to be able to work as i am on crutches and still am not very mobile!! I have kept in constant touch with my DOM and have told him that as soon as i am fit to return to work i will do so. The DOM was happy with this and told me not to rush anything. What i will probably do is ring my office and get my DOM to ring the DSM to tell them that i wont be attending this scheduled meeting. Am i within my rights to do this?

Stormproof · Post by **Stormproof** » 29 Mar 2008, 21:36

I thought they would've got you an appointment with ATOS before attending a meeting with anyone else.

Digger1975 · Post by **Digger1975** » 29 Mar 2008, 21:42

I have had a telephone interview with ATOS and they (ATOS) said they would contact me in 4 weeks which is about he same time i am due back in hospital.

Stormproof · Post by **Stormproof** » 29 Mar 2008, 21:46

RM normally take the advice from ATOS re health issues, but management are a law unto themselves and also seem to be more qualified than doctors

L Tommo · Post by **L Tommo** » 29 Mar 2008, 21:51

Digger mate... Get all the info you can from DR's and Hospital that you can and ATOS as well... Keep everything and even ask your DR's to write a letter to ATOS with your permission of course of any info that might help YOU...

Dont let ATOS AND RM get there heads together and come up with the shite that they did with me....

Fighing a case and currently out of the job... Appeal and further IT in motion...

DONT GIVE EM AN INCH...

Out

Digger1975 · Post by **Digger1975** » 29 Mar 2008, 22:09

Thanks for replies. Surely they cant go against a doctors note?

DGP1 · Post by **DGP1** » 29 Mar 2008, 22:10

Digger1975 wrote:Thanks for replies. Surely they cant go against a doctors note?

Don't count on that.......And don't call me Shirley

Digger1975 · Post by **Digger1975** » 29 Mar 2008, 22:24

I also dont think that the DSM realises there is no way i can get to the meeting anyway as it is at an office 10 miles away. I have a broken leg so cant drive and my wife works full time so that rules her out!! Clever people we have in charge at this establishment!!

Post by **baldrick** » 29 Mar 2008, 22:28

Tell him you'll go if he can arrange a private ambulance for you.

horrible · Post by **horrible** » 29 Mar 2008, 23:50

Digger1975 wrote:Thanks for replies. Surely they cant go against a doctors note?

They can and will,They tried with me,The line is that a GP is not an occupational therapy specialist and therefore an ATOS Doctor can overule your GP.But you can appeal the decision,Which means that you go in front of a more senior manager than your own,Worst way is they uphold ATOS decision and you do as they say,But appealing the return to work offer buys you a couple of weeks,Make sure that you get sent all of the notes that ATOS send to your DOM.

Digger1975 · Post by **Digger1975** » 30 Mar 2008, 00:16

I suppose they could employ someone to drive me round to do my delivery as i cant walk without the aid of crutches at the moment!! I am still in plaster!! Will speak to my DOM on monday as he probably doesnt know anything about this letter from the DSM. If he did my DOM would have informed the DSM of my circumstances (not being mobile). My DOM even asked ATOS if they could interview me via the telephone because of the very same reason. We will see!!

madelin4 · Post by **madelin4** » 30 Mar 2008, 12:23

What if you are pushed back and not ready and you go back on light duties to find that you cannot cope and go out again before a weeks out???

andy2007 · Post by **andy2007** » 30 Mar 2008, 12:35

Digger1975 wrote:I suppose they could employ someone to drive me round to do my delivery as i cant walk without the aid of crutches at the moment!! I am still in plaster!! Will speak to my DOM on monday as he probably doesnt know anything about this letter from the DSM. If he did my DOM would have informed the DSM of my circumstances (not being mobile). My DOM even asked ATOS if they could interview me via the telephone because of the very same reason. We will see!!

They can, and do override Sick Notes, that's the point of ATOS. You can however, tell them to come to you, as you can't get to the interview. If you tell them that you can't get there, they have to come to you, it's in their own rules. You simply give them the reason why you can't get to them, and arrange a time CONVENIENT TO YOU not them, for them to come to your home.

Above all, don't let them push you around!

Darren Bent · Post by **Darren Bent** » 30 Mar 2008, 12:38

Royal Mail need to look after people better like premier league football club looking after their players.

They have too many rules, and regulations and keep moving the goalposts. It is hard to keep up with the changes.

Post by **Carnoustie** » 30 Mar 2008, 13:11

Carew wrote:Royal Mail need to look after people better like premier league football club looking after their players.

You mean we'll get massive wages and the occasional Sunday roast ? (allegedly)

ROYALMAILCHAT