Absence process AKA Harrasment?

[nom de guerre]

Hi all,

I've been off work with a knackered back, as a result of general wear and tear, which has brought sciatic nerve issues.

I was given a doctors line for a fortnight as he felt it was neccesary, even though I'd not had my first week as a Self-Certificate. Since I handed this in on Monday the 13th I have been phoned at home several times and given a letter Re: Absence Management Interview.

I attended this interview,which lasted all of two minues and where the DOM offered me indoor work, saying that I won't be doing anything at work that I wouldn't be doing at home. I declined, as I was still in a lot of pain and could not sit, stand or walk for an extended period, and also needed to lie flat out from time to time to relieve the pain. He said that I'd been off for a week already and should be fine for work by now.

At no point during this interview did he take any notes, which is uncommon for the DOM in question. This gave me the impresion that, technically, the interview didn't happen.

He told me to phone him on the Saturday and let him know if i would be back on Monday. Again, this is in spite of the two week doctors line.

I phoned on Saturday and explain that I was no better and wouldn't be in. He told me to Get in on Monday for a management Interview. I asked for contact details of my union rep, but he refused at first, finally giving me the rep's phone number, though not willingly.

I feel pretty stressed and pressurised by this behaviour.

The question is, are Royal Mail still in the right, even though I've got a doctors line covering me? I already have one bad leg to stand on due to the sciatica, but have they got my good leg too?

Thoughts and feedback, and advice on Monday, would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Nom de Guerre

[itllnottouchyou]

the dom is allowed to contact you when your at home to ask your well being only especially when your on a sick line! a heard from someone that if you go back to work during a sick line it has effect on your insurance at work not to mention the doctor would ny be happy with you

[General Mannerheim]

Yet another DOM who thinks he`s Dr Kildare!!

I don`t think you should go back to work...he is clearly trying to intimidate you back to work,your Dr has said that your unfit,he`s been through many years of training,Dr DOM has picked up the mouse and googled sciatica or read the childrens guide to the body(with real pictures )and decided your pulling a fast one.
Funny how RM and Atos change the goalpost over these things.....they are quite happy to bully people back into work with the Atos are all knowing,signing and dancing health care `experts` who think that they can overule your Dr etc but when a postie who`s been on long term sick wants to come back to work they go out of their way to make it as difficult as possible to return(course it`s not got anything to do with depleting the surplus postie population! )

[norbert]

the dom is allowed to contact you when your at home to ask your well being only especially when your on a sick line! a heard from someone that if you go back to work during a sick line it has effect on your insurance at work not to mention the doctor would ny be happy with you

Report that c**t to the Health & Safety Executive , that's a valid H&S concern & it's illegal to apply unfair detriment against you for doing so .

He's not a Doctor or OHS professional just because he's been on CBBC search or ajkids or yahooligans on his Fischer Price - " My First Computer " , don't giveATOS can overrule the Doctor's line as they are of equivalent medical rank .

I'm afraid it's the only language these idiots understand and it'll teach that DIM DUM that has never left the playground , to be careful next time .

Very underhand but atypical bullying RM , I think RM are taking a chance on liability insurance .The Union has it's own solicitors and there's plenty of ambulance chasing solicitors looking for work too , should anything happen .

Get the injury reported to the Social as a Industrial Injury . The rule book works both ways . :lfo :cfo :mfo

[jockstrapp]

Yes these arseh0les sent me letters and special delivery letters four times when I was of with stress, I ignored them all as felt talking to them was making me worse. When I went back was given back to work interview which again I told them more or less to poke. WORST COMPANY I HAVE EVER WORKED FOR. :mfo :cfo

[norbert]

Yes these arseh0les sent me letters and special delivery letters four times when I was of with stress, I ignored them all as felt talking to them was making me worse. When I went back was given back to work interview which again I told them more or less to poke. WORST COMPANY I HAVE EVER WORKED FOR. :mfo :cfo

by the book - with " welfare calls " - if they ask is there anything we can do , if you ask them to be less intrusive , they should back off , as there's a fine line between rigorous attendance management and H&B , secondly they could be held liable if someone relapses etc . RM will probably bank on someone not taking them on though .

There was a case of someone being off with stress , and RM wanted him to do a disciplinary for willful delay by post , his doctor advised him not to attend any interviews and the union told him not to cooperate .

I can see through that game , very underhand ; they just wanted him through the door and to keep the pressure off themselves , if they wanted rid of him , do it properly on medical grounds but that's never going to happen .

But.........!

[DOM]

The DOM could be looking after your welfare. Not all doctors are aware that Royal Mail are sometimes able to offer work other than walking long distances carrying weight on the shoulder. Very light work could help you with your rehab. Until the DOM has the chat with you, he does not know how your condition is affecting you and what help the business can offer you.

It may be too early for you to perform any kind of work, if so, with regular contact and advice from your gp and ehs, plans can be put in place.

Ask for a rehab plan to be put in writing, so your gp can see it and advise on any adjustments that need to be made for it to work.

Nobody wants to be off work sick.

[axeman]

The DOM could be looking after your welfare. Not all doctors are aware that Royal Mail are sometimes able to offer work other than walking long distances carrying weight on the shoulder. Very light work could help you with your rehab. Until the DOM has the chat with you, he does not know how your condition is affecting you and what help the business can offer you.

It may be too early for you to perform any kind of work, if so, with regular contact and advice from your gp and ehs, plans can be put in place.

Ask for a rehab plan to be put in writing, so your gp can see it and advise on any adjustments that need to be made for it to work.

Nobody wants to be off work sick.

Another post from planet royal fail ..................... as if they give a sh*t about your welfare

[Scarlet Pimpernell]

The DOM could be looking after your welfare. Not all doctors are aware that Royal Mail are sometimes able to offer work other than walking long distances carrying weight on the shoulder. Very light work could help you with your rehab. Until the DOM has the chat with you, he does not know how your condition is affecting you and what help the business can offer you.

It may be too early for you to perform any kind of work, if so, with regular contact and advice from your gp and ehs, plans can be put in place.

Ask for a rehab plan to be put in writing, so your gp can see it and advise on any adjustments that need to be made for it to work.

Nobody wants to be off work sick.

A friend of mine went back to work a few days after suffering a back injury. He'd had a phone consultation from ATOS, and did the rehab that they'd recommended. But soon ended up back on the sick, in a worse state than when he had his accident!

Unless a qualified doctor has examined you, and assessed what you can and can't do, don't go in! You could end up far worse. How the hell do they expect to assess someone's injuries over the phone?
Someone should give you a proper examination before you go back, and it should be comeone who's qualified to do it too. Not just some quack, but someone who specialises in that type of injury!

[General Mannerheim]

The DOM could be looking after your welfare. Not all doctors are aware that Royal Mail are sometimes able to offer work other than walking long distances carrying weight on the shoulder. Very light work could help you with your rehab. Until the DOM has the chat with you, he does not know how your condition is affecting you and what help the business can offer you.

It may be too early for you to perform any kind of work, if so, with regular contact and advice from your gp and ehs, plans can be put in place.

Ask for a rehab plan to be put in writing, so your gp can see it and advise on any adjustments that need to be made for it to work.

Nobody wants to be off work sick.

I`m sure the original poster feels so much better knowing that his DOM felt the need to ring him constantly and have to come in an explain why he is ill.

[dudleylicious]

Try this
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1997/uk ... 70040_en_1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I was off work with a planned op on ligament damage in my knee.
Before I went into hospital Itold my boss all about the op & the recovery time so please don't contact me as you know exactly what will be done.
Then I quoted the 1997 act ,it was like producing a clove of garlic to dracula ,I've never seen the dim back away so quickly.

I then said I would write to him every week with health updates along with sicklines ,it worked a treat they never bothered me once during my 14 wk absense.

[norbert]

The DOM could be looking after your welfare. Not all doctors are aware that Royal Mail are sometimes able to offer work other than walking long distances carrying weight on the shoulder. Very light work could help you with your rehab. Until the DOM has the chat with you, he does not know how your condition is affecting you and what help the business can offer you.

It may be too early for you to perform any kind of work, if so, with regular contact and advice from your gp and ehs, plans can be put in place.

Ask for a rehab plan to be put in writing, so your gp can see it and advise on any adjustments that need to be made for it to work.

Nobody wants to be off work sick.

Another post from planet royal fail ..................... as if they give a sh*t about your welfare

I'd love to believe that RM don't want you kicking your heels round the house and work is therapeutic but ............ -but I'm afraid not even :cfo or :mfo can make sh** shine . As for going by the book which is all very laudable , I don't think RM got off to a good start there .

HisMastersVoiceSign.jpg

The problems are the perverse interpretations that RM put on things , moving the goalposts , RM do not go by the spirit of the agreements , the abuse or corruption of the agreement , pressure from on high , and the usual playground - " they're all swinging the lead / pulling a fast one - Dr Dim

[combo]

Doms should realise bringing anyone back from the sick for light duties is risking them goin off again!! Must be a risk they are willing to take! i know men who have came back to work early and have had to go off for longer because of DR DOM