First Atos phone call

[echopper]

Hi all. Searching for advice for the ATOS phone call i have in a couple of days.

I have been off work sick for around 10 weeks now. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA) mainly in my knees. I am a driver at a DO and getting in and out of the van has been problematic for around a year, but kept with it so as not to cause any fuss, though walking is an issue. I have been to both the DR.s and the Specialist who agree to me being off work.

I have now been informed by the Rheumatoid Consultant that i now have RA in my elbows and ankles as well as my knees. Not sure how much to say to the Nurse down the phone without causing problems for later. Will be honest with my condition but don't feel i can return to work in my current state and can not say what the future holds for me. Strong medicines are on their way. The thing is i can't stand for more than a second without severe pain in my knees.

Any advice welcome as talking to management is like talking to a foreigner, they don't seem to understand.

Thanks

[POSTMAN]

Welcome,will move this to Blue Shirts forum which gets more traffic.

[Eric Cantona]

Since Last September at my office we have had 5 posties with health problems all been paid off, something like £12.000/16.000 had my doubts about one or two of them but good luck to them if that's what they wanted, but bearing in mind no other company will employ those 5 on looking at their history, by the way 4 were full timers and was never replaced, hope it works out ok for you mate..

[easter bunny]

Since Last September at my office we have had 5 posties with health problems all been paid off, something like £12.000/16.000 had my doubts about one or two of them but good luck to them if that's what they wanted, but bearing in mind no other company will employ those 5 on looking at their history, by the way 4 were full timers and was never replaced, hope it works out ok for you mate..

Your full of sympathy you are....Typical comment I would expect from a manager....Are you medically qualified ?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Since Last September at my office we have had 5 posties with health problems all been paid off, something like £12.000/16.000 had my doubts about one or two of them but good luck to them if that's what they wanted, but bearing in mind no other company will employ those 5 on looking at their history, by the way 4 were full timers and was never replaced, hope it works out ok for you mate..

Your full of sympathy you are....Typical comment I would expect from a manager....Are you medically qualified ?

Whoa mate did you read the same post as I did - Yours is an overreaction to a genuine post IMO, and don't forget even if it is a "managers" comment is does not matter its as valid as any other, Free Speech and an Open forum means sometimes people post things you disagree with and labelling them as a managers comment does not really add to the debate does it.

[easter bunny]

It was the first piece of the reply , I objected to...If somebody wants out due to IHR best of luck to them, The comment that 'these people wont find jobs elsewhere and I had doubts about a couple of them ' ...These comments are the same cooments I put up with when I left...Jealous colleagues/managers who think they are Doctors and are totally jealous that the colleague got out and they have to stay there..

Years ago if somebody left on IHR you would organize a card signed by the office and perhaps a collection...Hasnt happened for years, due to the bitter and twisted minds of a few 'colleagues' that think by getting IHR they are somehow 'swinging the lead' ..How long do these people think where £15,000 gets you nowadays...
How many times, as a former rep i had to put up with colleagues making out he/she isnt ill or how come he/she has a DDA when theres nothing wrong with them..Are you a Doctor or mind your own business was my response..
Also managers making medical references when representing colleagues on sick absence interviews..Even managers suggesting that staff should have a flu jab because they have had a absence.. What is all that about ?
I dont know what its like around the country, but managers now have a graph on staffs sicknesses looking for a pattern , and informing them how much they have cost the business in sick pay over the years....

No offence intended to anyone on here.. I talking in general...

BTW I dont know if the previous post is a manager , what I said was part of the post are comments I WOULD expect from a manager..Glad we cleared that up..

[Eric Cantona]

It was the first piece of the reply , I objected to...If somebody wants out due to IHR best of luck to them, The comment that 'these people wont find jobs elsewhere and I had doubts about a couple of them ' ...These comments are the same cooments I put up with when I left...Jealous colleagues/managers who think they are Doctors and are totally jealous that the colleague got out and they have to stay there..

Years ago if somebody left on IHR you would organize a card signed by the office and perhaps a collection...Hasnt happened for years, due to the bitter and twisted minds of a few 'colleagues' that think by getting IHR they are somehow 'swinging the lead' ..How long do these people think where £15,000 gets you nowadays...
How many times, as a former rep i had to put up with colleagues making out he/she isnt ill or how come he/she has a DDA when theres nothing wrong with them..Are you a Doctor or mind your own business was my response..
Also managers making medical references when representing colleagues on sick absence interviews..Even managers suggesting that staff should have a flu jab because they have had a absence.. What is all that about ?
I dont know what its like around the country, but managers now have a graph on staffs sicknesses looking for a pattern , and informing them how much they have cost the business in sick pay over the years....

No offence intended to anyone on here.. I talking in general...

BTW I dont know if the previous post is a manager , what I said was part of the post are comments I WOULD expect from a manager..Glad we cleared that up..

Two of the posties was mates of mine and they just wanted out, one fed up with RM the other family issues, cant go into it anymore but they got what they wanted, I'm no manager or doctor but I knew two were paid off on dodgy grounds, lets face it its not hard to kid ATOS, but I said to them both it may be very, very hard for you both to get employment again because of the reason you left RM, now Easter Bunny question for you, Your a Manager of a company, a guy comes for a job, you intervirew him, this job coincides heavy lifting from time to time you tell him, oh by the way, why did you leave your last Job Tom, Err got paid off bad back, now easter bunny will you employ him after hearing that he has a bad back, Say no more....

[easter bunny]

if I was paid off with a bad back, I would hardly apply for a job where there was heavy lifting involved....

[Eric Cantona]

if I was paid off with a bad back, I would hardly apply for a job where there was heavy lifting involved....

Well there you go sunny boy.

[easter bunny]

Theres a big wide world outside RM... Plenty of jobs which doesnt affect what you have been IHR with... Not every job requires heavy lifting...I left the job with IHR and the only lifting i do is with a yellow and black stick..and I havent a bad back..