disabled employee advice

[REDLETTER]

Jasmine, have you considered moving away from deliveries? Maybe you could ask your manager if there is any chance of getting a job in the office ( RLE, MT office, audit / QoS, room of doom ), or if not, see if you can get a transfer to your local MC ( yes it's a bummer not going out anymore, but imo what you want is stability, and working indoors would give you that ). Also get onto your area H&S rep ( it's what he's there for ).....but please, please, please don't give up, cos lazy, feckless managers will have won again, and next time someone goes to them for their help, they will be left to fend for themselves or get sacked.......even if they do sack you, you have more than enough to take them to the cleaners and get your job back on your terms, and then they might learn that management means more than "turn up, get the mail out, piss off home"

One last thing Jasmine, I have depression ( nothing too heavy, but enough to get me into CBT & a head shrinker ), if you ever want to get things off your back, pm me

I'm not sure there's any 4 day duties left in the MCs or RDCs, although I could be wrong. But it would mean that you'd be able to work with a group of people, rather than being left to cope on your own for hours, on a delivery.

I too, have had a lot of problems with RM over my own disability. And it was only after my case reached my Area Reps, that I got much help. Now that's no reflection on the Local Reps. They did everythying they could. But the Area ones are better trained, and have more experience. So they aren't bamboozled by Management loopholes. Particularly the one I kept encountering of "we only have to make reasonable adjustments, and what you're asking isn't reasonable. Because it'll cost the business too much". All I was asking was for a small adjustment to my shift, so I could go to therapy FFS! Once it reached Area level, all that quickly stopped, and I'm now back to working normally. And have been for quite a while now.

PLEASE don't let them push you out. That's what they want you to do. Because it's easier than accomodating someone with a disability. Even though the Law says they have to. Why should you loose your job, because of something which isn't your fault?
Should people with disabilities have to have second class jobs?
NO! Why should we have to miss out on working for a living, just like everyone else! Why should we have to loose our self respect, because of insensitive fools?!?

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) is there to protect us. And no amount of loopholes, and trickery, should be allowed to let RM, or any other Employer for that matter. Get away with penalising disabled people. Whether it's a Mental or Physical Disability, is beside the point. We're all Human Beings, and deserve to be treated as such!

been replaced by mostly by this:
Equality Act 2010
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeo ... DG_4001068" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Darren Bent]

Ask your Union Rep to find someone to fight your corner for you from higher up the union chain. He/She might be able to do that.

[Jasmine]

Can anyone direct me to a copy of royal mail's sickness policy please?
I think, well I know, they are not following it in my case and I am scared that because I am an easy target they are bullying me

I called in sick 4 weeks ago, sent in my sicknote from the GP. On my 2nd day off I had a medical by phone, 3rd day off meeting with the area manager, 4th day off counselling from ATOS......etc etc. I agreed to go back as the constant hassle was making me worry more and not helping me. They made one adjustment to my role - not the one I asked for - they moved me to another office. I managed a week then fell apart again and called in as I just could not cope. I have been off 3 days, have a doctors sicknote again and found out a manager has been knocking at my door to speak to me today. Surely this is not policy? What on earth did he think was going to happen? That I'd invite him in for a cuppa while he bullys me into returning to work?!!! I am so fed up and cannot believe a big company like this can treat me this way and get away with it.

[postieMMM]

I can only offer my sympathy as i do not have any experiance that can help you, this is just a message of support so keep fighting them and get the might of the equallity act and the union behind you. Good luck and i hope you nail them to the wall.

[fishtank]

I have been off 3 days, have a doctors sicknote again and found out a manager has been knocking at my door to speak to me today. Surely this is not policy?

I'm afraid it is Jasmine.

Royal Mail operates the sick absence contact strategy to ensure that we provide the necessary support to all of our employees while absent from work on sick leave. Regular contact provides us with up dates on our people and ensures we can utilise Atos Origin in whatever support is required. It also allows us to look at alternative solutions to ensuring our employees can return to work at the earliest possible opportunity.

[Jasmine]

I have been off 3 days, have a doctors sicknote again and found out a manager has been knocking at my door to speak to me today. Surely this is not policy?

I'm afraid it is Jasmine.

Royal Mail operates the sick absence contact strategy to ensure that we provide the necessary support to all of our employees while absent from work on sick leave. Regular contact provides us with up dates on our people and ensures we can utilise Atos Origin in whatever support is required. It also allows us to look at alternative solutions to ensuring our employees can return to work at the earliest possible opportunity.

Well if that is true, theres not much chance for me is there? How am I supposed to recover with the manager at my own home hassling me? It is destroying me and I see no alternative but to just give my notice in. The union rep doesn't want to know and all I feel is under pressure from R.M. They have destroyed all my confidence, and put me in an impossible situation. There is no way I can handle them coming to my house to pressure me further. Enough is enough, I give in.

[postieMMM]

Please dont give in, is there no outside body you can take this to? take it higher in the union to area, divisional or national level untill you are heard and they do something about it, get a note from your doctor stating that the manager is making your condition worse and should cease and then take a greavance out against everyone who calls at your house without an prior appiontment. DONT GIVE IN TO BULLY'S

[Jasmine]

Thank you for the support. I won't be able to take out a grievance though if they have acted within their policy. On paper they will have done nothing wrong, even though I feel they have. I have had my GP give support but they completely ignore anything she writes. ATOS have tried to support me and have given me backing, but I feel my case is hopeless. All the time it goes on, my health continues to deteriorate. They will soon be able to say I'm not fit for the job and that will be that. If I can last that long but every day I get nearer to giving in.

[fishtank]

Thank you for the support. I won't be able to take out a grievance though if they have acted within their policy. On paper they will have done nothing wrong, even though I feel they have. I have had my GP give support but they completely ignore anything she writes. ATOS have tried to support me and have given me backing, but I feel my case is hopeless. All the time it goes on, my health continues to deteriorate. They will soon be able to say I'm not fit for the job and that will be that. If I can last that long but every day I get nearer to giving in.

Their sickness "policy" is not an agreed "policy" Jasmine.
Of course you can take out a grievance...they are bullying you ffs.
You need to shut them out until you feel better able to cope.
As long as you keep some kind of regular contact with them there is nothing they can do to you if you have your GP's backing.
Regular contact can mean a short phone call or letter every few days or once a week.
If you do not want them near your house,tell them this in writing and forward a copy to your Area Rep explaining the situation.....do not give up.

[krussel]

If you do not want them near your house,tell them this in writing

Agree with Fish BIG TIME on this as its not helping you one bit. Ok maybe it was done in good intention but if your not comfortable about it then nip it in the bud straight away. You need a few days of stability without bloody managers tugging your chain.

Please dont give up, stay in contact with your GP, hang in there as we are all on your side

[Dorset Plodder]

Don't let them get you down Jasmine most of feel like walking straight out of the door and saying "Stuff You" at least once a week! And we're supposedly in good health.
Take the advice from those that know better and get yourself some back up. Don't make it easy for the Bastards, make them jump through a few of your hoops. I know it's not easy to fight back when you're low but we've had a guy off for over a year now and he's still janking their strings!

[Jasmine]

Thank you all for the support. I hope tomorrow I can look at it more rationally. I wasn't in when he came to the door, was at MIND getting help for how to sort my problems at work!! I came home feeling a bit better until my step-son said this manager had been here and I have just gotten all upset again. I have also spoken to ATOS today who were supportive and do seem to take me seriously. He said the move to another office wasn't really addressing my issues but sidestepping them. He said to push for alternatives and if they cannot provide any consider ill health retirement. I don't really understand the implications though. To be honest my head is spinning and I know I need to find some stability most importantly.

[postieMMM]

moving to a different office on delivery's might not be any good but moving to a different job within royal mail might be. E.G. processing/driving/admin.

[smokerjim]

moving to a different office on delivery's might not be any good but moving to a different job within royal mail might be. E.G. processing/driving/admin.

Good luck with that, from what I've seen amongst the transfers website, you either gotto become management, find a degree level non-job, or have more hope of finding a hen's tooth in a sack of rocking horse s**t!

[TeeferTiger]

I have been off 3 days, have a doctors sicknote again and found out a manager has been knocking at my door to speak to me today. Surely this is not policy?

I'm afraid it is Jasmine.

Royal Mail operates the sick absence contact strategy to ensure that we provide the necessary support to all of our employees while absent from work on sick leave. Regular contact provides us with up dates on our people and ensures we can utilise Atos Origin in whatever support is required. It also allows us to look at alternative solutions to ensuring our employees can return to work at the earliest possible opportunity.

I've been keeping in regular contact with my manager... only to find they've been off sick since NYE and the caretaker manager hasn't bothered to do anything about my sickness. I'm now on half pay and, despite asking several times via email and also by phone, they haven't put my remaining holiday pay through as they were meant to. HR won't do anything about my pay until they receive a form from the manager.

I've also asked to be re referred to ATOS as my Dr has now said I'm fit for work with amended duties and amended hours (to suit ME basically i.e. when I'm able to go into work...). No contact from them so that basically means that no referral has been made.

I've also been waiting for taxi fare to be refunded from my last visit to ATOS at the local MC in DECEMBER. The manager who's off sick said they'd do it within the next few days of the 14th when I sent her the email requesting the T&S to be done. They obviously didn't do it and I've asked the other manager to do it twice now, still no joy.

Absolutely had enough now. I ended up in tears speaking to one of the PHGs at an office I phoned earlier. Phoned the area manager this morning, left a voicemail requesting a call back... no call as yet. Doubt I'll get it either.

I'm not quitting RM. They can either IHR me off, or find me an office job to do that doesn't involve any physically demanding work or stress as either of them set off stabbing headaches.