Quick Question On Light Duties..

[flaminmoses]

if i was you katie id get the doc to sign you off till you know you can work again.

There's no need.
If you have a fit note and your employer refuses/is unable to accommodate it the fit note automatically becomes a ‘not fit for work’ note.
That's what the manager is trying to do...push her onto the sick.

i see
but wouldnt it be best to avoid a stage 3 scenario by staying off sick until the diagnosis has been made?

[fishtank]

i see
but wouldnt it be best to avoid a stage 3 scenario by staying off sick until the diagnosis has been made?

Then you get into personal choices.
Personally if i suspected i had a heart condition i wouldn't be near the place and if the stage 1 was due to the same condition i would argue that it should be treated as the same period of illness as you obviously haven't recovered so i wouldn't be accepting any more stages...end of.

[stokes11eg]

Thanks for the advice guys. I wont hold out any hope that I'll get anything in writing, this guy systematically crosses out peoples overtime after agreeing it.

Oh yeah, kinda object to being called a 'Chap' and 'he' lol..

OOps that was me! sorry Katie!

[stokes11eg]

i see
but wouldnt it be best to avoid a stage 3 scenario by staying off sick until the diagnosis has been made?

Then you get into personal choices.
Personally if i suspected i had a heart condition i wouldn't be near the place and if the stage 1 was due to the same condition i would argue that it should be treated as the same period of illness as you obviously haven't recovered so i wouldn't be accepting any more stages...end of.

Actually-I see in america, some people in similar circumstances, are suimg their employers for forcing them to return to work,therby causing further stress anD ilmess

[fishtank]

Actually-I see in america, some people in similar circumstances, are suimg their employers for forcing them to return to work,therby causing further stress anD ilmess

Unfortunately in this country the legal system is very much pro-employer and anti-"big settlement" so it's not likely to transfer over here...and if the Tories get their way even less likely in future.

[General Mannerheim]

I find it funny how Royal Fail is going against the principles of the fit note.
Most employers campaigned to get the fit note in as they where losing money on employees being off when they could be doing something, afterall the whole sick system benefits scheme now is based on what work you can do and NOT what you can't do

And yet Royal Mail trotting out lines of there are no light duties but you can f**k off home if you want,just so they can then punish people by making them go onto stages,the whole thing should be being challenged off the union.

[not me]

Basically I'm on a stage one, been given a Dr's note to state I should be on light/amended duties while they are investigating the issues with specialists(because I have problems with my heart).

My Boss tells me, there is no longer any such thing as light duties, the office jobs are taken and he has spoken to his superiors who tell him if I do not go out and do a round they will send me home, thus escalating my stage 1 to a stage 2..

Is this even legal..?

exactly as i was told
of course my face doesnt fit
many have since had light duties since then

[calpsy]

Is it just me or is the fish sounding like hes either a manager or on the side of managers ? ?

IF you get a fit note and they say they have no work for you then THAT is not your problem . You have shown up willing to work for your money as far as the doc has described in the fit note . Theres always SOMETHING to do in the office that could be descibed as "light duties" . Make sure you get everything in writing and in front of a witness . If they force you to go on a walk then goto your doc and tell him or do it and come back in an hour saying your feeling terrible pains in your chest and collapse . See their arses collapse at that one .

ANY tribunal will see your side 100% . Im sure fish will be along to correct my comment but ignore him ..... he like managers

[POSTMAN]

Is it just me or is the fish sounding like hes either a manager or on the side of managers ? ?

IF you get a fit note and they say they have no work for you then THAT is not your problem . You have shown up willing to work for your money as far as the doc has described in the fit note . Theres always SOMETHING to do in the office that could be descibed as "light duties" . Make sure you get everything in writing and in front of a witness . If they force you to go on a walk then goto your doc and tell him or do it and come back in an hour saying your feeling terrible pains in your chest and collapse . See their arses collapse at that one .

ANY tribunal will see your side 100% . Im sure fish will be along to correct my comment but ignore him ..... he like managers

Read what he says properly.

[protect us]

Is it just me or is the fish sounding like hes either a manager or on the side of managers ? ?

IF you get a fit note and they say they have no work for you then THAT is not your problem . You have shown up willing to work for your money as far as the doc has described in the fit note . Theres always SOMETHING to do in the office that could be descibed as "light duties" . Make sure you get everything in writing and in front of a witness . If they force you to go on a walk then goto your doc and tell him or do it and come back in an hour saying your feeling terrible pains in your chest and collapse . See their arses collapse at that one .

ANY tribunal will see your side 100% . Im sure fish will be along to correct my comment but ignore him ..... he like managers

ive been wondering the same !!? evrything negative or helpful is being turned into a beg to differ kinda thing ?? maybe hes not been in this shambles that long !! either way hes allowed his views - if we all agreed there be no problems !

[POSTMAN]

The 'beg to differ kinda thing' is showing the facts as they are,the fact that we don't like the fact is tough on all of us.

[stokes11eg]

Fishtank is a good advisor--he can see points of view from both sides which is a good thing!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/ ... /DG_187161" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Understanding your fit note

When your doctor provides you with a fit note they will advise you on one of two options. Either you will be 'not fit for work' or you 'may be fit for work'.

'Not fit for work'

Your doctor will choose this option when they believe that your health condition will prevent you from working for a stated period of time.

'May be fit for work'

Your doctor will choose this option when they believe that you may be able to return to work while you recover with some help from your employer.

Your doctor may include some comments which will help your employer understand how you are affected by your condition. If appropriate, they can also suggest one or more common ways to help you return to work.

This could include:
•a phased return to work - where you may benefit from a gradual increase in your work duties or working hours, for example after an operation or after injury
•altered hours - allowing you the flexibility to start or leave later, for example if you struggle travelling in the 'rush hour'
•amended duties - to take into account your condition, for example removing heavy lifting if you have had a back injury
•changes to your workplace - to take into account your condition, for example allowing you to work on the ground floor if you have problems going up and down stairs


Discussing your fit note with your employer

If your doctor has indicated that you 'may be fit for work', the fit note will give your employer the information needed to begin a discussion on whether you can return to work.

If it is possible for you to return to work, agree:
•how this will happen
•what support you will receive and for how long
•how your pay may be affected if you return to work on different hours or duties

Sometimes it may not be possible for your employer to make the changes required to help you return to work. If this is the case, you will not be able to return to work until you have further recovered. You can use the statement as if your doctor had advised you were 'not fit to work'. You will not need to see your doctor for a new fit note.


Disagreements with your employer about returning to work

If you do not agree with your employer on when and how you will return to work, you should explain to them why you disagree. There may be issues which your employer was not aware of when they made their decision.

If you are a member of a trade union you may want to ask your union representative to help you with this conversation. Alternatively, you might want to seek support from a local advice centre, for example a Citizens Advice Bureau.

If they "force" you to break the fit-note - simple the law is on your side our sickness continues.

Royal Mail do not have to put you on light duties (although they would be stupid not to) but you and the manager can agree (with doctors/atos advice) a phased return. If they won't agree then your fit note covers you just as a sick note does and he cannot force you to do a walk.

My advice and what fish has said is:

1. Get rep involved -- ideally a H&S or Area Safety Rep
2. Ask for reasons why light duties cannot be provided in writing.
3. Go sick.

Calpsy is right in one thing (not 100% though) a tribunal would take a very dim view if RM dismissed someone based on sickness when they ignored a fit note and they had not provided a phased return.

[fishtank]

Calpsy is right in one thing (not 100% though) a tribunal would take a very dim view if RM dismissed someone based on sickness when they ignored a fit note and they had not provided a phased return.

Yeah i think that was in my first post.

however if at some point you were to end up in an Employment Tribunal they would look unfavourably at an employer who didn't at least make a visible attempt to find you alternative work,especially such a large employer.

If people only want to hear the things they want to hear...that's fine,

If i can give one piece of advice before being shot down again...check out the employee success rate at Employment Tribunals and then remember that these cases only make it to that stage because a solicitor has decided that they have a decent chance of winning.
If you want to risk your job on those odds carry on but to me an Employment Tribunal is a last throw of the dice not something you should base your actions on or rely on to save you.

Thanks to the people who backed me up.

[stokes11eg]

Royal Mail do not have to put you on light duties (although they would be stupid not to) no--but they have to show that they have given proper consideration to doing this--not just toss out they they have no light duties!
Fishtank, I may not agree with everything you say, but your advice is sound!Again, in april of this year, some of the wording in documents relating to this, were changed from ,in some cases from what the Employer 'may' do, to what they MUST do---