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ADVICE NEEDED PLEASE
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BigDaveUK
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 02 Aug 2011, 09:11
- Gender: Male
ADVICE NEEDED PLEASE
hi, i am wondering if you could give me some advice, i have an injury with my foot caused by exccessive walking at work (morton metatarsalgia). i have been to see the doctor and he has given me a sick note stating that i need light duties/inhouse and to avoid too much walking for 4 weeks. i have phoned my office to inform them and they have told me if i cant go out on delivery then i cant work and i have to be off sick. i can't afford a month off work and dont know about any sort of sick pay i am entitled to. i am willing to work but they are saying they have nothing for me to do. the injury i have has been caused by the job i do, i have been working for royal mail for just over 3 months and have still not recieved and correct footwear. could you please give me some help and advice about the situation i am in please.
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RTP
- Posts: 863
- Joined: 22 Apr 2011, 14:24
- Gender: Male
Re: ADVICE NEEDED PLEASE
New starters don't get full sick pay until they've been employed for 12 months.
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rmdriver
- Posts: 139
- Joined: 19 Jul 2009, 20:50
- Gender: Male
Re: ADVICE NEEDED PLEASE
Tell them you can answer the phone, assist in the callers office, make the manager's coffee, do some sorting. I think if you have a fit note with conditions it's their problem to find you something to do.
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ebbzie
- Posts: 660
- Joined: 14 Jun 2011, 17:22
- Gender: Male
Re: ADVICE NEEDED PLEASE
Dont mean to be horrible, but if you are like this after 3 months what hope have you got in this job?
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wandle
- Posts: 944
- Joined: 25 Feb 2011, 17:17
- Gender: Male
Re: ADVICE NEEDED PLEASE
Are you in the union ? If so, get your rep involved immediately.
Even if you're not, your boss is trying to pull a fast one. You should NOT go off sick. If the doctor has issued a 'fit note', you should report to your normal place of work with the note (keep a photocopy of it for yourself would be my advice).
It is Royal Mail's job to find you suitable work. If they can't, you should be sent home on full pay. if you go off sick, you won't be paid and it'll go on your attendance record as an absence, which may damage your chances of getting a permanent job.
Even if you're not, your boss is trying to pull a fast one. You should NOT go off sick. If the doctor has issued a 'fit note', you should report to your normal place of work with the note (keep a photocopy of it for yourself would be my advice).
It is Royal Mail's job to find you suitable work. If they can't, you should be sent home on full pay. if you go off sick, you won't be paid and it'll go on your attendance record as an absence, which may damage your chances of getting a permanent job.
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fishtank
- Posts: 19732
- Joined: 28 Sep 2007, 17:22
- Gender: Male
Re: ADVICE NEEDED PLEASE
Question: What happens if I can’t make the suggested modifications to the work/workplace?
Answer: If the doctor has advised that your colleague ‘may be fit for work’, but you can’t make the modifications to help them return to work, you should explain the reasons for this to your colleague and keep a written record documenting why. Details of this discussion should be stored alongside their local sick absence papers (fit notes could be stored here for future reference). The fit note then functions as if the doctor had advised ‘not fit for work’. The individual does not need to go back to their doctor for a new note to confirm this. When considering the doctors advice, you should always consider if the advice is consistent with any industry, or specific safety guidelines or regulations that the doctor may not be aware of.
Question: How does this affect attendance management?
Answer: If the fit note states ‘unfit’, the situation is unchanged from current procedure.
Or (a) if the fit note suggests work modifications and these can be made, the colleague returns to work, while the time on modified duties is regarded as normal work for attendance procedure purposes.
Alternatively (b) if the fit note suggests modifications and these can be made, but there is a delay of a few days in organising the modifications, these days remain as absent/sick.
Finally (c) if the fit note suggests modifications and these can’t be made the individual’s absence will still be considered under the attendance procedure (as Royal Mail will be unable to accommodate them in that instance).
Answer: If the doctor has advised that your colleague ‘may be fit for work’, but you can’t make the modifications to help them return to work, you should explain the reasons for this to your colleague and keep a written record documenting why. Details of this discussion should be stored alongside their local sick absence papers (fit notes could be stored here for future reference). The fit note then functions as if the doctor had advised ‘not fit for work’. The individual does not need to go back to their doctor for a new note to confirm this. When considering the doctors advice, you should always consider if the advice is consistent with any industry, or specific safety guidelines or regulations that the doctor may not be aware of.
Question: How does this affect attendance management?
Answer: If the fit note states ‘unfit’, the situation is unchanged from current procedure.
Or (a) if the fit note suggests work modifications and these can be made, the colleague returns to work, while the time on modified duties is regarded as normal work for attendance procedure purposes.
Alternatively (b) if the fit note suggests modifications and these can be made, but there is a delay of a few days in organising the modifications, these days remain as absent/sick.
Finally (c) if the fit note suggests modifications and these can’t be made the individual’s absence will still be considered under the attendance procedure (as Royal Mail will be unable to accommodate them in that instance).
good times, bad times you know I've had my share
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Pat Ostman
- Posts: 2797
- Joined: 17 Sep 2008, 21:53
- Gender: Male
- Location: In the Line Managers office being screwed over.
Re: ADVICE NEEDED PLEASE
win - win for Royal Mail.
Run, rabbit run. Dig that hole, forget the sun.
And when at last the work is done. Don't sit down, it's time to dig another one
And when at last the work is done. Don't sit down, it's time to dig another one
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wandle
- Posts: 944
- Joined: 25 Feb 2011, 17:17
- Gender: Male
Re: ADVICE NEEDED PLEASE
Crikey, I didn't realise that this 'fit note' thing is so stacked in favour of the employerPat Ostman wrote:win - win for Royal Mail.
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fishtank
- Posts: 19732
- Joined: 28 Sep 2007, 17:22
- Gender: Male
Re: ADVICE NEEDED PLEASE
What if my manager does not agree with my GP on adjusted duties?
Seek the help of your rep and/or ask to be referred to Atos Origin as they may be able to assist.
Sometimes a manager will be reluctant to sit down and work out how the changes can be made. It is important that they do this though and involving your CWU rep can help this process. Hopefully most managers will want to help
out.
If despite everyone’s best efforts the adjustments can’t be made then you will be classed as sick and will need to go back to your GP. Depending on the circumstances you might want to raise a grievance. The Branch can help you with this.
What if I have an underlying health condition that may come within the terms of the Equality Act(formally DDA)?
An additional legal duty is placed on your manager to sort out reasonable adjustments, e.g. this could include either altered duties or the non triggering of attendance procedure warnings etc.
Your GP may not fully understand the criteria for the Equality Act, but generally speaking if you have a condition that is likely to last for 12 months or more, or it has already lasted for 12 months AND it is has a substantial effect (i.e. more than trivial) on your day to day life, you may come within the terms of the Equality Act.
You are advised to talk to the CWU and/or seek a referral to Atos Origin as appropriate. In the final analysis, the Branch can seek a report from your GP to support any claim that you are within the terms of the Equality Act.
This area is a complex one and so taking advice is important as no one case is generally the same.
Seek the help of your rep and/or ask to be referred to Atos Origin as they may be able to assist.
Sometimes a manager will be reluctant to sit down and work out how the changes can be made. It is important that they do this though and involving your CWU rep can help this process. Hopefully most managers will want to help
out.
If despite everyone’s best efforts the adjustments can’t be made then you will be classed as sick and will need to go back to your GP. Depending on the circumstances you might want to raise a grievance. The Branch can help you with this.
What if I have an underlying health condition that may come within the terms of the Equality Act(formally DDA)?
An additional legal duty is placed on your manager to sort out reasonable adjustments, e.g. this could include either altered duties or the non triggering of attendance procedure warnings etc.
Your GP may not fully understand the criteria for the Equality Act, but generally speaking if you have a condition that is likely to last for 12 months or more, or it has already lasted for 12 months AND it is has a substantial effect (i.e. more than trivial) on your day to day life, you may come within the terms of the Equality Act.
You are advised to talk to the CWU and/or seek a referral to Atos Origin as appropriate. In the final analysis, the Branch can seek a report from your GP to support any claim that you are within the terms of the Equality Act.
This area is a complex one and so taking advice is important as no one case is generally the same.
good times, bad times you know I've had my share
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red666bear
- Posts: 104
- Joined: 19 Dec 2009, 22:54
- Gender: Male
Re: ADVICE NEEDED PLEASE
did you not read. he is a new starter not yet issued with royal mail footwear.ebbzie wrote:Dont mean to be horrible, but if you are like this after 3 months what hope have you got in this job?
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Himaggen
- Posts: 993
- Joined: 09 Oct 2007, 23:40
Re: ADVICE NEEDED PLEASE
Technically it's not caused by excessive walking, it's caused by irritation/compression of the nerve. In the vast majority of cases this can be negated by correct choice of foot support/footwear.
The good news:
Because you have not been issued with PPE, you may be able to use that as leverage. This may entail providing a full report on your neuroma and it's history. If you have no underlying conditions which increase the chances of this condition and the history can be tracked down to have begun no earlier than your employment you may have a shout.
The bad news:
The standard PPE footwear is only tested for its slip resistance, so technically until you are provided with official issue footwear the onus may be on yourself to select 'suitable footwear' with good anti-slip properties. It follows that it may be possible to lay the blame squarely with yourself for making a poor choice. It may also be argued that you should have noted the symptoms earlier and took action.
The good news:
Because you have not been issued with PPE, you may be able to use that as leverage. This may entail providing a full report on your neuroma and it's history. If you have no underlying conditions which increase the chances of this condition and the history can be tracked down to have begun no earlier than your employment you may have a shout.
The bad news:
The standard PPE footwear is only tested for its slip resistance, so technically until you are provided with official issue footwear the onus may be on yourself to select 'suitable footwear' with good anti-slip properties. It follows that it may be possible to lay the blame squarely with yourself for making a poor choice. It may also be argued that you should have noted the symptoms earlier and took action.