ATOS APPOINTMENT TOMORROW

[postiemids]

hi just a quick question ive been at royal mail since 2010 and doctor has gave me a fit note for 2 weeks saying amended duties and got my atos telephone thing tomorrow ive had back pain since a accident on duty in apr 2011 but on a stage 1 due to other illness not relating to this just wondering will they try and get rid of me im on temp contract which has been getting renewed every 6 months my back is in really bad pain did make me take half a walk out today just wondering do temp conract holders have same rights regarding ill health retirement as the full timers ???

[Himaggen]

Some questions

• Is your fit note still covering you or has it just ended?
• Are you sure ATOS is ringing you on a Sunday?
• What delivery method did your Manager 'make' you use whilst on a fit note for a bad back?

[postiemids]

Some questions

• Is your fit note still covering you or has it just ended?
• Are you sure ATOS is ringing you on a Sunday?
• What delivery method did your Manager 'make' you use whilst on a fit note for a bad back?

my fit note just started for 2 weeks

and manager said atos will be ringing me tomorrow

and he made me take out half a walk which was flats by the way and he just made me usal normal pouches and the bit of the walk i done was flats !!

[DAF85]

and manager said atos will be ringing me tomorrow

Your manager should not be telling you when Atos are calling. He should get your permission for him to refer you to Atos then after he has made the referral, their booking line contact you directly to make the appointment at your convenience either for a telephone assessment or a face to face appointment. if your manager has not sought or gained your permission tell the Atos worker at the start of the conversation and state that you want that fact recorded on any report they issue.

[Himaggen]

Firstly you ensure that if you receive a call from ATOS, you inform them that this appointment has not been requested but you will be happy to make another one at another time which is both during working hours and suitable to yourself.

On Monday morning your first port of call is your H&S Rep, or your IR Rep you inform them of the situation and ask them along with you to see your Manager. Inform your Manager that you will be unable to perform deliveries as a result of a deterioration in your condition but you will be more than happy to attempt alternative tasks for which you have received adequate training and which are within your current capabilities and in line with your Doctor's note. Then you request a Stage 2 grievance form in order to register a complaint regarding his failure to make reasonable adjustments for your condition on Saturday and for making an unagreed referral to ATOS.

[mazza111]

Maybe the first port of call is to speak to your manager. Your fit note isn't very clear in saying amended duties. Your manager has amended a duty, so has done the necessary. Although why a manager would send someone with a bad back out to do flats is typical RM thinking. Grmph. ATOS may be a help to you hear. Might give you a couple of weeks off delivery altogether to give your back a chance to recover. Explain to him how your back was feeling after doing this amended duty. Tell him of the pain you suffered.

When I was in your position with my knees. I done half a duty, mainly on the flat, 2 blocks of flats (only 4 flats upstairs in total though). After another referral to ATOS, they recommended no delivery until a set date and then they would review it. I know ATOS get a bad name, but on the whole they have been pretty good with me.

When talking about things like this with management it's always better to have the union with you.

[Stormproof]

When you speak to ATOS make sure you tell them what you can and can't do. Otherwise they will send some wishywashy rehab plan to your manager which he will pick holes in and get you doing everything you can't. If its not what your manager wants to hear expect another ATOS referral

[flaminmoses]

make sure you insist on getting every report your manager gets.

just incase somewhere down the line if you ever have some kind of disciplinary you can refer to it if the bad back had relevance.

atos dont always send the reports out and managers can benefit from you not having them.

[smelly_cat_lady]

'he made me take out half a walk'

I take it he used jedi mind tricks or did you just roll over? Stand up for yourself! If you do half a walk, they'll just turn round and say "Well, you've done half so why not do whole one?" I have had plenty of dealings with ATOS recently and can confirm it is very "employee lead" be firm with them and tell them categorically what you can and can't do. Make sure you get a copy of the report to your DOM - ask for it, you are entitled - and do the call at your convenience, not theirs. If you're not comfortable taking the call on your own, have someone listening in. Make sure you have a pen and paper handy, make notes (and tell them you are making notes) and write down the name of the person you are speaking to for future reference. If you're not happy with anything they say or anything you're made to do, then go back to your GP and discuss it with him as he is way more qualified than they are!

[postiemids]

hi had me phone call and much to my surprise they said i cannot to any kind of delivery for at least 4 weeks and need physio the gaffer wasnt happy wen i told him he did try it on and say cant ya just take it i said no so i just prepped 2 jobs and did kill offs lol must say atos were really nice ive asked for the copy of the report

im just worried now they will try and get rid of me when me contract expires in july been with royal mail 2 years now so shouldnt be worried but we all know what it can be like or is like