IHR Procedure

[acovanne]

Hi Hope everyone is ok, I could so with bit of advice please, I had a face to face with 2 consultants from ATOS last friday in Birmingham, they both recommended IHR as they say I'm not fit for the job, I agreed and they said it would take a couple of weeks to sort out. Today I received a call from ATOS again to say that I have to have a referral to them again and speak to another doctor this week, the referral states IHR Lump Sum is the reason for referral. Is this normal procedure ? the reason I ask is because the docs last week told me that was it all over so now I am confused as to what the procedure actually is, does anyone know please ? thanks

[clashcityrocker]

I think it is to decide if you are fit to work anywhere.
If you can't work for Parcelforce but could get a job elsewhere it is one type of IHR. (without Lump Sum)
If they decide you couldn't work anywhere it is another type of IHR. (with Lump sum)
Maybe

[acovanne]

Thanks for that, I've not heard that there are 2 types of IHR, I may be able to work elsewhere but cannot do any job which would involve long sitting or standing or lifting so would be limited even in another company ..looks like after 10 years, 2 AOD's I will be done over yet again by Royal Mail :-(

[Pinky 1]

Here you go acovanne, taken from the Joint Agreement between Royal Mail Group and the Communications Workers Union which has been reached in respect of employees who may be unable to continue to undertake their normal duties due to ill health.

4. DEFINITIONS OF ILL HEALTH RETIREMENT

4.1 “Retirement on ill health grounds with immediate pension” means the cessation of employment as a result of serious physical or mental ill health (not simply a decline in energy or ability) such that, in the opinion of Royal Mail Group or associated employer the member is permanently incapable of:

a) carrying out his current duties;

b) carrying out such other duties for the employer as the employer might reasonably expect the member to perform; and

c) engaging in employment with any other employer of a type which, in the opinion of his present employer, would be reasonable and appropriate for the member.

4.2 “Retirement on ill health grounds with lump sum payment” means the cessation of employment as a result of serious physical or mental ill health (not simply a decline in energy or ability) such that, in the opinion of Royal Mail Group or associated employer, the employee is, for the foreseeable future, incapable of:

a) carrying out his current duties;

b) carrying out such other duties for the employer as the employer might reasonably expect the member to perform.

5. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

The following is an agreed understanding between Royal Mail Group and the Unions on the interpretation of the Ill Health Retirement Definitions contained in Paragraph 4

Where, through ill health, an individual is unable to perform their normal duties then Royal Mail Group and Trade Unions agree that suitability and reasonableness will be the prime factors in identifying appropriate alternative duties that the employer might expect the individual to undertake. This will enable Royal Mail Group to effectively discharge its obligations under legislation including the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the Employment Rights Act 1996.

When assessing suitability and reasonableness, the factors that could be taken into consideration include: job content, skill & aptitude, the person’s current status, current pay and future earnings opportunity, hours of work, location and travel arrangements, personal commitments & circumstances, age etc.
Permanent incapacity shall mean until normal retirement age or for at least 10 years from the date of medical opinion, whichever is the sooner.

Foreseeable future shall mean a period of at least 9 months from the date of medical opinion.

Due consideration would also be given to the degree of training required to enable the individual to undertake alternative work, and full support made available to those individuals able to demonstrate the necessary aptitude for acquiring those new skills.

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[acovanne]

thanks Pinky, still confused though..will just have to see what ATOS want to know on wednesday :-/