Undue Pressure

[sdeelutd]

I have been off work for two days with flu symptoms. Not on a stage at all. The first day the management called and wanted to know when i would be back. The second day i got a Special Delivery letter from an area manager saying that they want me to return to work on a gradual basis and would offer alternative work which would be suitable and i quote from this manager : ' I do recognise that it can be difficult to return to work after such an absence and would like to reassure you that your well being will be my uppermost concern.' I have also been invited for an interview to discuss what i can do the way of work whilst i have the flu. I might take up the offer of key control or do a managers job for 6 months as light duties whilst i recover from temporary bout of flu.

Phone calls, letters, interviews--- all in the space of two days. I havent been off work for a long time so what i would like to know is this standard practice? Do people think it is right or wrong to do this to people who are ill. My own feeling is this is a standard practice and reflects the fact that RM sees its people not as people with differing circumstances but as a pair of hands.

As for 'your well being will be my uppermost concern.' Well get my pay right when i do OT. Get me a van to take me out to delivery so i dont have to bike 5 miles. Get my second bags out on time. And stop pressuzing me when i am off sick!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

It sounds like an Admin error to me - 2 days and they are chasing you contact rep and management tomorrow just to check but don't go back till your fully recovered

[Broxi51]

Was off on tuesday with a bad back. Phone call from manager tuesday asking if I could return on wednesday to do light duties. I said I would see how I felt on Wednesday morning. Phoned Wed morning to say I wouldnt be able to make it as I could hardly walk. Was told I had to come down to DO at 9.30am for a MI (medical inspection? . Told them I couldnt as I had no transport but offered them to come to my house or to do it over the phone. Got a phone call back saying they had talked to ATOS and that they didnt have enough details as to whether I could return or not. They told me I wouldnt do any heavy lifting, just callers office and allocate specials. I said I would try but if I went off again it would take the whole management in the UK to come up with crowbars to prise me back to work before I was ready. The pressure they put on you is spiralling. I have never had that before. I made it to work today but my back is still aching. No better no worse. I am back again tomorrow on light duties. If they had left me to heal naturally I would be back a lot quicker but if they are happy to keep giving me light duties for the rest of my work days then who am I to argue. I feel that they are missing the point of the recuperating and the getting better part of being off sick which in the long term is going to f*ck them up more.

[dvbuk55]

They never seem to bother me - mind you I often get the feeling they would rather I wasn't here at all. Since the changed times I haven't had a work plan bestowed on me - it took two weeks for my return to work interview last time I was off and that was followed about 6 weeks later by a Stage 1 interview about 5 weeks go to which I haven't yet heard the result.

[Carnoustie]

sdeelutd, from my own experience, there does not seem to be a 'standard' practice in Royal Mail. What happens to an individual in terms of phone calls, letters etc seems to vary enormously depending on where you work and who your manager is. I've been off a single day and received a 'sorry you're not felling well and oh by the way here's a reminder of the attendance standards' letter the next morning, and yet I know of people who fail to show up for work, don't phone in - either to say they won't be in OR to say when they are coming back - who, after a quick chat with a guvnor that can't be @rsed with all the formal paperwork, then get issued Comp Day forms after they've already taken the time off

[Carnoustie]

They never seem to bother me - mind you I often get the feeling they would rather I wasn't here at all. Since the changed times I haven't had a work plan bestowed on me - it took two weeks for my return to work interview last time I was off and that was followed about 6 weeks later by a Stage 1 interview about 5 weeks go to which I haven't yet heard the result.

You should keep a note of the exact date of the return-to-work interview, because my understanding is that RTWs should be carried out within 48hours of a person's actual resumption of duty. So if you should ever find yourself at Stage 3, you could argue that they haven't adhered to their own procedure and thus get the Stage 1 overturned ?? And they can't in all fairness legitimately issue a Stage 2 if the Stage 1 was not legit, surely ? etc etc

[dvbuk55]

They never seem to bother me - mind you I often get the feeling they would rather I wasn't here at all. Since the changed times I haven't had a work plan bestowed on me - it took two weeks for my return to work interview last time I was off and that was followed about 6 weeks later by a Stage 1 interview about 5 weeks go to which I haven't yet heard the result.

You should keep a note of the exact date of the return-to-work interview, because my understanding is that RTWs should be carried out within 48hours of a person's actual resumption of duty. So if you should ever find yourself at Stage 3, you could argue that they haven't adhered to their own procedure and thus get the Stage 1 overturned ?? And they can't in all fairness legitimately issue a Stage 2 if the Stage 1 was not legit, surely ? etc etc

All my meetings with Managers are fully documented and in the instances of sickness, however minor, I take in the unit rep and I ask for a minuted account of the conversation which is my due. The ridiculous thing was the last time I went in the paperwork showed my sickness absence as the week before I was actually sick. I could recount some of the more humorous encounters we have had, including with others, when the unit rep isn't there, I go in with people. It's a game. I don't enjoy things as much as I did BEFORE diversity and the over-bloated B & H procedures but I still have some fun. The one and only thing I have in common with managers is that bullshit comes naturally.

[Chelseablue]

DVb just been signed off with a bad chest infection . Feeling terrible as I am ,I get a letter saying they want to see me at work for an interview 9.15 am in order to discuss my absence and to see if there's anything they can do to assist in my recovery . I'm expected to get out my sick bed 8 in morning for what reason ? Cannot blieve this ,any advice wud be good thanks

[Son Of God]

DVb just been signed off with a bad chest infection . Feeling terrible as I am ,I get a letter saying they want to see me at work for an interview 9.15 am in order to discuss my absence and to see if there's anything they can do to assist in my recovery . I'm expected to get out my sick bed 8 in morning for what reason ? Cannot blieve this ,any advice wud be good thanks

Phone up and thank your manager for his/her concern. Make him/her aware you are too ill to attend work for a meeting at this time. You will happily keep in contact with them (preferably you tell them you will phone in every 3rd day) the duration of your illness and should at any point you feel well enough to attend said meeting, then you will make arrangements to do so at such time.

[dvbuk55]

DVb just been signed off with a bad chest infection . Feeling terrible as I am ,I get a letter saying they want to see me at work for an interview 9.15 am in order to discuss my absence and to see if there's anything they can do to assist in my recovery . I'm expected to get out my sick bed 8 in morning for what reason ? Cannot blieve this ,any advice wud be good thanks

I think the previous poster has it right. Ring & explain the reason for absence is such that you feel unable to attend, thank him for his concern (and try not to laugh) and that you will be happy to discuss the problem via phone but cannot return to work until the doctor has signed you off.

[Chelseablue]

Cheers folks much appr just can't blieve this goes on

[OnAFlyer]

Why on earth are they asking ill people to go into work on their second day off for interviews and 'medical inspections'

Just bin the letters, phone the office later that day and say you won't be in again the next day and will keep them informed.

[cweg]

You can get a phased return after 2 days?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

You can get a phased return after 2 days?

Yes, if the medical condition that caused the absence warrants it. If would be fairly unusual though.

[Kings Norton]

They tried that with me phone call after phone call then the special delivery's started arriving, I won't go into my sickness but had a meeting with DOM. DOM asked me why can't you come in and kill off letters I put a phone number in front of the DOM and said "Ring Doctor Kundee and ask him" DOM shut up then.