DOM withdraws sick pay after sports injury outside work

[maximus74]

Our DOM has stopped paying sick pay to a lad who injured himself while participating in a sporting activity outside of work. He has also warned other staff members who play sports he will not pay them if they are injured while playing sports. I cannot see in any of the agreements and policies his right to do this?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Our DOM has stopped paying sick pay to a lad who injured himself while participating in a sporting activity outside of work. He has also warned other staff members who play sports he will not pay them if they are injured while playing sports. I cannot see in any of the agreements and policies his right to do this?

Depends. If colleagues have been paid sick pay after injuring themselves playing sports then he cannot without prior warning suspend sick pay for 1 individual.

However, it also depends on the contract the guy has he may need to check it to see if there is a clause about dangerous sports. Also if he has not passed the 1 year served anniversary then he is not entitled to sick pay anyway.

However, even if the boss is right, he should still be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay so he'll need to make the manager start the paperwork for claiming it.

Best Advice: Call the Union - Area Rep if possible and let them stir it up.

[rehabron]

Our DOM has stopped paying sick pay to a lad who injured himself while participating in a sporting activity outside of work. He has also warned other staff members who play sports he will not pay them if they are injured while playing sports. I cannot see in any of the agreements and policies his right to do this?

Royal Mail Sick Pay Policy
----------------------------------
Conditions on which sick pay is payable:
--------------------------------------------------
The business reserves the right to refuse sick pay if an absence is due to, or is aggravated by, causes within the employee's control, or if the employee has neglected instructions given by a doctor.
Seems this DOM is taking the conditions of the sick pay policy to the letter.
This lad will not be the first or last to be injured in a sports activity outside his employment at RM and others dependant on length of service would have received and enjoyed no deductions in their wages so a grievance might be the order of the day.
Makes me wonder if Charlie Flynn the Motherwell postie who received a boxing gold at the Commonwealth Games 2014 had been absent from his work due to an injury and would his DOM have stopped or deducted from his wages.
Does RM stiil operate its Sports Foundation ?

[coxie]

He needs to contact his area union rep ASAP as I suspect he shouldn't be suspending sick pay because of a sport injury. In fact I'm almost positive , are our lives supposed to revolve around work that we don't do anything after work other than sit at home?

[Himaggen]

The business reserves the right to refuse sick pay if an absence is due to, or is aggravated by, causes within the employee's control

Unless the business can prove 'within the employee's control' I cannot see how they can illegally deduct wages.
"…but for him playing rugby the neck injury resulting from a high tackle would not have happened" does not mean it was within their control
that's the same as saying "…but for him driving to work the resultant whiplash from the collision would not have occurred"

[hans solo]

andif they deduct wages or refuse sick pay surely absences cant count on your record

[BarnsleyLackey]

Our DOM has stopped paying sick pay to a lad who injured himself while participating in a sporting activity outside of work. He has also warned other staff members who play sports he will not pay them if they are injured while playing sports. I cannot see in any of the agreements and policies his right to do this?

Royal Mail Sick Pay Policy
----------------------------------
Conditions on which sick pay is payable:
--------------------------------------------------
The business reserves the right to refuse sick pay if an absence is due to, or is aggravated by, causes within the employee's control, or if the employee has neglected instructions given by a doctor.
Seems this DOM is taking the conditions of the sick pay policy to the letter.
This lad will not be the first or last to be injured in a sports activity outside his employment at RM and others dependant on length of service would have received and enjoyed no deductions in their wages so a grievance might be the order of the day.
Makes me wonder if Charlie Flynn the Motherwell postie who received a boxing gold at the Commonwealth Games 2014 had been absent from his work due to an injury and would his DOM have stopped or deducted from his wages.
Does RM stiil operate its Sports Foundation ?

"or if the employee has neglected instructions given by a doctor." - That's a nice point to know, and another reason to not let them force you back to work until the doctor says your fit.

[Lincox]

We have a sickness policy that is not fit for purpose. I have never seen any company interpret/misinterpret rules and regulations to avoid paying out money to HARDWORKING employees, that Royal Mail does.

[framusjsx]

A few months ago I pulled my calf playing football, I couldn't walk for 3 days so I had no choice but to go sick, I got paid as normal and had a back to work form when I returned, Obviously manager wasn't impressed he never mentioned it being a problem paying me.
Sick pay is there to cover you on the odd occasion that you cannot make it into work because you physically cannot do your job for whatever reason, I know some people use and abuse it but thats why they introduced the stage warnings. I would be bringing this up with the union immediately.

[Thunderthighs]

Erm, Im sure I saw something on our Biig Brother flat screen about RM Fitness, and/or keeping FIT,using a Gym or training, so is a valid reason to partake in Sports, Recreation and Leisure activities. ( Don't RM sponsor certain Charity Fund Raising activities..ie, running, cycling etc..)
So, what if he had droppped a weight on his foot, fell off the treadmill, got knocked off his bike, or closed a locker door on his hand??? Takes the piss...

The BEST Definition of Fitness Ive seen: "The ability to have enough energy to partake in your everyday work, have enough energy to partake in Leisure/Sports/Recreational activities...and...have anough energy to be able to handle/tackle any Emergency Situation that confronts you...

FITNESS, at its basic level I feel...