OH Assist ..is my manager telling lies?

[iHateD2Ds]

Manager wants me to return on back to work phased plan and has referred me to OH Assist.
He then began to go on about if OH Assist felt I should be getting back to work, they would over rule my doctor's sick note and if I did not comply to the plan they would also stop my sick pay.

I do realise he was using bullying tactics but can Royal Mail do this because I thought a Doctor's note would be more sufficient than a assessment over a phone with OH Assist.

The whole process seems to be biased in favour of Royal Mail if this is the case.

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

Manager wants me to return on back to work phased plan and has referred me to OH Assist.
He then began to go on about if OH Assist felt I should be getting back to work, they would over rule my doctor's sick note and if I did not comply to the plan they would also stop my sick pay.

I do realise he was using bullying tactics but can Royal Mail do this because I thought a Doctor's note would be more sufficient than a assessment over a phone with OH Assist.

The whole process seems to be biased in favour of Royal Mail if this is the case.

Yes they can actually do this but it's not as simple as he is making out

Also he must have your permission before he refers you to oh assist he can't just do it off his own back

[rehabron]

Manager wants me to return on back to work phased plan and has referred me to OH Assist.
He then began to go on about if OH Assist felt I should be getting back to work, they would over rule my doctor's sick note and if I did not comply to the plan they would also stop my sick pay.

I do realise he was using bullying tactics but can Royal Mail do this because I thought a Doctor's note would be more sufficient than a assessment over a phone with OH Assist.

The whole process seems to be biased in favour of Royal Mail if this is the case.

In Royal Mail's conditions on which sick pay is payable it states that Royal Mail can refuse payment of sick pay should employee neglect a doctors instructions not the other way round.

[Postiebear]

OH Assist are very good from my experience, my doc signed me off for a week and my boss put me on to OH Assist, not his best move, after explaining what was up, they thought my doc was sending me back to quick and advised me to take another eeek off then set a plan for 2 weeks in door work, the bosses face was a picture when I told him

[daveyeff]

Manager wants me to return on back to work phased plan and has referred me to OH Assist.
He then began to go on about if OH Assist felt I should be getting back to work, they would over rule my doctor's sick note and if I did not comply to the plan they would also stop my sick pay.

I do realise he was using bullying tactics but can Royal Mail do this because I thought a Doctor's note would be more sufficient than a assessment over a phone with OH Assist.

The whole process seems to be biased in favour of Royal Mail if this is the case.

Yes they can actually do this but it's not as simple as he is making out

Also he must have your permission before he refers you to oh assist he can't just do it off his own back

are you saying that they can overrule a doctors sicknote?

[baz284]

If oh assist want to overrule a doctors note, that is something that they must discuss with the doctor,

[TrueBlueTerrier]

are you saying that they can overrule a doctors sicknote?

Yes


https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... idance.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Is the fit note binding on me?

No. The assessment about whether your employee is not fit for work or may be fit for work (and any other advice in the fit note) is classed as advice, and it is for employers to determine whether or not to accept it.

Occasionally, you may be believe that your employee is not fit for work when they have been assessed as fit for work by their doctor, or you may think that your employee could do some work when they have been assessed as ‘not fit for work’ by their doctor.

In situations like this you are within your rights to gather other evidence about your employee’s fitness for work from other doctors or healthcare professionals. You can choose to give this other evidence precedence over the advice in the fit note. Your employee may disagree with you, and you may need to demonstrate to an employment tribunal why the alternative source of evidence was more acceptable to you than the fit note.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

If oh assist want to overrule a doctors note, that is something that they must discuss with the doctor,

Can't see that in the guidance - any links etc so we can keep everyone up to date.

[PHARRY]

If oh assist want to overrule a doctors note, that is something that they must discuss with the doctor,

Can't see that in the guidance - any links etc so we can keep everyone up to date.

What does OH mean

[TrueBlueTerrier]

If oh assist want to overrule a doctors note, that is something that they must discuss with the doctor,

Can't see that in the guidance - any links etc so we can keep everyone up to date.

What does OH mean

Occupational Health

[fishtank]

Royal Mail/CWU Attendance Agreement.
Work following health problems guide

The manager should agree a return to work plan with input from both the employee
and Occupational Health Service and should communicate the decision to the employee.

The plan will cover:
• Whether there will be a phased return to work, modified duties or a combination
of both
• The timescales for the return to work plan
• Review dates throughout the return to
work plan
• Any training that the employee will require
• Any support that is necessary such as buddying or mentoring etc.

The precise point during recovery which is the best time to return to work activities is an
individual’s judgement and expert guidance will be given to the manager by the Occupational Health Service. As a general guide, it is reasonable and appropriate for an employee to return to work when recovery allows completion of approximately half of their work activities. Similarly the aim would be for the employee to be able to perform their full role usually within four weeks but may continue beyond this period where appropriate.

[fishtank]

The bottom line is Atos don't overrule doctors and doctors don't overrule Atos, both are just guidance tools and the tool in the Primark shirt can overrule both if he wants to but he can't overrule the most important factor in the equation...you, because at the end of the day it's your health.

[aiden01]

The bottom line is Atos don't overrule doctors and doctors don't overrule Atos, both are just guidance tools and the tool in the Primark shirt can overrule both if he wants to but he can't overrule the most important factor in the equation...you, because at the end of the day it's your health.

but what happens if the tool in the primark shirt overrules both and you lose your job. the old saying is your health is your wealth is bo..ocks if your skint

[baz284]

What happens when Occupational Health Service and the GP differ on fitness to attend work?
On occasion, the GP opinion regarding fitness to work may differ from that of the Occupational Health Service. In the vast majority of instances this can be resolved by the employee talking further with their GP, who may not be aware of the opportunity to modify the employee’s role. If this does not resolve the situation the Occupational Health practitioner should contact the GP to ensure that such opportunities can be explored. If this does not resolve the issue for further advice, please contact the HR Advice Centre.

From pages 37-38 of the new attendance agreement

Hope this helps

[daveyeff]

reading the guidelines of the fitnote advice, it completely takes the side of the business and is undermining the doctors advice/ opinion in my view.....plus it made me piss boil