Manager Over Ruling Doctors Letter/Rehab Duty

matt166 · Post by **matt166** » 28 Feb 2018, 16:28

With this new Occupation Health System in place what new roles if any have been given to managers regarding fitness for work and rehab duties ?

i ask because a Dom in our office overruled a Doctors letter insisting a return to work on rehab duties (2 hours first week)

Have they been given authority to authorize Rehab duties without seeking OH advice on employees health . How should this have been processed

The Ill Health Agreement says all rehab duties hould be on PSP

"The Occupational Health Service will advise managers on any necessary temporary modifications and the suitability of an employee’s return to work. Where short term job modifications have been agreed with the employee, details of their short term job modifications and the timescales agreed for their return to their normal role should be recorded through Managing My Team on PSP. The manager should include agreed review dates throughout the period of temporary modifications"

Is that still the case ? Should a manager have logged a rehab duty he created on PSP?

Post by **Brandy** » 28 Feb 2018, 16:36

Thats exactly what happened in our office the DOM said they could overrule a doctors sicknote,its unbelievable,since when have they become doctors? Also how would they stand if they made the postie go in to work and they were taken ill? Surely the DOM would be in big trouble then.

Creditshampoo · Post by **Creditshampoo** » 28 Feb 2018, 16:43

My manager tried that with me.
Refused to go back until I had a plan in writing

matt166 · Post by **matt166** » 28 Feb 2018, 16:44

That why I am looking a policy to see what managers should do so I can challenge, surely managers are given guidance

ninja · Post by **ninja** » 28 Feb 2018, 17:28

It is covered by the attendance agreement. You need to read from oh 54.

rehabron · Post by **rehabron** » 28 Feb 2018, 18:25

The problem is that from April 2017 RMG downsized their contract with OH Assist in a cost cutting exercise and replaced it with HR Services as an interface although there will be occasions when OH Assist will be contacted.
Unfortunately your DOM can ignore a GP " Fit Note" and its recommendations and any recommendations from their Occupational Health Provider OH Assist but should there be a relapse in the colleagues medical condition by ignoring then they are left wide open to compensation claims.
I would insist on a view from an HR referral and pressure for an OH Assist referral and get your union rep involved that DOM is not abiding with a rehabilitation plan.
As I don't know the colleagues absence record but could return to GP and advise that employer is not allowing his work return conditions and he/she may get so pissed off that you are given a new " fit Note" that you are unfit for work and start of with a month.

rubberbond · Post by **rubberbond** » 28 Feb 2018, 20:22

Who on earth agreed to this? Overruling a "fit note", from a medical professional ,that's an absolute outrage. No wonder a lot of GP's dislike Royal Mail.

Post by **ArthurPewty** » 28 Feb 2018, 20:23

rehabron wrote:The problem is that from April 2017 RMG downsized their contract with OH Assist in a cost cutting exercise and replaced it with HR Services as an interface although there will be occasions when OH Assist will be contacted.
Unfortunately your DOM can ignore a GP " Fit Note" and its recommendations and any recommendations from their Occupational Health Provider OH Assist but should there be a relapse in the colleagues medical condition by ignoring then they are left wide open to compensation claims.
I would insist on a view from an HR referral and pressure for an OH Assist referral and get your union rep involved that DOM is not abiding with a rehabilitation plan.
As I don't know the colleagues absence record but could return to GP and advise that employer is not allowing his work return conditions and he/she may get so pissed off that you are given a new " fit Note" that you are unfit for work and start of with a month.

Very much agree with this. Most GP's will take very badly the news that their medical advice has been ignored by the DOM. I'd wager a fair amount that the GP would sign the OP off completely. Of course the DOM can ignore this too, but mention of words like 'civil court', 'compensation' and 'sack' should focus their mind nicely. They will quickly work out that their manager will throw them under the bus without a second thought if the OP gets worse and sues. That bit is called karma.

rehabron · Post by **rehabron** » 28 Feb 2018, 21:09

rubberbond wrote:Who on earth agreed to this? Overruling a "fit note", from a medical professional ,that's an absolute outrage. No wonder a lot of GP's dislike Royal Mail.

https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/gover ... fit-notes/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tman · Post by **Tman** » 28 Feb 2018, 21:10

Just insist on a dated and signed letter stating why the Dom (or whoever it is) feels the employee can and should return to work over the GP's wishes, and stating that both he and RM will take full responsibility for any negative outcomes.
You'll be fully recovered and back at work long before that letter ever appears..

Pidleypoo · Post by **Pidleypoo** » 28 Feb 2018, 21:26

Tman wrote:Just insist on a dated and signed letter stating why the Dom (or whoever it is) feels the employee can and should return to work over the GP's wishes, and stating that both he and RM will take full responsibility for any negative outcomes.
You'll be fully recovered and back at work long before that letter ever appears..

Exactly what I did and they absolutely bobbed themselves..

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 01 Mar 2018, 12:24

rubberbond wrote:Who on earth agreed to this? Overruling a "fit note", from a medical professional ,that's an absolute outrage. No wonder a lot of GP's dislike Royal Mail.

The Government did

https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/gover ... fit-notes/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Government tells employers they can overrule GP fit notes