Looking for advice

[Robert060681]

Hello anyone and everyone. I’m a posty if 8 years looking for some advice. I’ve been off since the 7th of December 2021 after a foot operation with a fit note that took me to the 15th of February 2022. After my doctor reviewed me on the 31st of January 2022 he decided to extend my fit note till the 15th of March. As you can imagine my boss isn’t happy about this and has asked for a face to face meeting next Tuesday (15th Feb) and the reason for it being next week is she wants to speak to HR about moving forward with me. My question/s is. Have I got anything to worry about as I’m covered by a fit note? Do I have to go back to work before the fit note ends? And should I try to contact HR or OC Health to get advice from them? If the last question is an option does anyone know a contact number for either one?
Thank you

[aiden01]

Hello anyone and everyone. I’m a posty if 8 years looking for some advice. I’ve been off since the 7th of December 2021 after a foot operation with a fit note that took me to the 15th of February 2022. After my doctor reviewed me on the 31st of January 2022 he decided to extend my fit note till the 15th of March. As you can imagine my boss isn’t happy about this and has asked for a face to face meeting next Tuesday (15th Feb) and the reason for it being next week is she wants to speak to HR about moving forward with me. My question/s is. Have I got anything to worry about as I’m covered by a fit note? Do I have to go back to work before the fit note ends? And should I try to contact HR or OC Health to get advice from them? If the last question is an option does anyone know a contact number for either one?
Thank you

As long as you have a fit note nothing to worry about. they can usually ask for a face to face after 28 days i think it is. go back to work when your doc says not before. ask at meeting for a oc health referral.

[Robert060681]

That’s awesome thank you. I presume the OC health referral will be so I can discuss my return to work and any kind of phased return that might be needed?

[aiden01]

That’s awesome thank you. I presume the OC health referral will be so I can discuss my return to work and any kind of phased return that might be needed?

Yes indeed.

[redlen]

You need to be careful with this.
Despite popular belief, an occupational health report can override a General Practitioner's fit note if they make a referral.
They cannot though if it is through a professional such as a surgeon/consultant etc. as they are specialists. That does not mean you will be back on deliveries, as risk assessments still need to be made.

[nutcracker]

I would strongly recommend not returning to work until YOUR ready…

returning early risks manager pressure continuously about what you can/cannot do. Injury flares up, back on sick and heavily into attendance stage problems.

Worth having up your sleeve…Foot injuries can be tricky to get to work with as your not able to commute via driving or walking.

[Sir Henry]

The wording in the agreement is, and I quote "Day 28 review • By this stage of the absence the employee and manager SHOULD have met face to face, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.(emphasis, my own) Discussion should focus on any support that can be provided to help a return to work as early as possible. (Leaving you to recuperate doesn't tend to feature as an option in the provision of support seemingly) If not completed earlier, a referral for Occupational Health advice should normally be arranged at this point, unless an early return to work is anticipated (oh they'll anticipate an early return all right, especially if it circumvents the possibility of OH telling them to leave you alone)"
Nnothing in there about you having to hobble into the office so some BELL END can tick a box. (emphasis also my own)
so you can see there are many ways the agreement can be construed, one way being that as you're resting as per medical advice to ensure your return to full hours ASAP and a trip to the depot isn't conducive to this so they can go f**k themselves vigorously day 28 or not.

Right, Don't let the screws argue the toss. If your fit note says no work then another month resting is what is required for you to avoid the trap of 'ignoring medical advice'. The screws WILL throw this at you if you exacerbate your injury on " light duties" which may delay your return to full time employment so don't be suckered in by their "light duties" bullshit. Tough it out as they try to shame/embarrass you into returning before your fit note runs out with a one size fits all work plan that they don't stick to.

You could just delay it until they leave you alone, I understand that the times of these things just so happen to coincide with no union rep on site so insist on the rep attending which might help push the meeting back. Make sure your rep knows their s**t and isn't Doms bitch.
f**k the management, forward the revolution.

[redlen]

Until management stops your wages for non-compliance in attending one of these Fit Clubs.

We all know management will move heaven and earth to get you in on light duties, as an absence is a negative with office efficiency.

It is ok saying they cannot do that but they do, even though unlawful. Most people on deliveries live week to week on their wages and bullied back into work while still unfit out of desperation.

Ask yourself how long you can last with no money coming into the home?



If management stops your wages, throw this at them

Scottish Courage Ltd v Guthrie.

The employer cannot just decide any absence is not genuine, with no specific evidence to that effect, and merely because the employer disagrees with the employees General Practitioner as to when the employee will be fit to return to work.

Put simply the employer needs further evidence from other professional sources such as Occupational Health before stopping those wages.

Stopping of wages will be contrary to section 13 Employment Rights Act 1996 Unlawful deduction of wages

[Haditup]

How are you going to attend a Face to Face interview with a foot injury?
Because if you attend ,they will say you are fit to for light duties, ie prepping D2Ds for 6 hrs + a day!

Take a pair of crutches with.

[panzer4]

How are you going to attend a Face to Face interview with a foot injury?
Because if you attend ,they will say you are fit to for light duties, ie prepping D2Ds for 6 hrs + a day!

Take a pair of crutches with.

I was asked to attend a meeting with DOM when off sick with a note stating i was unfit to drive while recovering from surgery so DOM sent one of her minions out to pick me up and return after interview
If you are unfit to drive your insurance could be invalid don’t risk it
Good luck and don’t rush back to work until you are ready