2 week sick interviews

[thebeast]

Thanks, this guy has a gp note, the atos counselor agrees hes not ready for work yet this manager is harrassing him to return, as its depression hes off with it is making his condition worse.. any advise on this or the best way to deal with it lads?

[Carnoustie]

Thanks, this guy has a gp note, the atos counselor agrees hes not ready for work yet this manager is harrassing him to return, as its depression hes off with it is making his condition worse.. any advise on this or the best way to deal with it lads?

Does your office have a facility to leave a recorded message on a 'sick line' ? We have an answerphone line where you can ring in outside office hours, to fulfill the requirement to phone in before your shift is due to commence.

Tell him to leave a message, saying something like 'just to update you on my condition.... I am off work with depression. My own GP has signed me off work. ATOS Origin have stipulated that I am unfit for duty, yet I am receiving unwanted telephone calls from my manager, harrassing me to return to work despite the advice of medical professionals. This harrassment is worsening my depression and even causing me to have suicidal thoughts. My relatives will be informed about the existence of this recorded message, and will be seeking justice through the courts should this continual harrassment have a tragic conclusion. I am sure the national news media will also be interested in how my case sits alongside Royal Mail's supposed zero tolerance approach to bullying and harrassment'.

If that doesn't stop the DOM in his tracks, I don't know what will

[thebeast]

Thanks Mr C,

Its not phone calls but the 2 week interview this is taking place, he was told if he doesn't go then his pay will be stopped as it is part of the new agreement to turn up..

[ian1]

here are the guidelines ,agreed by CWU and RM,they stink.


Occupational Health Referral Guidelines

Published by Royal Mail Group and the Communications Workers’ Union

January 2004

Occupational Health Advice and your GP/Specialist

Background

It’s true to say that we are likely to fall ill at some time during our working lives. As such, this may mean taking time off work and/or making temporary and/or permanent adjustments to our working lives.

When individuals fall ill, a service exists which includes providing managers with advice and information relating to the health and welfare of individual employees. This enables managers to support and advise employees, as well as to enable them to make effective decisions relating to the management of employee absence and performance.

This service is provided by Employee Health Services (EHS). This service can be accessed through:

• A process known as “Case Conferenceâ€

[ian1]

Anyone who has been told that Atos have nade a recommendation that they are fit to work ,has a right of appeal against this and you should put this in writing .They are due to abide by firstly the Rehab Agreement and then ,for your appeal ,the Ill health retirement agreement.They shouls also be contacing your GP for an opinion.

*
1. Where the employee does not accept the rehabilitation offer or where no suitable alternative work can be found all the available options should be explored with the individual and documented. If rehabilitation has been declined the employee's reasons should be fully explored and documented to minimise any risk to the employee's health or to the health and safety of colleagues
2. Where the offer of a rehabilitation programme is unacceptable to the individual, he / she may appeal against the suitability of the work being offered including the proposed hours of work and date of return. Appeals will follow the process described in section 10.1 of the Ill Health Agreement. As set out in section 10.2 of that Agreement the outcome of the appeal will be one of the following:
(a) The appeal is upheld and appropriate adjustments are made. ( section 10.2.(a) )
(b) The appeal is upheld but it is not possible to make the appropriate adjustments ( section 10.2 (b)
(c) The appeal fails ( section 10.2 ( c)
3. If the employee proposes an immediate return to work rather then continuing rehabilitation EHS advice should be sought if there is any doubt about the employees fitness to resume his/her normal duties.
4. Normal duties must not be commenced or resumed against EHS advice. Further advice may be sought from EHS as necessary and the position kept under review.

*

[madelin4]

[thebeast]

All fair enough, but if a manager is trying to force someone back to work, even though signed off by the gp, and the atos doc agrees hes not fit, and the whole thing is making his depression worse.. what would be the best approach?

[thebeast]

All fair enough, but if a manager is trying to force someone back to work, even though signed off by the gp, and the atos doc agrees hes not fit, and the whole thing is making his depression worse.. what would be the best approach?

[mal]

if it is the management interview they are trying to get him into work for then tell him to ask again for a home visit accompanied by his unit rep,he is entitled to this particularly if the depression is work related.

also he should ask for a copy of the atos report as they do not always put the info in it that they have told to the punter.he is due this under the data protection act.his manager will have a copy.it will not look too good at a tribunal if they are going against atos advice.

he should get written notice from management that they intend stopping his pay and pass this on to his branch for legal advice.

[madelin4]

if it is the management interview they are trying to get him into work for then tell him to ask again for a home visit accompanied by his unit rep,he is entitled to this particularly if the depression is work related.

also he should ask for a copy of the atos report as they do not always put the info in it that they have told to the punter.he is due this under the data protection act.his manager will have a copy.it will not look too good at a tribunal if they are going against atos advice.

he should get written notice from management that they intend stopping his pay and pass this on to his branch for legal advice.

What if atos say one is fit and our own gp has us a sick line???? Would we have to follow atos or do we have the right to adhere to our own gp? can royal mail dismiss us if we refuse to go back to work if atos say we are fit?? or do they pay us off on IHR? Or even consider dismissal under the conduct code?

[k979aaa]

if it is the management interview they are trying to get him into work for then tell him to ask again for a home visit accompanied by his unit rep,he is entitled to this particularly if the depression is work related.

also he should ask for a copy of the atos report as they do not always put the info in it that they have told to the punter.he is due this under the data protection act.his manager will have a copy.it will not look too good at a tribunal if they are going against atos advice.

he should get written notice from management that they intend stopping his pay and pass this on to his branch for legal advice.

What if atos say one is fit and our own gp has us a sick line???? Would we have to follow atos or do we have the right to adhere to our own gp? can royal mail dismiss us if we refuse to go back to work if atos say we are fit?? or do they pay us off on IHR? Or even consider dismissal under the conduct code?

IMHO i would only use ATOS to leave because that is their job to say one is unfit for purpose but they cannont determain your feeling's ie pain as no one can!. if you want to stay in royalmail stick with your doctor you have worked far to long and hard to be fobbed off by royalmails phony medic's (ATOS) = (Failed medical students)! .