Entitlement to Sick Pay

[Gaz71]

I've been working as a postman for Royal Mail for the past 3 and a half months, so I'm classed as a trial employee. A few weeks ago I was too focused on my bundle and misjudged my footing. My foot caught on the step I was trying to walk down and I went for a fall. After that my foot was aching but not to the point where I was really worried about it. Anyway, long story short, I kept working on it and it later became a sprain, taking me out of work. While I was moving around the house with the sprain the other leg took my weight and I ended up straining my knee on that side too. What a mess! A week later it felt okay so I went and did a round, which seems to have made matters worse, I've been off ever since.

So background done, my question is, am I entitled to sick pay? I've been told I'm not by my manager but surely everyone is entitled to Statutory Sick Pay? I've been off two weeks now, coming up to my third, and I'm starting to worry as it seems to be taking a long time to get any better. I mean, I can't live without money coming in so if things don't change I might have to leave the job because of it. I would ask to do something in the office, but from working there I really don't think they'd have anything for me to do.

Anyone have any advice for my situation?

[memo232]

I think you only get sick pay when you have been with RM for at least a year

[SexyLegs]

Go to your doctor and get a fit for work note that explains you can't do delivery but you can do indoor work, this happens regularly at my office, they'll keep you there for the full 8 hours, killing off deads, running in households etc etc but at least you'll be working and getting paid.........that's my best advice :)

[POSTMAN]

I was too focused on my bundle and misjudged my footing

DON'T mention this at all,it's a no no.Say it was a loose pavement or something like that.

Managers looking in:We all do it,the work wouldn't get done otherwise would it!

[POSTMAN]

No sick pay for a year,do what sexy says,have you joined the union,see your rep.
Ask to be referred to Atos.Get a rehab plan going.

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

From time to time I have a go at proper procedure regarding delivery (post mail through box; stop; filter mail for next house while checking for missort for current house; deliver missort of need be; walk to next house without looking at mail) and it takes an age! I reckon it could easily add an extra 45 minutes minimum to my typically 4.5 hour walk (excluding breaks, its gradully getting mega-busy again after a light spell around late June).

[thecoffeehouse204]

You should still be getting the SSP rate of £79.15 a week regardless of how long you've been there as long as you earn over £97 a week normally.

[Gaz71]

Well, I got a surprise wage slip through the post today. Not sure why I got paid so much but I'll not say anything if you don't.

Also got on the phone with the Manager on Wednesday and asked if there was anything else I could be doing and was told I could do driver training next week, so that's good news. Though the Manager did say Monday, but I just found out it's a Bank Holiday Monday. We don't work Bank Holiday's, right?

Injury is looking up after going to the Doctors and grabbing some meds. Pain in my knee is gone, though it isn't entirely happy with my weight on it, and the swelling is down in my foot. Still a bit of a sharp pain now and then around the ankle, but not too bad.

Edit: Oh, and the earlier question about Union reps. No idea who the rep is in my office, no idea how to join the Union either. They don't seem to tell us much at this place.

[andy2007]

Just go to: http://www.cwu.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and click on "Join the CWU online". It's on the right hand colum, about two third of the way down the page.

Once you've joined, you can phone your Branch, to ask for the contact detais of your local Rep. You can get the number for your Branch, by gong to http://www.cwu.org/cwu-branches.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; cicking on your area on the map, and selecting yur local branch from the list, that comes up.