disability discrimination act and ATOS

[michris]

would like some advice on the following please
i had a phone call from ATOS on friday last with regard to my long term sick(ongoing)
after explaining my condition and results following major surgery,they said i was covered by DDS
also a previous condition i have had for seven years is also covered(ATOS and managment were aware of this condition)
they said they will contact me in three months time to assess my condition
could someone help and explain were i stand now and what management must do to help me,as im not very well up on this sort of thing and being a walkman i think i may struggle on return to work

any advice please

[AndyK]

depends on the likelihood of you returning to work on the same or similar duties within the foreseeable future (appox 9-12 months), from the time of the medical assessment.

[michris]

aim to be back on light duties mid march and i hope to be able to be on walk later in year

[AndyK]

aim to be back on light duties mid march and i hope to be able to be on walk later in year

Before you return to work, you will attend an interview with Atos for your a return to work plan (rehabilitation), this will set out the time scales and capibilities for your return to work on "light" duties, building you upto returning to your normal duties. The build up should be agreed by all parties, you could start week one working 2hrs per day doing maybe a bag of mail less than 8kg then by week eight your doing 6hrs a day and deliverying normal bag weights, it depends on your rehab plan.

[DGP1]

aim to be back on light duties mid march and i hope to be able to be on walk later in year

Before you return to work, you will attend an interview with Atos for your a return to work plan (rehabilitation), this will set out the time scales and capibilities for your return to work on "light" duties, building you upto returning to your normal duties. The build up should be agreed by all parties, you could start week one working 2hrs per day doing maybe a bag of mail less than 8kg then by week eight your doing 6hrs a day and deliverying normal bag weights, it depends on your rehab plan.

The management just ignore the ATOS recommendations.

[stokes11eg]

would like some advice on the following please
i had a phone call from ATOS on friday last with regard to my long term sick(ongoing)
after explaining my condition and results following major surgery,they said i was covered by DDS
also a previous condition i have had for seven years is also covered(ATOS and managment were aware of this condition)
they said they will contact me in three months time to assess my condition
could someone help and explain were i stand now and what management must do to help me,as im not very well up on this sort of thing and being a walkman i think i may struggle on return to work

any advice please

I have been through all this -if your disability prohibits you from retuning to full duties within a nine month span.
you willl probably be advised to take ill-health retirement.There are two parts to this, if you are deemed unable to return to any kind of work until you reach retirement age,or for ten years you will receive a quite generous package.
If after surgery, and rehabilitation, you are fit foe some kind of job, you will get a smaller package.
If you do get ill-health retirement, you can still apply for a job with Royal Mail in the future.
However, be prepared for Atos messing you around a bit---Good Luck.

[General Mannerheim]

If your covered under the DDA then you really do have them by the balls,the fact that most people are too sick or just to weak willed to put up any resistance to RM wanting them out the door.
They must give you time off for hospital appointments(none of this it will come out of your holiday leave rubbish)make reductions to your hours if you so wish,heck even go flexi time like I did.
They should also make any specialist equipment avaliable to do your job(but they nearly always try and get out of this)just contact your local Access to Work advisor and watch them squirm when they ahhhemm advises them you need such and such....I got a PDA as I have a Neurological brain disorder that makes me forget things so I write items like parcels,recordeds etc into the PDA`s notepad and it alerts me out on delivery,I also have a rather niffty mail trolley much easier and lighter than the RM crap they issue.
And watch out for them telling you that they will arrange a rehab plan where you will only do part of a delivery.....mine was to be at least 6 weeks and after the first week the DOM ordered me to do the full delivery as we are so short staffed.

[michris]

If your covered under the DDA then you really do have them by the balls,the fact that most people are too sick or just to weak willed to put up any resistance to RM wanting them out the door.
They must give you time off for hospital appointments(none of this it will come out of your holiday leave rubbish)make reductions to your hours if you so wish,heck even go flexi time like I did.
They should also make any specialist equipment avaliable to do your job(but they nearly always try and get out of this)just contact your local Access to Work advisor and watch them squirm when they ahhhemm advises them you need such and such....I got a PDA as I have a Neurological brain disorder that makes me forget things so I write items like parcels,recordeds etc into the PDA`s notepad and it alerts me out on delivery,I also have a rather niffty mail trolley much easier and lighter than the RM crap they issue.
And watch out for them telling you that they will arrange a rehab plan where you will only do part of a delivery.....mine was to be at least 6 weeks and after the first week the DOM ordered me to do the full delivery as we are so short staffed.

ive already had to use holiday leave at the ofset of my illness can i claim these back and r oppointments on full pay

[michris]

aim to be back on light duties mid march and i hope to be able to be on walk later in year

Before you return to work, you will attend an interview with Atos for your a return to work plan (rehabilitation), this will set out the time scales and capibilities for your return to work on "light" duties, building you upto returning to your normal duties. The build up should be agreed by all parties, you could start week one working 2hrs per day doing maybe a bag of mail less than 8kg then by week eight your doing 6hrs a day and deliverying normal bag weights, it depends on your rehab plan.

surely my own doctor and specialist r the ones to work out what im able to do on return to work

[AndyK]

surely my own doctor and specialist r the ones to work out what im able to do on return to work

Couldn't agree more but RM will take the advice of Atos (who they hire and give bonuses for everyone they get back to work).

[michris]

surely my own doctor and specialist r the ones to work out what im able to do on return to work

Couldn't agree more but RM will take the advice of Atos (who they hire and give bonuses for everyone they get back to work).

thanks for all your help
looks like RM andATOS r in for a fight my doc wont give in to them