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[WARDY]

Been off work with achilles tendonitis for 7 weeks but my docs line said I was to be off for 8 weeks. Manager has kept on about me getting in for a talk with him, which I had put off until he eventually kept on and I reluctantly made him come to my house for his talk. He is now wanting me to start this tuesday 26th April, one week before my line runs out, saying I can return and go in the control room on light duties. Why cant they just leave us alone and go on what the docs line says and stop chasing us back to work. I work 26 miles away from home and told him it would be sore on my ankle driving a distance to and fro to work. He then produced times of buses,trains, etc even tho it would take over 2 hours to get to my work using public transport. He even suggested me going into a Crown P.O. or a local delivery office to work but I told him I work in supply chain and would not be going elsewhere to work. Am I that important to the company, dont think so, plus with him getting me to start that week earlier, I wont be able to claim back the public holidays on monday 25th and friday 29th april which I would have claimed back if he had not harrassed me back to work one week earlier as I would still have been on the sick. I am feckin raging that they just cant go on the docs advice without them getting their tuppence worth

[BT2010]

if you have a docs note he must refer you to ATOS for a risk assesment before you return to work.

[hans solo]

you manager is not a doc tell him to do one

[gusco]

Wardy - I've been in the exact same situ as you - I too work for Supply Chain. I played the system,

I was in an attack and had bout six weeks off. I was still seeing GP, ATOS councillors and had the home visit.

My boss thought it would be best to come back on light duties to aid my recovery. I said no, but then ATOS phoned a few days later asking my capaibilities, told them none and that I had just been issued a renewed sick note for a further 2 weeks.

Then a few days later boss ring me up putting pressure to go back on 2 hours a day, I said no.

A day or so later I get another phone call from boss putting further pressure on.

I then spoke to my doc who told me the facts about a sick note. It is a legal document and that an employer cant force you to work whilst being covered by one, although I could go back earlier if I wanted to. My doc advised me not to return.

I spoke to Union rep who said dont go back and went to speak to the boss and told him I wasn't right.

I then got a letter saying from boss saying that I would be better off in another section of RM. I argued with him but went back, but gave him a letter on my first day back saying I wasnt fit for work and I felt I had been forced back too earlt. Also sent a copy to head of personnel.

I had been suffering back at work for around 2 weeks on 2 hours a day, when I got my invitation to a stage1 interview about my attendance, this made me feel worse than ever.

I went sick again, still down to stress and anxiety from the attack. I was off this time for about 3 months. Whilst off the manager started immediately wanting to home visit. I spoke to union rep and was advised to put in a grievance for the way I was being treated.

I went through the interviews and my grievance failed,(like the union rep said it would- because it would be managed by our area manager(my depot managers boss) and he would already be aware of the pressure being put on me by my boss).

I appealed as advised and a senior manager from personnel took over the case. He couldn't believe the things that had gone on, ie being asked to return to work whilst on a sick note, and being told I may be moved to another department. He upheld my grievance and a few weeks later my manager was moved to HQ -office based.

The outcome was that the undue pressure on me to return caused thus my 2nd period of sick and that the manager had been wrong to pressure me.

Even now when people go sick long term(7 days is classed as long term), the managers put pressure on to return to work. But they know there is nothing they can do with a sick note.

Just say to your manager, that you will return to work on receipt of a letter from him saying that he will accept full and total responsibility for any deterioration or aggravation in your achilles tendonitis.

I very much doubt he will put it in writing. He'll then leave you alone.

I know the system and know what to say to be left alone. It should never come to this though - because we all work for a caring employer.

Stick to your guns - you know your injury best - not your boss

[WARDY]

Cheers Gusco one colleague came and gave me a lift to work for two days and I sat beside someone in the control room, what a waste of time as I virtually did nothing and I would have been better sitting on my arse in the house doing nothing. So all this chasing me up makes it seem that although I was doing nothing, maybe it stands the manager in good stead because he has got another body back to work and he gains some brownie points. I told him no way was I able to hump coin etc about for supply chain at the moment, so I am now being put on a trunking duty. Well at least I get to sit on my backside for a while albeit driving and will just take it from there. P.S. I was also in an armed robbery years ago and it was not a pleasing experience and had four weeks off but never got any hassle about going back to work, oh how things have changed.

[gusco]

They see us all as figures:-

At home,( ill, in pain, sick) = BAD
In work (ill, in pain, sick)= GOOD

oh - the caring employer we have