Broken arm and getting to work
Discussion
Hi,
I've managed to break my arm and am unable to drive for 4-6 weeks. My normal job is desk based and wouldn't be that badly affected, however there are 2 problems in that my journey to and from work becomes much more difficult, with 3 bus changes and some extremely tight connection timings, realistically it would make my current ~50min journey into about 2 hours 10mins.
The painkillers are also making me drowsy which would be a problem.
Has anyone else had this kind of experience and suggestions? I hope to discuss the possibility of working from home with my employer however this presents some technical difficulties and the director of the division is not keen on such as seen in the past.
Google suggests the doctors would probably sign me off work for the duration however I feel that's taking the piss a bit, as after all my job is typing, and I'm doing that now...
I've managed to break my arm and am unable to drive for 4-6 weeks. My normal job is desk based and wouldn't be that badly affected, however there are 2 problems in that my journey to and from work becomes much more difficult, with 3 bus changes and some extremely tight connection timings, realistically it would make my current ~50min journey into about 2 hours 10mins.
The painkillers are also making me drowsy which would be a problem.
Has anyone else had this kind of experience and suggestions? I hope to discuss the possibility of working from home with my employer however this presents some technical difficulties and the director of the division is not keen on such as seen in the past.
Google suggests the doctors would probably sign me off work for the duration however I feel that's taking the piss a bit, as after all my job is typing, and I'm doing that now...
Surely, due to your condition, they can make a temporary medical exemption to their 'not working from home' policy? Or allow you to work from home a couple of days a week? I'd be wary of typing though, it could put pressure on your arm with the turning of the wrist. Or can they find you alternative work for a few weeks?
Would they not be more flexible with hours of attendance whilst you are damaged? If you don't have to get there on the dot is there an easier commute?
Knowing you could be signed off completely they may well be accommodating to you doing reduced and / or erratic hours due to logistics.
Knowing you could be signed off completely they may well be accommodating to you doing reduced and / or erratic hours due to logistics.
I had this recently as well, even if you have an auto your insurance will be void, I spoke to the insurance company and the DVLA and they said that because the doctor in A&E had said I couldn't drive, it meant, I couldn't drive.
Luckily my boss was sensible, allowed me to work from home and when I had a few important meetings that I couldn't miss said I could put a taxi on expenses! It's the advantage of working for a large company though, if it's a small one they might not help as much?
Luckily my boss was sensible, allowed me to work from home and when I had a few important meetings that I couldn't miss said I could put a taxi on expenses! It's the advantage of working for a large company though, if it's a small one they might not help as much?
One of my colleagues who broke his arm was told to stay off. He told HR that he was willing to come to work but they told him that their liability insurance covering staff on the premises didn't cover staff with certain injuries, so had had to stay off. That may just be my employer's insurance though - don't know if it's the same for everyone, but it could be an angle that's worth exploring.
Now having had a couple of days with the injury I'm realising that its more serious than i thought... sleeping upright is required and uncomfortable so my sleep pattern is shot and I'm getting sleep deprivation, the extra time needed for basics like preparing food and washing would cut into that time further, and the painkillers make it hard to concentrate and increase tiredness.
With all this in mind I'm going to be off at least until I can get a routine and reduce the level of painkillers, then hopefully i'll car share or work from home.
With all this in mind I'm going to be off at least until I can get a routine and reduce the level of painkillers, then hopefully i'll car share or work from home.
I was off for about 9 weeks when I broke my (upper) arm, I was signed off sick as I had a broken arm and I stayed off as I HAD A BROKEN ARM!
Unless you're contracting and losing money which you desperately need, I'd advise staying at home and getting better, that's what sick pay is for after all.
Offering to work from home is a nice gesture but don't underestimate how difficult everyday stuff will be in the first couple of weeks or how addictive daytime TV will become.
Unless you're contracting and losing money which you desperately need, I'd advise staying at home and getting better, that's what sick pay is for after all.
Offering to work from home is a nice gesture but don't underestimate how difficult everyday stuff will be in the first couple of weeks or how addictive daytime TV will become.
DJFish said:
I was off for about 9 weeks when I broke my (upper) arm, I was signed off sick as I had a broken arm and I stayed off as I HAD A BROKEN ARM!
Unless you're contracting and losing money which you desperately need, I'd advise staying at home and getting better, that's what sick pay is for after all.
Offering to work from home is a nice gesture but don't underestimate how difficult everyday stuff will be in the first couple of weeks or how addictive daytime TV will become.
This!Unless you're contracting and losing money which you desperately need, I'd advise staying at home and getting better, that's what sick pay is for after all.
Offering to work from home is a nice gesture but don't underestimate how difficult everyday stuff will be in the first couple of weeks or how addictive daytime TV will become.
You've got a broken arm mate, stay at home, re-coup, do the physio exercises, attend your follow up appointments etc, you don't want to extend your recovery period by taking things too quickly.
Has your boss asked that you come back into work?
Surely you've been signed off?
tenpenceshort said:
What does the OP's contract say about sick pay? Statutory is less than £90 per week, which is an unacceptable drop for most people. The employment contract may offer enhanced sick pay.
Update..been signed off for 4 weeks. My contract refers to 'company sick pay' and statutory sick pay separately, without defining (as far as I can see) what company sick pay is. Whatever it is, by the terms of the contract I'm entitled to me based on length of service, however my line manager is making noise along the lines of trying to get them not to pay it as the injury didn't happen at work.
I've asked my line manager to find out from HR what the situation is so I can go from there. Wish I could be sure of getting the truth from them!
I wont disagree with that assessment.
Thankfully HR have set him straight so I should be alright.
Had an amazing moment last night when whilst dreaming I pushed up off the arm (not broken in the dream), and as I was just drifting off my body still sent the signal to my arm which tried to do the same thing for real. Just as painful as the initial moment of injury and a hell of a way to wake up!
Thankfully HR have set him straight so I should be alright.
Had an amazing moment last night when whilst dreaming I pushed up off the arm (not broken in the dream), and as I was just drifting off my body still sent the signal to my arm which tried to do the same thing for real. Just as painful as the initial moment of injury and a hell of a way to wake up!
MitchT said:
One of my colleagues who broke his arm was told to stay off. He told HR that he was willing to come to work but they told him that their liability insurance covering staff on the premises didn't cover staff with certain injuries, so had had to stay off. That may just be my employer's insurance though - don't know if it's the same for everyone, but it could be an angle that's worth exploring.
I appeared at work the day after dislocating my shoulder. Boss was pleased HR were not.Their problem? Limitations and possible risks due to my injury? Hell no! I was a manager and HR worried that by attending work with such a serious injury I would make other people within the company suffering lesser illnesses and injuries feel pressured into attending work when they felt they were unfit to do so.
I also once attended work with a broken lower leg. Our Senior Commercial Manager who ran the QSs sent me home due to the fact I had to sit with a foot up on the table to stop it swelling. He was a funny old school sort of guy and didn't want me in his office as "I made the place look untidy"
Angry hat on today. I've been arranging my return to work. It's all a bit inconvenient as you might expect, altered hours in order to lift share, and further time that would be required for hospital appointments and physio.
Work started off saying this will have to be unpaid leave or holiday. Strange as I've just been on sick pay for exactly the same injury and treatment, but if that's what they want, ok, unpaid leave it is.
The next thing is they then say they cant allow me the time off to attend a hospital appointment. I'm not going to compromise my long term health for their one day at work, so at a bit of an impasse.
Anyone else been in the same boat and have any advice?
Work started off saying this will have to be unpaid leave or holiday. Strange as I've just been on sick pay for exactly the same injury and treatment, but if that's what they want, ok, unpaid leave it is.
The next thing is they then say they cant allow me the time off to attend a hospital appointment. I'm not going to compromise my long term health for their one day at work, so at a bit of an impasse.
Anyone else been in the same boat and have any advice?
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