Time off work, with a twist!
Discussion
This is a long one!...
I'm currently off work (at their discretion) due to my health (epilepsy), and I assume them covering their back for health and safety reasons.
My job is quite a physical job, working for a large vehicle manufacturing company, and due to quite a severe seizure at work, have been told to stay off work until they get a comprehensive report from my hospital neurologist.
This seems to be taking its time and I've already been off work for almost 2 months. I've been told by HR I need to keep getting sick notes from my GP to cover the period I'm off.
Now the company I work for are not the most trustworthy place to work for, and have been known to try their luck at getting rid of anyone with health issues.
I've made it clear to them I'm ok to be at work, to be honest I'd rather be at work than sit at home!
I want to make sure I cover my back for the record, and to make it clear that this time off is at THEIR discretion.
Do I NEED to keep providing sick notes?
would it not show on record that I'm to unwell to be at work on my own account with these notes I'm having from to provide?
I'm currently off work (at their discretion) due to my health (epilepsy), and I assume them covering their back for health and safety reasons.
My job is quite a physical job, working for a large vehicle manufacturing company, and due to quite a severe seizure at work, have been told to stay off work until they get a comprehensive report from my hospital neurologist.
This seems to be taking its time and I've already been off work for almost 2 months. I've been told by HR I need to keep getting sick notes from my GP to cover the period I'm off.
Now the company I work for are not the most trustworthy place to work for, and have been known to try their luck at getting rid of anyone with health issues.
I've made it clear to them I'm ok to be at work, to be honest I'd rather be at work than sit at home!
I want to make sure I cover my back for the record, and to make it clear that this time off is at THEIR discretion.
Do I NEED to keep providing sick notes?
would it not show on record that I'm to unwell to be at work on my own account with these notes I'm having from to provide?
I can only tell my doctor what my employers tell me..which is that they DON'T want me to come into work until they decide I'm ok to return... When that'll be I have no idea. They've not given me a date as of yet...
He thinks it's strange behaviour on their part, but what's he supposed it do, apart from give me these notes!?..
I've told him to ring occupational health, or hr to get further information, which he may do the next time I go see him.
He thinks it's strange behaviour on their part, but what's he supposed it do, apart from give me these notes!?..
I've told him to ring occupational health, or hr to get further information, which he may do the next time I go see him.
Edited by Jonsnow606 on Thursday 11th December 16:36
To be fair, so far my employers have been relatively supportive, I'm alittle paranoid due to some of the horror stories I hear with how others have been treated, but every case is different.
With regards to my doctor and sick notes, I've fully explained my situation, and the instructions of my employers. He's signing me off work, (with my illness written on the note), EXACTLY what my employers have instructed.
I've seen two different work doctors on my employers request and have reports back from them both.
They both have a very similar theme.
They've set out certain constraints until they hear back from my Neurologist.
These mean I'd struggle to do the current job I do, but the place I work for employs 1000's of workers, and I'm sure there's many other roles I could do that wouldn't break them.
The reports also also mention "the disability discrimination provisions of the equality act 2010 applies in my case"...
Not sure whether that helps or not!?...
The bottom line is
I might just be worrying over nothing, but the 'strange' behaviour of the company is what worries me.
I think visiting an employment solicitors may be the way to go, just to see where I stand, and what actions I should be taking to protect myself as much as possible going forward.
With regards to my doctor and sick notes, I've fully explained my situation, and the instructions of my employers. He's signing me off work, (with my illness written on the note), EXACTLY what my employers have instructed.
I've seen two different work doctors on my employers request and have reports back from them both.
They both have a very similar theme.
They've set out certain constraints until they hear back from my Neurologist.
These mean I'd struggle to do the current job I do, but the place I work for employs 1000's of workers, and I'm sure there's many other roles I could do that wouldn't break them.
The reports also also mention "the disability discrimination provisions of the equality act 2010 applies in my case"...
Not sure whether that helps or not!?...
The bottom line is
- I have epilepsy,
- My employers, on the advice of their doctors have decided I can't (for the moment) do the job I'm paid to do due to my illness,
- long term prognosis will be that I'll either need to live with it and continue to try different combinations of drugs, as the medication(s) I'm currently on, and ones I've been on in the past have not controlled my seizures, and hope I can find a drug that works (which according to my Neurologist is very unlikely) OR go down the brain surgery route (which doesn't guarantee to cure my illness).
- I've been told not to come into work until they get this report, and they can then make a decision on the type of role I can carry out.
- Until then, they're instructing me to keep going to my gp, and requesting a sick note
- As I'm off at their discretion, do I NEED to keep providing these endless sick notes?
I might just be worrying over nothing, but the 'strange' behaviour of the company is what worries me.
I think visiting an employment solicitors may be the way to go, just to see where I stand, and what actions I should be taking to protect myself as much as possible going forward.
Edited by Jonsnow606 on Friday 12th December 00:52
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