Signed off sick but going back to work
Discussion
10 days ago my son was unlucky enough to get punched by some random nutter, down on the ground, fractured skull & bleed on the brain!
Thankfully up walking now, still some confusion in talking but getting discharged today,AFAIK no care arranged at home.
But he is insisting on going to work-fair enough, he has just been made a manager & doesnt want someone to nick his job, & he wants to sort his staff out properly. But if the nuerosurgeon has certified him off sick, can his employers legally allow him to work? Im worried he will overdo it, fall over & be back in ICU!
Thankfully up walking now, still some confusion in talking but getting discharged today,AFAIK no care arranged at home.
But he is insisting on going to work-fair enough, he has just been made a manager & doesnt want someone to nick his job, & he wants to sort his staff out properly. But if the nuerosurgeon has certified him off sick, can his employers legally allow him to work? Im worried he will overdo it, fall over & be back in ICU!
Depends on the employers sickness and absence policy, they may not want him there at all, they may agree to light Work.
His best bet really is to stay in contact with his superior, let them know how he’s doing and discuss going back after his signed off period.
Better that than, as you said, having issues at work and causing himself more hassle.
His best bet really is to stay in contact with his superior, let them know how he’s doing and discuss going back after his signed off period.
Better that than, as you said, having issues at work and causing himself more hassle.
kowalski655 said:
10 days ago my son was unlucky enough to get punched by some random nutter, down on the ground, fractured skull & bleed on the brain!
Thankfully up walking now, still some confusion in talking but getting discharged today,AFAIK no care arranged at home.
But he is insisting on going to work-fair enough, he has just been made a manager & doesnt want someone to nick his job, & he wants to sort his staff out properly. But if the nuerosurgeon has certified him off sick, can his employers legally allow him to work? Im worried he will overdo it, fall over & be back in ICU!
I suffered a bleed on the brain and was in hospital for a week in intensive care. I was in no fit state to do anything for myself for another week but was back at work after a month from the initial bleed. Hospital suggested I have at least 3 months off work. Thankfully up walking now, still some confusion in talking but getting discharged today,AFAIK no care arranged at home.
But he is insisting on going to work-fair enough, he has just been made a manager & doesnt want someone to nick his job, & he wants to sort his staff out properly. But if the nuerosurgeon has certified him off sick, can his employers legally allow him to work? Im worried he will overdo it, fall over & be back in ICU!
Jasandjules said:
Actually yes he can. Rare but still.
However OP he will be unable to attend if he has been signed off sick. He would require a Fit To Work certificate.
As you say, rare, especially in this case. However OP he will be unable to attend if he has been signed off sick. He would require a Fit To Work certificate.
If it is a national/multinational then even rarer.
Hopefully any employer on learning the seriousness of the sickness and having consulted their HR/insurer would be saying "stay off until you are signed back" as they don't want to pick up the liability of any actions taken by the employee. It's not a sprained ankle, after all...
Sorry to hear that OP and hope he gets back to 100% quickly. He can go back to work if he wants as I understand it. Ultimately if he declares that he is fit and well then he has declared he is fit and well and that's that. The company could pay for a doctor to examine him and declare he isn't I presume (after all none of know what his exact T&Cs are)
What he wants is a phased return to work certificate from the doctor though. That way if he suddenly gets a headache at 2 in the afternoon he's covered. Only wants to work every other day as struggling with tiredness. He's covered. So my advice would be for him to speak to the doc before tearing up the other and going back.
What he wants is a phased return to work certificate from the doctor though. That way if he suddenly gets a headache at 2 in the afternoon he's covered. Only wants to work every other day as struggling with tiredness. He's covered. So my advice would be for him to speak to the doc before tearing up the other and going back.
If you read what it says on the ‘sick note’ signed by the doctor it does not say he is unfit for work rather that he is entitled to statuatory sick pay*. If he does not hand the note to his employer how will they know he has been signed-off, if he has already handed it over it is entirely down to the employer’s policy if they will let him back or not and they may choose to be guided by a medical professional on a case-by-case basis.
If he has provided the note to the employer but now wants to go back he could go back to the doctor or his GP if he was given the original note by a hospital and ask them to confirm in writing they have no issue with him going back. If they do, no issue. On the other hand if they advise him not to go back then it is probably worth listening to them.
If he has provided the note to the employer but now wants to go back he could go back to the doctor or his GP if he was given the original note by a hospital and ask them to confirm in writing they have no issue with him going back. If they do, no issue. On the other hand if they advise him not to go back then it is probably worth listening to them.
- It is a few years since I worked in this field so the wording may have changed, but I am not aware this is the case.
At the practical and human, parental level:
Maybe not three months, but at least allow some home recovery.
The patient is not (always) best placed to make decisions.
Not in hospital does not mean fit for work.
kowalski655 said:
10 days ago my son was unlucky enough to get punched by some random nutter, down on the ground, fractured skull & bleed on the brain!
Thankfully up walking now, still some confusion in talking but getting discharged today,AFAIK no care arranged at home.!
Confusion. Fractured skull & bleed on the brain.Thankfully up walking now, still some confusion in talking but getting discharged today,AFAIK no care arranged at home.!
Maybe not three months, but at least allow some home recovery.
The patient is not (always) best placed to make decisions.
Not in hospital does not mean fit for work.
I would almost certainly think that the employer will refuse to have him back whilst signed off sick. The are almost certainly not covered in terms of any liability policies they have in place and may breech their duty of care. I'd want to speak to HR and check all this if I was his manager, as it is he may want to give them a call and have a chat.
Seems to be a lot of confusion over 'fit notes'. NHS/GOV sites are quite clear that you can but whether you should (or if your employer agrees to your return) is the key thing.
https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/caring-...
Here's the good part...
"Do I need a note saying I'm fit for work? No.
You do not need to see your doctor again to be signed fit to go back to work.
The fit note does not have an option to say that you're fit for work. If your doctor wants to assess your fitness for work again, they will say this on your fit note.
Some employers have their own policy that requires employees to obtain medical evidence that they are fit for work. If this is the case, your employer should help you arrange this privately with a GP or occupational health specialist. A doctor cannot issue a fit note for this purpose."
https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/caring-...
Here's the good part...
"Do I need a note saying I'm fit for work? No.
You do not need to see your doctor again to be signed fit to go back to work.
The fit note does not have an option to say that you're fit for work. If your doctor wants to assess your fitness for work again, they will say this on your fit note.
Some employers have their own policy that requires employees to obtain medical evidence that they are fit for work. If this is the case, your employer should help you arrange this privately with a GP or occupational health specialist. A doctor cannot issue a fit note for this purpose."
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