Occupational Health
Discussion
Hope this is the correct section..
Looking for some advice..
I'm employed by a local authority Council where I have worked for over 20 years, back in March i was diagnosed with a bone spur on spinal cord causes severe pain waiting surgery but with everything else going on in the world I'm not sure exactly when this will be. So far i have had 2 weeks signed off sick.
When the pain increased, Back to work tomorrow on light duties working from home.
Was successful 3 weeks ago in getting another internal vacancy new boss had been fine about it as I told him the day he offered me the job then it flared up again pretty bad.
Speaking to him last week he told me he is referring me to occupational health .
I'm a bit concerned as to why and what they actually do?
The new role entails a lot of manual handling and driving which in last 2 weeks I couldn't do..
I hope after the Op that I will be back to normal but when I spoke to spinal surgeon few months back he advised that even after Op I should from then on limit my physical work, even if Op is a success.
I'm just worried that occupation health will say im not fit for work and maybe even finish me on ill health or am I over thinking things ? There's always a stigma around Occupational Health.
I'm even worried now to take any sick leave when I'm in pain incase this goes against me. Never been off before for anymore than a few days of flu. So its all new to me.
Looking for some advice..
I'm employed by a local authority Council where I have worked for over 20 years, back in March i was diagnosed with a bone spur on spinal cord causes severe pain waiting surgery but with everything else going on in the world I'm not sure exactly when this will be. So far i have had 2 weeks signed off sick.
When the pain increased, Back to work tomorrow on light duties working from home.
Was successful 3 weeks ago in getting another internal vacancy new boss had been fine about it as I told him the day he offered me the job then it flared up again pretty bad.
Speaking to him last week he told me he is referring me to occupational health .
I'm a bit concerned as to why and what they actually do?
The new role entails a lot of manual handling and driving which in last 2 weeks I couldn't do..
I hope after the Op that I will be back to normal but when I spoke to spinal surgeon few months back he advised that even after Op I should from then on limit my physical work, even if Op is a success.
I'm just worried that occupation health will say im not fit for work and maybe even finish me on ill health or am I over thinking things ? There's always a stigma around Occupational Health.
I'm even worried now to take any sick leave when I'm in pain incase this goes against me. Never been off before for anymore than a few days of flu. So its all new to me.
I can only comment from my own experience and understanding.
I have been referred to occ. health twice, 3-4 years ago after I fell at work and damaged my wrist and most recently after being diagnosed with a lung disease and have a couple of pulminary embolisms.
The overriding impression is that occ. health is there to protect your employer. By them seeking external advise they absolving themselves of responsibility should your condition be affected by anything they do. So in theory, occ. health will push them to do as much as possible to protect you from harm. In my case that as meant even when my consultant has said you are okay to work from home etc my employer has said no, do nothing.
How that impacts long term is going to be down to employment policy and law. But if you work for a local authority you are more likely to be protected than in the private sector by unions etc
I have been referred to occ. health twice, 3-4 years ago after I fell at work and damaged my wrist and most recently after being diagnosed with a lung disease and have a couple of pulminary embolisms.
The overriding impression is that occ. health is there to protect your employer. By them seeking external advise they absolving themselves of responsibility should your condition be affected by anything they do. So in theory, occ. health will push them to do as much as possible to protect you from harm. In my case that as meant even when my consultant has said you are okay to work from home etc my employer has said no, do nothing.
How that impacts long term is going to be down to employment policy and law. But if you work for a local authority you are more likely to be protected than in the private sector by unions etc
If it’s anything like the Occupational Health service used at my work, all the referral would entail in a telephone appointment with the OH specialist to discuss your health and how it impacts upon your work.
They then draft a report and send it to HR/line manager with recommendations for adjustments to consider implementing to help support you. (I’ve seen them recommending an additional allowance for sick leave if a person is more likely to incur absence relating to a disability).
I don’t think Ill health retirement is something they can recommend however and it would be your doctor that determines if you are fit enough to be at work or not?
They then draft a report and send it to HR/line manager with recommendations for adjustments to consider implementing to help support you. (I’ve seen them recommending an additional allowance for sick leave if a person is more likely to incur absence relating to a disability).
I don’t think Ill health retirement is something they can recommend however and it would be your doctor that determines if you are fit enough to be at work or not?
Edited by Uhtred on Monday 2nd November 08:59
^^^ yes it's mostly about adjustments. So if in the future you decide to sue your employer because an injury or health condition gets worse, they can show they tried to accommodate it and help. Bear in mind your health condition may bring you under the equality act and then you're well protected.
I've had a few people in the past who I've referred to OH just to ask for advice on how to manage a health issue that has impacted work. Treat them wrong, fail to make adjustments etc and the employer is wide open to all sorts of financial claims if the employee feels disgruntled.
I've had a few people in the past who I've referred to OH just to ask for advice on how to manage a health issue that has impacted work. Treat them wrong, fail to make adjustments etc and the employer is wide open to all sorts of financial claims if the employee feels disgruntled.
See occupational health as an additional medical service.
They can often refer you to fast track services (not sure under Covid) which are availalbe and can be very useful.
Ultimately they should want you back at work fit and well, ask them what else they can do for you.
Remember things like fast track phsio might be taxable (but it'll only be a small amount)
They can often refer you to fast track services (not sure under Covid) which are availalbe and can be very useful.
Ultimately they should want you back at work fit and well, ask them what else they can do for you.
Remember things like fast track phsio might be taxable (but it'll only be a small amount)
I'm late to the party, but I've referred people to Occupational Health before. Every single time I did it because I was worried about that person and wanted to make whatever adjustments I could to support them.
It is honestly, rare, people use Occ Health to get you sacked. You've only got something to worry about if you're gaming the system.
It is honestly, rare, people use Occ Health to get you sacked. You've only got something to worry about if you're gaming the system.
leah1 said:
There's always a stigma around Occupational Health.
Ain’t that the truth! I was threatened with OH referrals countless times, until I had one, whereby things improved for me at work no end. LA’s make you live in fear of a referral, but when it comes to it, it’s them that have to make reasonable adjustments. Make sure you’re well equipped with dates, recovery times etc and feedback information through a union rep too. It’s very rare OH are the bad guys.
Be careful re outsourced OH. Stick to your GP for Fit To Work Notes first of all.
Then once sorted that route, engage with whatever your work do but make them aware you are taking medical advice from only your GP that knows your health history, not an outsourced party with a vested interest from your employer.
Wife was off for 3 months (longer in total). That triggered an OH review with the company "Employment Assistance Provider". They:
a) disagreed with the GP and consultants fit to work note (s) at 4 to 8 to 12 weeks in retrospect without review of the patient.
b) referred to my wife by a different name
c) wrote a letter to the (work) company health insurance providers stating that this was a pre existing condition and that certain benefits under the (work) scheme should no longer be valid.
I suspect this wouldn't happen now under GDPR. This was 2008. Wifes boss fessed up as she was leaving that the company / EAP scheme was designed made it hard for employees on long term sick to return to full time employment but they had too many pee takers taking their "civil service scheduled sick" every year.
Wifes condition...….cervical cancer! Not exactly something you fake for a laugh.
I did see it the other way with a friend who worked for a council whom had only just been in post 6 months when diagnosed terminal with cancer, the council EAP provider kept putting reports in that she might get better, no one knew, to keep her in post so she kept full wage as she was a single Mum with two kids and when she was gone....she was gone...so there are positives to this game.
Then once sorted that route, engage with whatever your work do but make them aware you are taking medical advice from only your GP that knows your health history, not an outsourced party with a vested interest from your employer.
Wife was off for 3 months (longer in total). That triggered an OH review with the company "Employment Assistance Provider". They:
a) disagreed with the GP and consultants fit to work note (s) at 4 to 8 to 12 weeks in retrospect without review of the patient.
b) referred to my wife by a different name
c) wrote a letter to the (work) company health insurance providers stating that this was a pre existing condition and that certain benefits under the (work) scheme should no longer be valid.
I suspect this wouldn't happen now under GDPR. This was 2008. Wifes boss fessed up as she was leaving that the company / EAP scheme was designed made it hard for employees on long term sick to return to full time employment but they had too many pee takers taking their "civil service scheduled sick" every year.
Wifes condition...….cervical cancer! Not exactly something you fake for a laugh.
I did see it the other way with a friend who worked for a council whom had only just been in post 6 months when diagnosed terminal with cancer, the council EAP provider kept putting reports in that she might get better, no one knew, to keep her in post so she kept full wage as she was a single Mum with two kids and when she was gone....she was gone...so there are positives to this game.
Years ago I was referred to Occupational Health. Was in a situation where my GP and consultant had been thinking that I should retire on ill health which would have triggered an insurance policy which would have paid iirc 80% salary until pension date, and pension would then have been paid as if worked those extra years.
Despite GP etc having reservations I wanted to carry on working, had done some some part time / light duties / no travelling for a while, on full pay, but things were improving and felt well enough to fire up on all cylinders.
I felt OccHeslth whilst presenting themselves as in an arbitration role essentially were there as arse covering for the employer if it all went tits up. It didn't, had another ten years until had had enough of that role, retired early and then did something completely different. Sometimes wonder what my life would have been like if I'd taken the insurance route as I earned relatively a bloody fortune during those last ten years.
Despite GP etc having reservations I wanted to carry on working, had done some some part time / light duties / no travelling for a while, on full pay, but things were improving and felt well enough to fire up on all cylinders.
I felt OccHeslth whilst presenting themselves as in an arbitration role essentially were there as arse covering for the employer if it all went tits up. It didn't, had another ten years until had had enough of that role, retired early and then did something completely different. Sometimes wonder what my life would have been like if I'd taken the insurance route as I earned relatively a bloody fortune during those last ten years.
there is a stigma about having to deal with OH, but an old colleague of mine dealt with them after he was attacked outside a pub and had head injuries.
after 3 months off sick the company asked him to go to see OH as they wanted him to come back part-time at least.
OH in their role as professional arse coverers, ended up telling him to have another month off and then only come back 2.5 days a week for 6 months rather than the 3.5 / 4 both parties wanted to. :-)
to be fair the guy was in a coma for 10 days at the beginning.
after 3 months off sick the company asked him to go to see OH as they wanted him to come back part-time at least.
OH in their role as professional arse coverers, ended up telling him to have another month off and then only come back 2.5 days a week for 6 months rather than the 3.5 / 4 both parties wanted to. :-)
to be fair the guy was in a coma for 10 days at the beginning.
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