Working at home while signed off?
Discussion
TLDR: What are the implications (for me) if I do a few hours work at home or make/take calls and Teams meetings while I have been signed off by Dr and occ. health say I cannot work?
The long story is I run a school kitchen and teach, fairly physical job most of the time. I have a condition that affects my lungs (get out of breath easily but can work at a slow pace) but recently had a pulmonary embolism which put me in hospital so told to rest for a week or so. In the end Dr signed me off from doing anything for 4 weeks but did agree doing a bit of work at home writing menus, specs etc wouldn't hurt. Now if it was just that I wouldn't be asking as I do this anyway just to pass the time and keep me from getting bored.
However, my lung condition means I am also on immunosuppressants to a point where I should have been shielding until August and was advised to continue doing so after by my Dr which I did until the start of Sept when I went back to work (3 days later had the PE!) and now off since.
Occ. health have picked up on the immunosuppressants and as there is no social distancing or PPE in the workplace have said it could be months before I return (personally I think it could be much longer).
So far work have been relying on agency staff and its been a bit of a disaster. I am keen for my deputy to step up a little and start doing more in my absence and with some major changes to how the kitchen operates could take over and eliminate the agency chefs. However to enable them to do this I will need to do maybe an hour at home each day managing orders, suppliers and coaching them via MS Teams.
I have discussed it with my manager and they agree my plan is what they really need to do but will only let me be involved if I get occ. health to agree by me suggesting it to them and getting their agreement.
So question is, irrespective of the work, what position does this put me in if it all went wrong, my condition worsened due to stress (its possible) or I had another PE (or worse!) or was signed off again at my next Drs assessment and tests in another 3 weeks time?
The long story is I run a school kitchen and teach, fairly physical job most of the time. I have a condition that affects my lungs (get out of breath easily but can work at a slow pace) but recently had a pulmonary embolism which put me in hospital so told to rest for a week or so. In the end Dr signed me off from doing anything for 4 weeks but did agree doing a bit of work at home writing menus, specs etc wouldn't hurt. Now if it was just that I wouldn't be asking as I do this anyway just to pass the time and keep me from getting bored.
However, my lung condition means I am also on immunosuppressants to a point where I should have been shielding until August and was advised to continue doing so after by my Dr which I did until the start of Sept when I went back to work (3 days later had the PE!) and now off since.
Occ. health have picked up on the immunosuppressants and as there is no social distancing or PPE in the workplace have said it could be months before I return (personally I think it could be much longer).
So far work have been relying on agency staff and its been a bit of a disaster. I am keen for my deputy to step up a little and start doing more in my absence and with some major changes to how the kitchen operates could take over and eliminate the agency chefs. However to enable them to do this I will need to do maybe an hour at home each day managing orders, suppliers and coaching them via MS Teams.
I have discussed it with my manager and they agree my plan is what they really need to do but will only let me be involved if I get occ. health to agree by me suggesting it to them and getting their agreement.
So question is, irrespective of the work, what position does this put me in if it all went wrong, my condition worsened due to stress (its possible) or I had another PE (or worse!) or was signed off again at my next Drs assessment and tests in another 3 weeks time?
Sorry have no idea on your actual topic, but are you the guy who makes those tandoori chicken thighs? I seem to remember seeing a photo of them in another topic and they looked great!
Would you mind posting a recipe / rough measurements of stuff please? I tend to follow recipes like a science experiment I'm afraid
Good luck though!
(bet you didn't expect to see this as the first reply)
Would you mind posting a recipe / rough measurements of stuff please? I tend to follow recipes like a science experiment I'm afraid
Good luck though!
(bet you didn't expect to see this as the first reply)
Stress has no bearing on the PE, either in its formation or its treatment. PE will obviously limit your physical endurance, particularly due to your preexisting respiratory issues, but if you're at home at a similar level to your usual respiratory function, i.e. without needing supplementary oxygen or noninvasive respiratory support even though you're limited otherwise, and you're able to work from home via phone and computer, then there's no reason why you absolutely have to be stopped from working.
Regarding immunosuppressants and shielding, yes, it sounds like you should continue to shield; however, that in itself isn't a bar to working from home either. Stress may exacerbate or cause other problems, e.g. shingles if you've had chickenpox, but that's no different to your normal state when you're working. Plenty of others, even some doctors, have had to work from home, and a few are having to continue to do so, as a result of immunosuppression/compromise.
In short, if you wish to do some light work at home via phone and/or computer, then neither the PE nor the shielding are absolute contraindications.
Bear in mind these are general principles only, and that I am a doctor, but I'm not your doctor and I haven't taken a full history or examined you.
Regarding immunosuppressants and shielding, yes, it sounds like you should continue to shield; however, that in itself isn't a bar to working from home either. Stress may exacerbate or cause other problems, e.g. shingles if you've had chickenpox, but that's no different to your normal state when you're working. Plenty of others, even some doctors, have had to work from home, and a few are having to continue to do so, as a result of immunosuppression/compromise.
In short, if you wish to do some light work at home via phone and/or computer, then neither the PE nor the shielding are absolute contraindications.
Bear in mind these are general principles only, and that I am a doctor, but I'm not your doctor and I haven't taken a full history or examined you.
QuickQuack said:
Stress has no bearing on the PE, either in its formation or its treatment. PE will obviously limit your physical endurance, particularly due to your preexisting respiratory issues, but if you're at home at a similar level to your usual respiratory function, i.e. without needing supplementary oxygen or noninvasive respiratory support even though you're limited otherwise, and you're able to work from home via phone and computer, then there's no reason why you absolutely have to be stopped from working.
Regarding immunosuppressants and shielding, yes, it sounds like you should continue to shield; however, that in itself isn't a bar to working from home either. Stress may exacerbate or cause other problems, e.g. shingles if you've had chickenpox, but that's no different to your normal state when you're working. Plenty of others, even some doctors, have had to work from home, and a few are having to continue to do so, as a result of immunosuppression/compromise.
In short, if you wish to do some light work at home via phone and/or computer, then neither the PE nor the shielding are absolute contraindications.
Bear in mind these are general principles only, and that I am a doctor, but I'm not your doctor and I haven't taken a full history or examined you.
Thank you for taking the time to reply. You confirm my thoughts about working at home on a few bits. I only mention the "stress" as being off work is stressful enough but discovering what is happening in my absence is a whole magnitude worse and other sufferers of Sarcoidosis often link stress to flare ups but while I am dosed up on steroids everything physical seems under control anyway.Regarding immunosuppressants and shielding, yes, it sounds like you should continue to shield; however, that in itself isn't a bar to working from home either. Stress may exacerbate or cause other problems, e.g. shingles if you've had chickenpox, but that's no different to your normal state when you're working. Plenty of others, even some doctors, have had to work from home, and a few are having to continue to do so, as a result of immunosuppression/compromise.
In short, if you wish to do some light work at home via phone and/or computer, then neither the PE nor the shielding are absolute contraindications.
Bear in mind these are general principles only, and that I am a doctor, but I'm not your doctor and I haven't taken a full history or examined you.
Apart from a few preparatory bits I wouldn't really be regularly working on anything until November so I am going to put a few things in place and wait a couple of weeks before contacting occ. health by which time I should have my lung function tests done again and will probably have a chat with the consultant about it all over the phone before seeing them again.
Thanks again, think my mental health would be in tatters if I didn't get some sense of work/worth back, I've already been doing alternate days with the whole summer off in semi-isolation.
Taita said:
Sorry have no idea on your actual topic, but are you the guy who makes those tandoori chicken thighs? I seem to remember seeing a photo of them in another topic and they looked great!
Would you mind posting a recipe / rough measurements of stuff please? I tend to follow recipes like a science experiment I'm afraid
Good luck though!
(bet you didn't expect to see this as the first reply)
LOL... you mean this one??Would you mind posting a recipe / rough measurements of stuff please? I tend to follow recipes like a science experiment I'm afraid
Good luck though!
(bet you didn't expect to see this as the first reply)
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Resurect the thread, I've actually just got another batch on the go for tomorrow.
21TonyK said:
Taita said:
Sorry have no idea on your actual topic, but are you the guy who makes those tandoori chicken thighs? I seem to remember seeing a photo of them in another topic and they looked great!
Would you mind posting a recipe / rough measurements of stuff please? I tend to follow recipes like a science experiment I'm afraid
Good luck though!
(bet you didn't expect to see this as the first reply)
LOL... you mean this one??Would you mind posting a recipe / rough measurements of stuff please? I tend to follow recipes like a science experiment I'm afraid
Good luck though!
(bet you didn't expect to see this as the first reply)
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Resurect the thread, I've actually just got another batch on the go for tomorrow.
No problem at all. When you talk to occupational health, you might want to mention that not having anything to do is causing you a lot of anxiety and stress, and that you would feel much better if you could work from home within reason. Not sitting at a desk for hours on end, especially as that isn't desperately good for developing thromboembolic events, but something at least, possibly even walking around/doing your physiotherapy exercises while talking on the phone etc.
Now... subject to my consultant agreeing in writing to me working from home (limited to whatever hours them deem suitable) and agreement from occupational health I will be allowed to support staff via email and "manage by spreadsheet" from the middle of November.
Joy, another month working out what door to paint next
Joy, another month working out what door to paint next
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