Time off

[Vonnieruth]

Well I had my meeting at work yesterday due to the points that I have built up while off with injury to arm in work My PAF and catching D and V in work I now cannot have further sickness in next six weeks or it goes to disciplinary. They said if I keep having time off they may have to consider if my job is no longer suitable Bit two faced when I just did three shifts in a row seeing I'm part time They was two twelve hour and one six

[BobD Volunteer]

It can be very difficult for management to do these meetings. They are for everybody regardless of how genuine the absence may have been and even if the sickness may have resulted from work related problems. It is not personal.

IF they do not cary out the set procedure for every member of staff then they could be accused of favouritism should a genuine case of malingering or lead swinging raise its ugly head. Just go with the flow.

[Kaz747]

Sorry to hear that this. It’s tough- there is a lot of talk about flexibility in the workplace and the importance of supporting staff but in reality that’s not always the case. I was devastated when my contract wasn’t renewed with my last employer after 7 years of service, going above and beyond. I’d had a work accident and had 4 months off for surgery (3 months in a wheelchair) and then got back part time (my heart problems started after the surgery). Because I was on a fixed term contract it was easy for them to not renew it. Of course they said it was nothing to do with my health or my work and all about budget cuts. Take care my friend xx

[Vonnieruth in reply to Kaz747]

Thank you I will take care I will also not be doing over time unless I want to

[jedimasterlincoln]

Been there, several times.

Let it go to disciplinary if it needs to. Get union involvement. You have an underlying medical condition which MAY be covered by the disability discrimination act 1994 and/or the equality act so you need union representation to back you up on this.

The work place could consider reasonable adjustments to support your attendance, ie set shift patterns and not having long days together.

Immediate managers will always get leaned on by senior figures to follow procedure correctly even for people they deem as genuine however in my experience the longer it goes on the less patience there is and the less a "supportive" process it becomes regardless of how they try to dress it up.

Muscoskeletal injury and D&V are unrelated to the AF, the AF should be, in my experience, discounted as it is underlying.

You need them to clarify, if you have D&V in the next 6 months do they want you to attend work?

Also, do they want any further sickness certified or are they happy for you to continue to self certify whilst on this framework?

[wilsond]

Couldnt add any more to Jedis post,have been through similar myself.All spot on points he mentioned.

Dont let them put the frighteners on you.At any meeting take a supporter,take notes,email these to the main person,saying 'This is my understanding of the main points of our meeting,plesse check and confirm by email.' For future reference if needed.

If their own policy on D and V prevents you,rightly,from working,that is nothing to do with disciplinary!

Keep calm and carryon...as you say stuff the overtime and any favours!!!

[jedimasterlincoln in reply to wilsond]

Our trust has a policy of needing to be48 hours clear of any D&V symptoms - ie 48 hours from the last episode - directly contradicts them hauling you to disciplinary for sickness abssence if you've got D&V. The worst they can do is refer to OH and suggest lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of contracting it, but you work in a healthcare setting exposed to people who are ill you're going to get ill!

Obviously they're also looking for patterns in sickness, before/after annual leave, same days/dates every year for family events to avoid using annual leave, England football matches, Sunday mornings after a heavy night out... etc... which is something I didn't mention.

Sometimes obviously, there just aren't any patterns and aren't any reasonable steps you can take to avoid being ill, but they still have to go through it.

[PhyllisK]

I noticed that you do 12 hour shifts, would job share be an option rather than lose your job completely?

[Vonnieruth in reply to PhyllisK]

Hi they don't do that in the home I work in

[PhyK in reply to Vonnieruth]

I am so sorry, this AF is a rotten condition and I find that many people do not know how it can knock the stuffing out of you. Good luck for your future. Fingers crossed for your job. Phyl.

[Vonnieruth in reply to PhyK]

At my age I'm not too bothered Working with dementia is demanding I have stood down from being senior and also gone part time