Attendance Management Meeting

Returned to work on Wed after swine flu and exacerbated asthma to be hit with a really horrible and strong worded letter to inform me that I have a meeting with HR on Tuesday about my attendance as I have breached acceptable levels for a probationer.

Hoping they take a lot of things that I can explain into consideration and just extend my probation period but if anyone has any tips I would be grateful? I feel ill again with worrying about it, which is great when im just back!

Also thinking of moving to a new doctors surgery as i dont feel that my current surgery (with the exception of one doctor) take asthma very seriously at all and i feel like some of the things i was off with could have been cleared up faster if i had been taken seriously about things instead of just thinking i must be a pest cos im always there with chesty things

[yaf_user681_30003]

Best piece of immediate and helpful advice that I can give is to get your union involved straight away. If you are not yet a member, join straight away too - that's not cheating, it's the norm. PCS helped me, successfully, a couple of years back, particularly in drawing attention to asthma's inclusion in the updated Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). You will find lots of posts here on that subject.

In my department (MoJ), HR directive to managers is that absence due directly to swine flu is not to be accumulated with other sick absences, ie is not included in spells and absences.

I hope this is of help. If I can be more help, please feel free to PM me.

Alan

x

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Hi Pampam,

I agree with Alan. Getting the union involved is definitely a good idea. It gives you an advocate who have experience in the issue and will fight your corner for you.

Sorry the stress is affecting your asthma, hugs, hope things improve.

Feejay

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Thanks for the replies folks

Alan I am a member of PCS also and have already gotten them involved. A rep from the union will be attending the meeting with me on Tuesday and I have already partly discussed my problems with them. I do feel a bit more assured with them behind me and they were disgusted that I got hit with this letter on mt first day back from flu.

i have also collated all my info together ansd made notes on each absence, explaining why i was absent and how it affected my asthma and also that for most of my sick leave i was unknowlingly suffering from a vitamin B12 deficiency (which im now being treated for)

I have also printed off information from the internet about how asthma is exacerbated by certain illnesses and also about what B12 deficiency is and its symptoms and effects. I also printed off what something called post-viral myelitis is as it was written on one of me lines as i know a lot of people do not know what this is. Most of my leave is medically certified and i am absolutely disgusted that they have even mentioned swine flu on my absence printout

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Hi Pam Pam,Try not to worry as they are there for you also.I had to go to OH recently after time off and awaiting HR to come out to my work place to see if there is a part of my job needs altering as covered by DDA.Hope all goes as well for you xxxxHad time off work for cast on foot but my OA and Asthma was included.

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Hi Pam Pam,Try not to worry as they are there for you also.I had to go to OH recently after time off and awaiting HR to come out to my work place to see if there is a part of my job needs altering as covered by DDA.Hope all goes as well for you xxxx

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I got my probation extended for 6 monthsd and in that time they are going to monitor my sick leave and have to see an improvement. I have also requested OH so that it can be in writing what i can and cant do to help this

I think I should be ok as my b12 deficiency was a lot to do with most of my sick leave and im now getting treated for this so shouldnt really affect it anymore!

Thanks for the replies folks

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Sorry to hear this, I have had all sorts of problems at work with asthma related sickness and the stress of it has made things worse.

Push for Occ Health, I found them very supportive (when I eventually got to see them) and they backed the reasonable adjustments I'd requested to try and cut down my time off. Unfortunately my employer has been very slow on the uptake of their advice but at least I have this in writing now.

DDA are very supportive and I also contacted the Disability Employment Officer at my local job centre who have been absolutely BRILLIANT - and have put me in touch with other people who can help sort things out for me.

Good luck - it seems many of us are in the same boat right now!