Work

[Belle-Binx01]

My work are being difficult atm, I work full tim condensed hours, therefore work 5 days in 4. I have started cardiac rehab, and I have been told that I need to build up flexi time or take annual leave. I work for a government agency. It’s not easy

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum! If you are a direct government employee you should raise the issue with HR who can then involve Occupational Therapy. A couple of friends working in the NHS have done this successfully. However, if you are a contractor it can become rather different. Again the starting point is HR but in smaller companies this may be a p/t function performed badly (I speak from experience). Good luck!

Others here have had issues so hopefully they can give you the benefit of their experience.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hi Belle-Binx01

I suggest you make an appointment with your Occupational Health department.

You are now covered under the Equality Act 2010 as anybody with a long term illness.

Occupational health can make suggestions about the ' reasonable adjustments ' that can be made to your working conditions and hours.

Are you a member of a union or professional body at work?

If not I suggest you go and see the Citizens Advice Bureau for further advice.

citizensadvice.org.uk/law-a...

It is quite ironic that a government body seems to be unaware of your rights under the Equality Act.

[Belle-Binx01 in reply to Milkfairy]

Thankyou. I said that to HR, she said we have generous holidays and the ability to work flexibly. I have had a previous occie health assessment although this wasn’t raised as I didn’t see it would be a problem tbh.

I find it ironic to be in this situation too!

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Belle-Binx01]

It gets funnier.

When I was given my ill health retirement I was deemed never to be able to work again in any capacity......HR asked would I wish to return to work on the bank.....er no

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Milkfairy]

Up until around 1990 wherever I worked they had personnel departments who were generally interested in the welfare of the employee. Once they became HR things changed and employees became assets like laptops.

Locally some years ago an executive in council took early retirement on health grounds. A few months later he was back as a consultant. This raised eyebrows as he was either fit to work or he was not!

[Speakeazi in reply to Belle-Binx01]

How dreadful to have to be dealing with this when you really do need to focus on your health.

I am aware that employees can elect to take holiday instead of sickness as this then means they still get paid rather than being on SSP. Perhaps this is what HR meant.

Time to look at the policies and your employment contract/terms and conditions. Find out as much as you can and work out a plan with any evidence and go back to HR. Put everything in writing and keep written notes of all meetings, even informal chats, and any emails.

It pays a company to allow staff to recover well so they return to work fit and well. Shame they don’t see it