Fit to work??

[wizzleandmolly]

Hi All

Sorry in advance for my silly question..

Does any one know if doctors will hand out a Partial return to work note? I feel almost back to normal although not confident in lifting anything too heavy after having a diagnostic laprascopy , I had a endometrioma burnt away from my right ovary and some adhesions dealt with. It will be four weeks ago on Thursday..

I requested a partial return to work note over the phone for this week so I could return to my Cleaning job doing only light duties but was given another ( not fit to work note ) which I found frustrating .

I went and handed my note to my employer this morning and she was saying that when I return to work they will expect me to do my job, in other words fit to do everything unless I had a partial return to work note.. Which i totally understand because of work policies etc.

I am going to make an appointment to see my doctor to explain how I am and ask for a partial return to work note but just wondering if I'm wasting mine and the doctors time because he may not do one for me due to liability reasons??

Hope you are all okay..

xx

[Impatient]

Your employer is obliged to make allowances where possible to allow you to return to work. Under the equality 2010 act, they must make reasonable adjustments to allow you to return to work.

However having said that - they may feel that the nature of the job is such that such reasonable allowances are not possible. If they will only take you back when you are fully fit then that is their decision and you have to abide by it. It could be something to do with their own staffing insurance policy cover. You may not be covered by their insurance in the event of any incident or accident at work if they take you back unfit for the full demands of the work or you return to work voluntarily while still being officially signed off sick.

It may be out of their hands as to why they have made such a decision.

You can ask the doctor to write a letter to your employer setting the limits for what you can do at work, in terms of length of hours worked or number of days a week or the level of physical exertion.

It may not be enough - if the employers or their insurers determine that you need to have a higher level of fitness before they take you back.

Frustrating as it will be, the longer you take before returning to work - the better healed you will be and less likely to over do things accidentally and have a set back. I appreciate you are keen to get back, and most of us get cabin fever and begin to go a bit stir crazy when we get to the stage of almost being back to normal, plus the loss of earnings mounts up too. But equally you don't do anyone any favours by returning too soon and ending up over doing it and taking second phase of time of work.

One long session of sick leave is always considered better than multiple occasions of sick leave.

You can ask your employer to arrange an appointment for your with an Occupation Health adviser to look over your abilities and needs at work and how your employer can best accommodate them. He or she will write a report back to your employer setting out the requirements to get you back working.

Though by the time that gets sorted out you're probably likely to be ready for work normally. It can be of help for long term issues that affect your ability to do your job.

If you are in a union- have a word with your union rep , or contact the CAB citizens advice bureau to see if they can provide you with practical support in addressing your work issues with your employer.

Speedy recovery wishes to you.

[FN75]

They will, but be careful with this one - I had a complete nightmare with my return to work.

I had some post-operative complications and ended up off for nearly a month instead of the week I had expected. When I started to get bored at home, my GP suggested a phased return to work, starting on three hours and adding an hour a week until back to full hours.

In principle, my workplace agreed with this. However, when I got up to six hours a day (of the 7:24 which classes as a 'day') I started to feel quite ill and needed to slow it down. The World's Worst Occupational Health Woman (TM) started getting extremely aggressive with me and said that I would have to either switch to a part-time contract or use my annual leave (!!!!) when all I really needed was a couple more weeks at reduced hours. The stress of it was so bad that it made everything worse and my GP got really angry with OH because the woman seemed determined that I was making it up.

At one point she told me that she could 'completely ignore' my GP's suggestions if she wanted to (she wasn't a doctor). In the end she was wilfully misinterpreting my GP's letters and I'm pleased to say that she is no longer our OH adviser...

It took my Head of Department stepping in to say that she was quite happy for me to have the extra couple of weeks, and as it was her I was working for, HR should listen to her and my GP and not the horrible OH woman. They agreed and let my HoD manage the rest of my return to work, which is very unorthodox when you think about it but got OH out of my hair.

TL;DR version: be aware that not everyone will be as knowledgeable as you think, or as sympathetic as you would like!!! Nevertheless, I hope you manage to work something out, as being stuck at home is not easy.

[wizzleandmolly]

Thank you for your replies . I am pleased to say that I have a light duties - no heavy lifting note from my doctor for my employer who has agreed for me to return back to work tomorrow to see how I get on . As I only work part time I felt that it wasn't necessary for me to reduce my hours .. I promise ill take it easy and only do what I feel able to do ... Happy me.. Hope you lovely ladies are okay as can be .. Big hugs xxx