Phased return

[fpalmer]

My doctor has advised me to return to work on a phased return and my work has told me i have to use hols for mys days of is this right please help.

[allanah]

hmrc.gov.uk/employers/ssp-f... here's a link to help on this. If I remember right you put in a sick note for those days not holiday until your GP gives you a fit to work note, however I would phone a union or CAB just o check that thought.

But great news getting back a little bit!

[fpalmer]

Ok thank you the only thing is ive been on the sick for 10 weeks

[Riedenise]

Is your Ra down as an Underlying Health problem at work? If not you need to make sure it is as you are covered by the Disabilties Act. Look on the NRAS site for leaflets that explain your rights at work & what your Employer should be doing for you. Your employer should be making reasonable adjustments at your work place to assist you in staying at work. You need to speak to your Gp to give you a form that will gradually introduce you back into work on Rehabilitation hours, a set amount each day for so many weeks & gradually increase till you are ready to take on your full amount you normally do. The rehabilitation forms can be for 3-4 months at a time this gives you time to recover & not force you to increase your hours too quickly. You need to look up the Disability Act for your rights ok, & then you are pre-armed to see your Gp & people at work. I hope this helps You. take care , rie x

[Riedenise in reply to Riedenise]

if you get it down as Underlying Health, & your return to work as Rehabilitation then You should not be made to use your days/hours off as holiday, it should just be unpaid/ or used as your sick pay

[lyndah]

Ho. I had 6 months off sick straight after maternity. I got phased return and i had to use annual leave. My hospital ot said that too, i have contact and input from employment law specialist and she saif the same. Its a toral pain. Good luck though on your return

Hope this hels

Lynda x

[benjijen]

If you are off sick you are entitled to SSP. Sick pay paid by the employer depends on the terms of your contract. Otherwise you are paid for what you work and if you want paying for other days off you could ask for that to be paid as holiday. Unfortunately I only know the employment part as it's my job. It may be worth asking if there are any benefits you can claim from the State whilst you are working short hours. When I returned to work I used my holiday for the days off.

[Hidden]

I'm pretty sure that your work are trying it on, is your employer a big company or a small one? Do they have an occupational health dept, and if they have, have you been referred to them? If not why not,did your sicknote have a phased return on it or is it what the doctor told you to say to them.some employers will try it on however their obligations towards you are very clear, some try to dodge it.so no you don't have to take holidays as days off.

[jenwight]

A lot depends on your company, and the doctors fit note, GP can recommend phased return but employers have the right to refuse if they can prove it is not operationally pheasable, they can insist you are fully fit as GP note is only a recommendation, but any decent company would be supportive and help.

When I went back after 16 weeks off after car accident they were brilliant but I agreed to a reduction in hours from 37.5 to 30 a week, so I was lucky they paid me but they don't have to, you don't have to use your annual leave though it should just be unpaid leave

Jen x

[emma36]

I think it depends on who you work for. I went back after 5 weeks off sick on a phased return and had 5 weeks on reduced hours. This is however part of what the company I work for offers - I don't however know if they have to. Hope you manage ok when you return to work.