Phased return

[Helliwelli12]

I'm on a 2nd phased return after meeting with the occupational therapist. Trouble us now they are tracking all my daily tasks while allowing me more time to fo them. Is this normal I feel like they are just documenting everything to oust me out. My anxiety is through the roof.

[piglette]

Can you talk to anyone about it? They will not want you stressed out.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

Never been in your situation, but I would guess it may well be normal practice to monitor exactly how capable you are of doing the work.

Whether it’s ethical or not is another matter… were you advised of this by OT before you returned? If not, then they may be skating on thin ice. Perhaps you should look at this from CAB, and take independent advice if you think you are being discriminated against.

citizensadvice.org.uk/work/...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Never having done it, I really don't know. But either way they will need to document what you can or can't do, whether they want to use it to oust you or to help you with the best adjustments that can be offered. After all, they have to make reasonable adjustments and that also works two ways, they aren't a charity and can't be expected to accept unreasonable demands for such adjustments with no end in sight.

On your part, go back to the OT and find out if this is normal procedure. And have you got a union rep or the like to fight your corner? OT should be impartial and act as a mediator I should have thought,

[LucilleG]

With the support of my employer (supervisor and human resources) and a medical professional, we have come up with a return to work plan that will start gradually in the next month. I have been told to document everything - what work I’m doing, how many hours a day, along with any symptoms I may be having in case the plan needs to be adjusted.

It sounds like your employer is doing the tracking, but I would suggest you also do it, along with how you are feeling daily. I’m in a union so returning to work after being off on long term disability is well documented in our collective agreement and I feel protected. Do you have any types of supports besides your employer and human resources?

[SheffieldJane]

You must share how this monitoring is making you feel. I imagine that their intentions are good but it does sound a bit excessive. If they are not careful they may fall foul of the Equalities Act that is there to protect people who are disabled at work and come up with reasonable adjustments to enable them to be retained.

[S4ndy]

My late hubby had a "phased" return to work following some back treatment. It caused him immense amounts of stress as they even monitored his toilet breaks! Luckily, he was in a union and so had someone to advocate for him. Unfortunately, it did turn into a bit of a witch hunt with him being pulled up for "gross misconduct" because he forgot to log his return to work after lunch and sometimes he used the "incorrect" code. He told me this was more to do with a new manager than occupational health though. Apparently, a 64 year old man didn't fit in with her vision of a young, dynamic department. In other words she didn't want him there as he knew the job inside out and she didn't have a clue! With the help of the union he stuck it out for the 3 stressful months until he retired. Apparently she only lasted one month after he left, good old karma!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to S4ndy]

Sounds as if she didn't have particularly good judgement on most aspects of her purpose in life!!! Totally pointless if he was due for retirement soon anyway.