Working Alone & Letter of Concern

[Warren Shaw]

I have been with my company for over ten years now and at the very start of this I told them (when they took me on) that I was suffering from a long term serious illness - colitis. Since that time I have suffered two colostomies and have various other illnesses that derive from the colitis.

During the time since the last operation (two on top of each other in a nine month period) the second of which I almost died, it was agreed that I should not work alone (we do night and day shift in a large company with just myself and one other worker) and this has been the case up until the appointment of a new site manager recently.

Despite my documented problems, the new manager has looked into my record and stopped the unaccompanied working completely - meaning I have to process and deliver work alone now when my shift partner is off.

Added to this, having called a meeting to discuss my declining health with my office manager the new manager hijacked this saying he wanted to take this, purely on the pretence if discussing my health yet in truth it became a vehicle for him to take this over and just highlight my sick time and supposed lack of production. He feels there is a pattern of my sick days with a large proportion of Fridays therein and now I have received a “letter of concern” from HR and it is very clear this is the beginning of disciplinary proceedings - which of course is denied but it is very clear they want rid of me whatever they say.

Often we have very little work at the weekends (we work Friday to Sunday) but with a confirmed catalogue of illnesses dating back many years they realise it is difficult to dismiss me via my sick record I am sure so are concentrating on this pattern of Friday absences and the supposed lack of work I produce.

The letter of concern is the start of the process no doubt but where will this lead from here and what are my rights in the matter please?

[2222]

Perhaps you should say what the nature of the work is?

is the unaccompanied work a real danger?

[Warren Shaw]

Working with electric printing machinery

[ULA]

Specifically about the letter of concern I presume it details exactly what their concerns are, what improvements are required and then what the process will be if the improvements are not addressed? You should have also been given the opportunity to discuss the letter and clarify any points you are unsure of. If you want to dispute the concerns then that would be the time to do so. If you have not been given the opportunity of a meeting then I suggest that you write to your employer if you want to dispute the letter of concern.