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i have a number of issues at work that are starting to make me stressed,depressed and i am worried for my future.
I work for the Police as a detective and have done so for over 16 years
My work has been commended many times and i was(am) highly regarded by many senior police officers, i am an expert in a particular work area.
I injured my back doing compulsory defence training during 2010, i took 2 or 3 days off sick before returning to work and have been going through the slow nhs treatment process.
I was placed on temporary restricted duties which lasted over a year as i was severely injured as a result of this but as a result of the failure to complete the defence training i was (wrongly) subjected to unsatisfactory performance protocols (UPP).
I was supported in some degree by my line managers, however the support i got was to go to the gym to lose weight as it was deemed (by them and the defence trainer) to be a reason for my injury in the first place. I am overweight but had passed the compulsory training every year previously with no problems
During 2011, there was pressure on my then senior manager to get me off UPP and temporary restricted duties, i was therefore told to get on and do the defence training again, i wanted reassurance that i was ok to continue with such training
from both my gp and the force dr, however the pressure from above was on so i 'attempted' the training without the all clear due to this pressure and again got injured or aggravated the same injury. i did email both hr and my boss to say i wanted the all clear before the training date but felt heavily pressured into doing the training, fearing the upp process and its consequences.
after this second injury - I was sick for a few days but returned to work again on then still on upp. As a result of my treatment and eventually through the slow medical processes i finally had an MRI scan which showed 'early degenerative disc disease' and damage plus a prolapsed lumbar disc with a tear.
The tact then changed and hr, supervisors and the others seemed to be more sympathetic towards my condition.
I have been suffering in severe pain and discomfort ever since the initial injury with a number of other health problems manifesting themselves as a result of these actions and my injury has left me as being 'disabled' for the purposes of the DDA. the process is slow with the nhs and i am still waiting to be seen by a consultant.
i have waited since spring 2010 for a suitable chair and work station etc as a result of an ergonomic assessment that took my employers over a year to sort out. it was left to me to sort eventually and then for me to send the results to hr for the job to pay as access to work wouldnt pay for it as they said it was reasonable for the job to pay. i am very busy in work and had forgotten to send the papers but hr or my supervisors have never followed the matter of the workstation and chair up, i only remembered the stuff when i found the papers in my drawer today (prompting my post here).
i had to record my injury as an industrial accident myself as hr didnt know the process, i asked them specifically early on in the process and they said it was up to me to do it as hr dont routinely inform the HSE of accidents at work, as a result of the notifications i now receive industrial injuries disablement benefit at the lower tier but now may be increased due to worsening.
i had a few days off sick after picking up my baby and hurting my back during 2012, this caused my then line manager a problem because it fell at the time when i was booked to to do a work related course. upon my return the boss intimated i was not sick and only reported sick so i didnt have to do the course. i was aggrieved by this and tensions started developing between us as i felt he was then out to 'do my legs'
The period is shown on my sick record and not as disability related leave
as a result of the pain and medication, the related stress and the fact i was seeking leave to remain in the uk for my wife who is foreign national with limited english, no driving ability and our baby who is now 2.5 yrs old. My wife relies on me for all of her everyday things such as food shopping, bills, legal documents etc although she gets about with buses and taxis.
My work standards had lowered during this time (early 2012) and i was given a written improvement notice for a trivial matter when others in the office had committed acts of much more severity including on one occasion possible misconduct. it appeared to me that i was being singled out for management scrutiny an attention so i started to keep records of what i percieved to be management failings when others weren't being disciplined or issued with notices for more severe mistakes than mine.
i am in daily pain, sometimes more severe and cannot sleep most nights i get about 4-5 hrs
as a result of my mri scan and HR and the organisation recognising my disability plus in order to get taken off UPP and temporary restricted i was allowed a modified safety training where myself and a few other disabled staff were put through the course at a much reduced intensity. i passed and the temporary restricted staus was removed for a year. HR expected me to have had an operation by July this year and so lifted the restriction.
I will never fully do this defence course i am disabled and i believe they have left me alone as i have taken very little in the way of sick leave or disability leave but remain in constant pain which is worseneing by the day.
I believe that i have been treated poorly, my disability was not taken seriously, it has been poorly managed and i was subjected to bullying in order to massage the figures and get me off 'the sick list' as a direct result my injury and disability worsened
Can i claim for damages for (a) personal injury due to being pressured into the 2nd course during 2011 and then becoming injured again from exactly the same exercise that caused the original disablement? (b) Disability discrimination by virtue of the failure to provide reasonable adjustments? (c) damages to feelings due to the extra management scrutiny i feel i was put under?
As part of my recording of issues in the workplace and my perceived management failings i had an instance where following a busy couple of weeks the 2 supervisors took the same day off. I requested special leave for that day (albeit a little late) in order to support my wife during the day prior to and then the attendance at her appointment for application for indefinate leave to remain in the UK my wife was very worried about this appointment and needed help with our son in order that she concentrate during the time before the appointment in case of any difficult questions were asked of her.
Another colleague also requested the day off to attend a hearing in support of his daughters boyfriend over custody issues (non blood realted to my colleague).
Both my supervisors (immediate and line manager) refused both of our days off stating that they needed to have their time off due to not having a weekend off in 2 weeks previous.
My line manager however granted me the time to attend at the appointment with my wife at the appropriate time. I very reluctantly accepted this although the other colleague who is argumentative and aggressive said to the immediate supervisor in an aggressive manner that if he couldnt have the day off he would go sick. He was not challenged as to his comment as far as i know. it was left that neither of us could take the day off although we could attend at the appointments.
The day of my wifes ILR appointment came, i was in work and there was no sign of my colleague at work, i asked where he was and the others in the office could not tell me. Both my supervisors were off taking their owed days. There have been times when the office cover was low often only one person to keep on top of our work which although very busy is often slow time investigations. My wifes big day had come, she was worried and nervous all day, she had no support from me that morning, having to struggle with a 2 year old on the bus to get to the immigration office. i met her there taking a few hours off and we got through the interview.
There was no mention of my colleague not attending work that day, no investigation as to where he was, the time of his appointments or anything, the supervisor and line manager knew he hadnt attended although i never made a fuss or complaint about it at that time.
Have i been a victim of indirect racial discrimination? in that i was not afforded time off to support my wife who is an ethnic minority, non english speaker/reader with a very important appointment, whereas the supervisors not disciplining my colleague over his comments, his non attendance and the lack of investigation into his very serious misconduct was not conducted.
I have kept records of these occurrences, my supervisors were aware of the records as were my colleagues as never kept them a secret.
as a result i was brought in front of the departmental head to account for my actions in recording the management failings. i was asked if i wished to pursue the matters recorded formally during this meeting which was minuted and questions and answers recorded by a supervisor of a different team, i was not afforded the opportunity to have a 'friend' or federation rep with me during this interrogation over my record keeping. I felt put on the spot and declined during this meeting to take matters further stating that my actions were borne our of frustration and were for my own use. I was scared of being disciplined by the dept head, a police superintendent.
Also during the same meeting i was asked about an occasion where following an argument with a temporary supervisor who was covering for leave i verbally abused him, he is the same rank as me and was exerting the temporary power on the day of the argument so i did call him a derogatory name, however this was dealt with between us and forgotten as there are often arguments like this in our office. The dept head gave me a verbal warning and wanted the matter dealt with by means of an entry in my employee review record and a diversity course.
Again i feel that i have been treated unfairly, that dept head has since retired. I felt bullied and pressured into declining to take the recorded supervision and discrimination matters further, i feel alone and dont know how to deal with these things any more.
With the pain, coping with the disability,my health problems and my family life i am depressed, stressed and dont know where to turn.
During this time our deparetment went form having 8 detectives to 4 as they never replaced retirees and those who moved on, howver we werestill made to do the same work of 8.
a long post i am sorry but i felt i need o give the whole background to the issues i face
thanks for taking the time
thaitoon
I work for the Police as a detective and have done so for over 16 years
My work has been commended many times and i was(am) highly regarded by many senior police officers, i am an expert in a particular work area.
I injured my back doing compulsory defence training during 2010, i took 2 or 3 days off sick before returning to work and have been going through the slow nhs treatment process.
I was placed on temporary restricted duties which lasted over a year as i was severely injured as a result of this but as a result of the failure to complete the defence training i was (wrongly) subjected to unsatisfactory performance protocols (UPP).
I was supported in some degree by my line managers, however the support i got was to go to the gym to lose weight as it was deemed (by them and the defence trainer) to be a reason for my injury in the first place. I am overweight but had passed the compulsory training every year previously with no problems
During 2011, there was pressure on my then senior manager to get me off UPP and temporary restricted duties, i was therefore told to get on and do the defence training again, i wanted reassurance that i was ok to continue with such training
from both my gp and the force dr, however the pressure from above was on so i 'attempted' the training without the all clear due to this pressure and again got injured or aggravated the same injury. i did email both hr and my boss to say i wanted the all clear before the training date but felt heavily pressured into doing the training, fearing the upp process and its consequences.
after this second injury - I was sick for a few days but returned to work again on then still on upp. As a result of my treatment and eventually through the slow medical processes i finally had an MRI scan which showed 'early degenerative disc disease' and damage plus a prolapsed lumbar disc with a tear.
The tact then changed and hr, supervisors and the others seemed to be more sympathetic towards my condition.
I have been suffering in severe pain and discomfort ever since the initial injury with a number of other health problems manifesting themselves as a result of these actions and my injury has left me as being 'disabled' for the purposes of the DDA. the process is slow with the nhs and i am still waiting to be seen by a consultant.
i have waited since spring 2010 for a suitable chair and work station etc as a result of an ergonomic assessment that took my employers over a year to sort out. it was left to me to sort eventually and then for me to send the results to hr for the job to pay as access to work wouldnt pay for it as they said it was reasonable for the job to pay. i am very busy in work and had forgotten to send the papers but hr or my supervisors have never followed the matter of the workstation and chair up, i only remembered the stuff when i found the papers in my drawer today (prompting my post here).
i had to record my injury as an industrial accident myself as hr didnt know the process, i asked them specifically early on in the process and they said it was up to me to do it as hr dont routinely inform the HSE of accidents at work, as a result of the notifications i now receive industrial injuries disablement benefit at the lower tier but now may be increased due to worsening.
i had a few days off sick after picking up my baby and hurting my back during 2012, this caused my then line manager a problem because it fell at the time when i was booked to to do a work related course. upon my return the boss intimated i was not sick and only reported sick so i didnt have to do the course. i was aggrieved by this and tensions started developing between us as i felt he was then out to 'do my legs'
The period is shown on my sick record and not as disability related leave
as a result of the pain and medication, the related stress and the fact i was seeking leave to remain in the uk for my wife who is foreign national with limited english, no driving ability and our baby who is now 2.5 yrs old. My wife relies on me for all of her everyday things such as food shopping, bills, legal documents etc although she gets about with buses and taxis.
My work standards had lowered during this time (early 2012) and i was given a written improvement notice for a trivial matter when others in the office had committed acts of much more severity including on one occasion possible misconduct. it appeared to me that i was being singled out for management scrutiny an attention so i started to keep records of what i percieved to be management failings when others weren't being disciplined or issued with notices for more severe mistakes than mine.
i am in daily pain, sometimes more severe and cannot sleep most nights i get about 4-5 hrs
as a result of my mri scan and HR and the organisation recognising my disability plus in order to get taken off UPP and temporary restricted i was allowed a modified safety training where myself and a few other disabled staff were put through the course at a much reduced intensity. i passed and the temporary restricted staus was removed for a year. HR expected me to have had an operation by July this year and so lifted the restriction.
I will never fully do this defence course i am disabled and i believe they have left me alone as i have taken very little in the way of sick leave or disability leave but remain in constant pain which is worseneing by the day.
I believe that i have been treated poorly, my disability was not taken seriously, it has been poorly managed and i was subjected to bullying in order to massage the figures and get me off 'the sick list' as a direct result my injury and disability worsened
Can i claim for damages for (a) personal injury due to being pressured into the 2nd course during 2011 and then becoming injured again from exactly the same exercise that caused the original disablement? (b) Disability discrimination by virtue of the failure to provide reasonable adjustments? (c) damages to feelings due to the extra management scrutiny i feel i was put under?
As part of my recording of issues in the workplace and my perceived management failings i had an instance where following a busy couple of weeks the 2 supervisors took the same day off. I requested special leave for that day (albeit a little late) in order to support my wife during the day prior to and then the attendance at her appointment for application for indefinate leave to remain in the UK my wife was very worried about this appointment and needed help with our son in order that she concentrate during the time before the appointment in case of any difficult questions were asked of her.
Another colleague also requested the day off to attend a hearing in support of his daughters boyfriend over custody issues (non blood realted to my colleague).
Both my supervisors (immediate and line manager) refused both of our days off stating that they needed to have their time off due to not having a weekend off in 2 weeks previous.
My line manager however granted me the time to attend at the appointment with my wife at the appropriate time. I very reluctantly accepted this although the other colleague who is argumentative and aggressive said to the immediate supervisor in an aggressive manner that if he couldnt have the day off he would go sick. He was not challenged as to his comment as far as i know. it was left that neither of us could take the day off although we could attend at the appointments.
The day of my wifes ILR appointment came, i was in work and there was no sign of my colleague at work, i asked where he was and the others in the office could not tell me. Both my supervisors were off taking their owed days. There have been times when the office cover was low often only one person to keep on top of our work which although very busy is often slow time investigations. My wifes big day had come, she was worried and nervous all day, she had no support from me that morning, having to struggle with a 2 year old on the bus to get to the immigration office. i met her there taking a few hours off and we got through the interview.
There was no mention of my colleague not attending work that day, no investigation as to where he was, the time of his appointments or anything, the supervisor and line manager knew he hadnt attended although i never made a fuss or complaint about it at that time.
Have i been a victim of indirect racial discrimination? in that i was not afforded time off to support my wife who is an ethnic minority, non english speaker/reader with a very important appointment, whereas the supervisors not disciplining my colleague over his comments, his non attendance and the lack of investigation into his very serious misconduct was not conducted.
I have kept records of these occurrences, my supervisors were aware of the records as were my colleagues as never kept them a secret.
as a result i was brought in front of the departmental head to account for my actions in recording the management failings. i was asked if i wished to pursue the matters recorded formally during this meeting which was minuted and questions and answers recorded by a supervisor of a different team, i was not afforded the opportunity to have a 'friend' or federation rep with me during this interrogation over my record keeping. I felt put on the spot and declined during this meeting to take matters further stating that my actions were borne our of frustration and were for my own use. I was scared of being disciplined by the dept head, a police superintendent.
Also during the same meeting i was asked about an occasion where following an argument with a temporary supervisor who was covering for leave i verbally abused him, he is the same rank as me and was exerting the temporary power on the day of the argument so i did call him a derogatory name, however this was dealt with between us and forgotten as there are often arguments like this in our office. The dept head gave me a verbal warning and wanted the matter dealt with by means of an entry in my employee review record and a diversity course.
Again i feel that i have been treated unfairly, that dept head has since retired. I felt bullied and pressured into declining to take the recorded supervision and discrimination matters further, i feel alone and dont know how to deal with these things any more.
With the pain, coping with the disability,my health problems and my family life i am depressed, stressed and dont know where to turn.
During this time our deparetment went form having 8 detectives to 4 as they never replaced retirees and those who moved on, howver we werestill made to do the same work of 8.
a long post i am sorry but i felt i need o give the whole background to the issues i face
thanks for taking the time
thaitoon
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