can any one advise me please

[suzy62]

hello i was wondering if anyone can advise me... i have been signed off work as medically unfit for work since 3/1/17 my managers from work have been coming to see me at home every month the last visit being 31/7/17 however it was mentioned that as the company dont recognise me as being disabled there is no other form of work they can offer me the occupational therapist i saw (at my works request) stated that after i have my operation i should have sedentary work

apparently there is no sedentatry jobs in my company
however i am signed off work til end of october 2017 and i have 2 weeks ago been to an assessment appointment for PIP i have the feeling work want me to hand my notice in hence their visit this thursday.... i have no idea as to my operation is going to be but i do need one i have a few issues health wise i need to sort out please can any one advise me as i feel in a catch 22 situation and cant see the wood for the trees i have spent the last 8 months stressed and very anxious i have severe arthritis and this has caused deformities and i need a total knee replacement in my knee and the other knee is needing attention in the not to distant future thank you

[Kati]

Re: can any one advise me please

I'll tag [MENTION=51026]Ula[/MENTION] and [MENTION=26290]mariefab[/MENTION] for you xx

[suzy62]

Re: can any one advise me please

thank you so much xx

[ULA]

Re: can any one advise me please

Hi [MENTION=101594]suzy62[/MENTION]. In order to be able to advise further I need to ask some other questions.
How long have you been employed with your current employer?
How long have you suffered arthritis and before your current absence from work have you been off work in the past as a result of your arthritis?
If so have you previously spoken to your employer about potential adjustments in your work?
It sounds like you are doing a manual job is that correct?

Many thanks

[suzy62]

Re: can any one advise me please

Hi [MENTION=101594]suzy62[/MENTION]. In order to be able to advise further I need to ask some other questions.
How long have you been employed with your current employer?
How long have you suffered arthritis and before your current absence from work have you been off work in the past as a result of your arthritis?
If so have you previously spoken to your employer about potential adjustments in your work?
It sounds like you are doing a manual job is that correct?

Many thanks

i will have been with them 7 years this october and 2014 was when i started getting knee pain but the xrays taken august 2014 showed nothing significant my athritis started getting bad in october 2016 by november i was in agony and saw my doctor and it got bad rather rapid iam a cleaner working for a company who works alongside HM Forces basically there are no adjustments that can be made i need to be able to climb stairs (no lifts) hoover mop clean toilets showers and baths all of which are on ground floor first floor and second floor and change bed linen as well as make beds also have other areas to cover one is another building its not a great distance but was agony walking to doing all the work and walking back
the cleaning is very physically and ardious i dont think adjustments come into the equation for this company i know they are very keen for me to go and i dont want to put myself in a situation where it makes it easier for my company and then has a knock on effect for me i

[ULA]

Re: can any one advise me please

Thank you for answering my questions. I am sorry to hear it has been such a rapid onset of your arthritis. For your company to recognise your arthritis as a disability under the terms of the Equality Act it would need to come under the definition of a 'physical (including sensory) impairment or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his/her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities'. In this case long-term means that the effect of the impairment has lasted or is likely to last for at least 12 months. This is probably why at this stage they are not recognising you as being disabled.

I understand that your employer has been keeping in monthly contact with you, however have they asked about getting your authority for contacting your GP for a medical report or sending you for an independent medical exam?

I presume that you may have exhausted any company six pay and SSP payments?

Have you been given any further information as to their visit this Thurs?

[suzy62]

Re: can any one advise me please

i had to sign a permission form for my company to contact my doctor and also to say i would attend their independent assessment

my doctors letter was received and i have attended their appointment for an independent assessment

my ssp stoppee 17 july

the letter for this meeting states it is the last home visit and i can have a union rep or a co worker attend with me i have neither

i was told by a friend that i should not simply hand my notice in not while iam not in receipt of any pip as it makes it easier for my company but not me

[ULA]

Re: can any one advise me please

At the moment there is no reason for you to hand in notice.

However with the length of absence that you have had and with SSP payments no longer been made by the company they may be considering what action to now take, hence the reason for asking your permission to contact your GP for a medical report and asking you to attend an independent medical assessment.

Did the letter they have sent you about the visit this Thurs at which they offered for you to be accompanied give any further information for the intent of the meeting?

[suzy62]

Re: can any one advise me please

on the letter it states as a result of this meeting if there is still no indication to suggest that you may be able to return to work in the foreseeable future or if this still remains unclear your contract of employment may be terminated on the grounds of ill health

you have the right to be accompanied by a (named company) work colleague or trade union representative

ends with i trust you fully understand the above

[ULA]

Re: can any one advise me please

From what you have stated in a previous thread you are not going to be accompanied. Can I suggest that you make this very clear at the outset of the meeting, that you expect notes to be taken and that you would like to receive a copy.

What needs to happen in terms of the guidance we can provide is to ensure that if they are considering terminating your contract due to ill health they do this by following correct procedures.

[suzy62]

Re: can any one advise me please

i will make sure that they take clear concise notes and will ask for a copy

so tomorrow is about taking the steps to terminating my contract so is there a time barrier weeks or months

i will let you know tomorrow what was discussed i have them at 10am but they usually here for an hour i have an appointment 3 40pm at the doctors as soon as i get home i will let you know what was said

thank you x

[harrysheard]

Re: can any one advise me please

Have you researched to see if you could get ill health retirement, (also to take into account I.I.D.B) I would not hand your notice in as they would want you to do that as it will make it easier for them,,,,,I would also advise you to keep a copy of all communication going back as far as you can, as i presume the problem has been ongoing...Also you should note any changes in working practise as well....

[ULA]

Re: can any one advise me please

I am not saying for certain that is what they will be doing tomorrow but I just wanted you to be aware that it may be the start of the process and if it is they need to follow a fair process.

Equally they may want to discuss with you the reports from your GP and the independent assessment and what impact these may have on your prognosis for a possible return to work, in what timescales and in what capacity. For that type of discussion good practice would advise that an employer gives the employee a right to be accompanied at the meeting.

[suzy62]

Re: can any one advise me please

Have you researched to see if you could get ill health retirement, (also to take into account I.I.D.B) I would not hand your notice in as they would want you to do that as it will make it easier for them,,,,,I would also advise you to keep a copy of all communication going back as far as you can, as i presume the problem has been ongoing...Also you should note any changes in working practise as well....

hello i have asked how do i get medically retired but i get conflicting replies and little advice given x

- - - Updated - - -

thank you i feel a little less stressed now i will improvise all the information you have given me and i will ask questions and i will let you know the outcome tomorrow thank you for all your advice i do appreciate it x

[harrysheard]

Re: can any one advise me please

""hello i have asked how do i get medically retired""...read the details with your pension scheme--- they should have the ins and outs....I presume you have kept copies of what managers have said at meetings and results notes from O.H and their Dr assessments all these will be useful, for ill heath or IIDB ect if you can scan and save on computer as pdf makes life easier....