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HR taking the Mickey!

Posted , 12 users are following.

kim87231
kim87231

Hi. Was due to have my op on February 7th 2018 but just prior to it had to meet with the anaesthetist. She took my BP several times and it was 214/115...."in stroke category" apparently. She rang my doctor who fitted me in immediately, started me on BP tablets & signed me off work. Six weeks of check ups & tablet increases brought my BP down. I had my op on April 3rd. My wound did not heal well & I was in hospital for 11days. I am now almost 4 weeks in, in alot of pain, not sleeping, feeling really down. Last week, my line manager paid me a welfare visit. Yesterday I received a letter from HR saying another welfare meeting has been planned for Fri 4th May @ our education offices around 15 miles away. That I should be aware that it is a formal meeting to discuss this absence and my options and can bring a union rep with me!!! I find it utterly insensitive and ludicrous....I cannot drive, can barely dress myself & get to the toilet let alone attend a meeting many miles away!! I am feeling so so depressed and stressed & cannot sleep. I have other health issues due to a non functioning pituitary tumor in 2002 and am supposedly covered by the disability act but rarely is any notice taken of this. I have a doctor's note until June 10th at least. Has anyone else had this problem? I am beside myself with worry. Am I within my rights to request postponement of the meeting for several weeks whilst I recover? Kim

0 likes, 35 replies

35 Replies

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  • trees1234
    trees1234 kim87231

    Posted

    Are you in the union Kim if so contact them immediately and take their advise. 
  • trees1234
    trees1234 kim87231

    Posted

    Kim are you in the union if you are contact them immediately and seek their advise 
  • Ink_blot
    Ink_blot kim87231

    Posted

    Sounds like appalling treatment from HR. Get onto your union, as soon as possible. I hope all works out for you.
  • natalie04381
    natalie04381 kim87231

    Posted

    Hi Kim, I had my TKR on 9th January and out of hospital on the 13th Jam, I had my 1st ' well being " call on the 15th January and I have had a call every single week asking how I am and when I'm coming back . My job is bet y physical and I'm on my feet all day. I put a complaint in to the HR manager and she apologised and said no more calls would be made, and she would contact me personally every now and again to see how I am, not heard a thing from her but still getting calls every week I had 3 calls in 1 week once. I'm not driving yet and only just got rid of my crutches , it's harassment and I got really upset also. I'm sure you can purspone the meeting if you are off sick also they can't sack you while you are off sick which is what I was worried about. Funny thing is I'm not getting paid for being of sick . I would cancel it until you feel better x

    • brenda60190
      brenda60190 natalie04381

      Posted

      Disgusting. I have known people off work following a heart attack and being pestered as soon as a couple of weeks later. As long as you have a sick note the employer has to accept the reason for being off sick and they cannot press anyone into returning to work against medical advice as they are not allowed to go against the dr.
    • kim87231
      kim87231 natalie04381

      Posted

      Wow. You have suffered appalling treatment too. Definitely harassment. Are you sure that they can't sack you while you are off sick? Even though they can make your life so miserable that you want to resign?

  • brenda60190
    brenda60190 kim87231

    Posted

    I am sorry to hear this. It is unacceptable and unfair.

    Can you obtain a letter from your GP or specialist to reinforce the sick note you have.

    Will you be seeing a dr on this 'welfare' appointment?

    Are you in the UK?

    If your dr has signed you off then that should be enough evidence in itself. The fact you have had surgery and are still not fully recovered should indicate to your employer that yours is a genuine case.

    When you received this 'welfare visit' did u have a witness with you?

    |DId you receive the option of having someone with you at the time?

    Was the welfare person qualified to assess you?

     

    • kim87231
      kim87231 brenda60190

      Posted

      No mention has been made of a doctor in attendance. No I didn't have a witness with me....it was meant to be informal. I am going to ring my union tomorrow & poss ACAS for advice. Thanks

  • kim20134
    kim20134 kim87231

    Posted

    Legally, according to employment law (in UK) the employer is not allowed to harass an employee back to work. Also it is not in their interest if anything should happen within the workplace. Make sure you document EVERYTHING! Dates, times, telephone calls, what was said. Keep a dossier. 

    Get the weight of your specialist behind you as they cannot fight what they advise. Good luck 

    • brenda60190
      brenda60190 kim20134

      Posted

      Totally agree. These people are past masters at harassing and bullying, if it was one of them they would be taking their time before returning to work. 
  • missmagwumps
    missmagwumps kim87231

    Posted

    Oh KIm - that's appalling behaviour and tantamount to harassment...especially if you are already covered under the disability act. Yes definitely tell them you cannot possibly attend the meeting as you cannot drive - even if they provide you with transport you may not be able to bend your leg suffuciently to get in the car they provide !

    Also remind them of your other disability and provide proof if you have of your previous illness.

    If you are in the uk there are a number of websites you can get advice from - e.g. www.nationalbullyinghelpline.co.uk/    - They have a section for employees but if you are not in UK then maybe you have something similar in your country.

    You cannot be fired while you are sick....so try not to fret too much about that - plus if you are not being paid and finances are difficult you can get help but again - if you are in the UK.

    Best of all - if you are a union member - don't respond direct to the company - let the union deal with it for you! 

    You need to calm down and don't need this stress - despite taking BP pills to lower your pressure....stress can have a detrimental effect on your recovery. 

    Please let us know how you get on.......x

  • missmagwumps
    missmagwumps kim87231

    Posted

    Hi Kim - I did reply but it is waiting to be moderated ! Think it may be because I mentioned a UK National Bullying website but look it up yourself - assuing you are in the UK....

    The companies behaviour is appalling and tantamount to harassment - get in touch with your union first thing on Monday !

    Let us know how you get on.....

     

  • linda54905
    linda54905 kim87231

    Posted

    Reading your post .,sounds exactly like our social welfare her . Insensitive and not thinking out of the square. By all means cancel their visit , or ask they visit you .

    Good luck

    LINDA

    • brenda60190
      brenda60190 linda54905

      Posted

      I agree. Also  have a witness, someone to let them in and out . Treat it like a PIP assessment.

       

  • Snoozy69
    Snoozy69 kim87231

    Posted

    It all depends on your company's policy but I'm sure they are not allowed to harass and bully. I work for the NHS and our hospital policy says that your line manager is supposed to contact you on a monthly basis to keep in touch with you if you are off work for more than 4 weeks. I was quite the opposite where nobody contacted me at all. I suggest that you contact your union representative for advise but as far as I'm aware if you have a fit note from your GP they can't force you to do anything regarding your sickness. HR didn't get involved with me at all, I was referred to occupational health who tried to get me to go to work on non clinical duties I told them no and there is nothing they can do about it. Get hold of your absence policy and see what it says, as long as you are following it to the letter they can't force you to do anything. PS your blood pressure is very high I hope you are on appropriate anti hypertensives. You need a diastolic (bottom figure )below 90 and systolic should be around 140 X 

    • kim87231
      kim87231 Snoozy69

      Posted

      Thanks. I'll get out my sickness absence policy tomorrow. Yes am on Amlodopine & Furosemide but BP is still higher than it should be. Need to follow it up. I get the feeling that they are trying to force me to retire....I work part time for a specialist team who's funding was withdrawn a few years ago so each time someone leaves there's one less salary to pay. X

    • Snoozy69
      Snoozy69 kim87231

      Posted

      The stress of having to deal with this is not going to help your BP. Ive had to deal with a crap manager while I was off recovering. A course I was supposed to have started in February was withdrawn because my sickness level was above trust target. What I didn't understand was the place was given to me when they knew I was having a TKR, now unless they think I can recover from that op in a week they would have known this when they gave me the place. Anyway to cut a long story short I got my Union involved had an "informal" meeting with the manager, his boss, a person from HR and my Union rep. He just sat there and lied saying he didn't know I was having the op😡 Everyone on my unit knew but because it wasn't in writing it didn't happen. so  my advise is to get everything in writing as evidence. PS I'm leaving this job now because I don't trust my manager and moving on to pastures new 😃

    • kim87231
      kim87231 Snoozy69

      Posted

      No it's definitely not helping my BP.....it's back up to 160/105. I cannot believe how I am being treated! It's obvious that they are attempting to harassment me so that I retire early without enhancement. They make me sick! X

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