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Work problems

Posted , 3 users are following.

ClaireR080613
ClaireR080613

Am not too sure if this is the right place for this or not, but here goes.

I work in a supermarket and suffer with chronic back pain at the ripe old age of 24 and have done for several years. Over the last 8 days there have been incidents where I have been forced into doing jobs that could, and have, had an effect on my health resulting in being sent home from work early yesterday evening due to back pain which I could no longer bear. The manager that has "dealt" with me over the last few days and has out my health at risk told me yesterday that I am no use on the department that I am on now and that I HAVE to go onto checkouts eve though it has been proven by physios, my GP and occupational health that the best department for me is the one that I am on now as it enables me to move my body in a variety of ways that is similar to a physio work out instead of being stuck in one place doing one motion for hours on end.

Because of the last week I have lost a few hours pay and have been feeling very low all day. I have been unable to do the daily routines that I would otherwise do. 

Can anyone help me??

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • frank24438
    frank24438 ClaireR080613

    Posted

    Sorry but your saying you want to stay where you have the most problems?

    Now, unless you have a serious weight issue, i would accept the checkout offer.

    Are you doing any physio exercises regularly to help strengthen your back and have you had any scans?

     

    • ClaireR080613
      ClaireR080613 frank24438

      Posted

      Yes I do want to stay on the department that I am on now. I work 4 days a week (5 with overtime) and 2 sometimes 3 of the days I am on price changes which apart from bending over and stretching isn't particularly strenuous. The 3rd day that I am contracted to I am either doing price changes or gun / handheld computer work checking stock issues, counts, etc which can involve lifting / moving occasional heavy things but the people I work with are great and know what my limits are and work on a day to day basis with me. The 4th day that I am contracted to is an evening and it is usually mild stock replenishment and stock off-sales that I deal with. No I don;t have a weight issue and I have no idea why that would come into this, but it has been proven that checkouts would be a bad move for a number of reasons:

      1) I cannot take my breaks and medication as and when needed. I would need to go on a rota for breaks and even then it is not guaranteed that I would be able to take my medication when needed. 

      2) Sitting and standing in the same position for long periods of time is more stressfull for my back than having constant movement and being on checkouts would mean very little movement apart from moving items from one side to the other.

      3) The department that I am on now enables me to stretch and exercise my back muscles regularly being in different positons and carrying out different roles throughout the week, similar to my physio exercises, therefore not putting any strain on my back from one constant movement. 

      My GP, physio and occ health advisor (or whatever you want to call them) have all said that checkouts is definitely out of the question because of these factors.

      Yes I am doing physio exercises regularly. I spent 6 years battling from the first time I had a back injury but I managed to have an MRI scan earlier this year.

      I have been working on my department fine for the last few years and before April May this year had not had a flare up in nearly 2 years (Which believe me is a miracle!!) and now This is my 2nd flare up where I am off work in 7 / 8 months, due to being forced to undertake duties that have already been declared unsuitable. 

      I have already said all this in my original thread starter and I don't understand what is so difficult for you to understand why I do not want to move departments, especially to a department that has already been seen as unsuitable.

      It feels as though I am having to fight yet again to prove my case. People with visible disabilities for example blindness, limbs missing etc have it a lot easier than people who have medical conditions that cannot be seen with a quick glance. If you are going to judge people please don't bother leaving messages / replies in the future. I have enough to deal with without people like you adding to things

  • marshall71
    marshall71 ClaireR080613

    Posted

    I would get in touch with HR if there is any where you work your manager is out of line your Gp and Physio will back you up

    • ClaireR080613
      ClaireR080613 marshall71

      Posted

      I went into work earlier to hand in my sick note from my GP I saw this morning and was met with hostility from the HR manager. I don't have any manager in our workplace that I trust anymore since there were major redundancies a few months ago. I feel so alone there. I know they are trying to get rid of me but no one else will hire me because of my medical problems so am stuck in a rut sad
    • marshall71
      marshall71 ClaireR080613

      Posted

      It's against the law to sack someone who's sick a company I worked for years ago was trying to sack me I was 2 years sick Maybe having a chat with CAB they will guide you as what you can do.

      Just seen your age your 24 mine starts around then early 20s I'm 43 now and it's been up and down with pain 

      I used to a lot of driving with my old job can't even drive now way too painful it's awful having back pain I know how you feel 

    • ClaireR080613
      ClaireR080613 marshall71

      Posted

      Thanks, it's nice to know some legalities are in my favour. Will do once Christmas and everything is back to normal.

      t is going to sound sbsurd but for the most part I can deal with the pain - tablets, pain plans / management etc, but it is the mental side of things that really get to me. My dad has had artritis in his spine since his 20's and when I am having a down day all I can see is myself how my dad is now. And thinking of all the things I used to be able to do 5 - 10 years ago. It is such a rollercoaster I don;t think I could go through it without the support of my family and my fabulous husband. There isn't many guys that would stick around and help with the basics of life as if you were an OAP. 

       

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