Please talk to me about redeployment

[fuzzpig]

So it's come to this. :(

I have various chronic illnesses and have been off sick for a while now. I thought it was a relapse, but I've started to accept that it's actually that my illness has progressed.

My latest occupational health report says unequivocally that I am not well enough to return to my job. It's a job that involves manual handling and we've already established that there is no way of amending my role to avoid it (absolutely fair enough, I don't dispute that). So they've recommended redeployment to a desk job.

I'm just wondering about how that works really. I am totally up for it if there's something suitable but where do I stand if the job I am offered (if there is one - have already been told there isn't much) is not manageable? Unfortunately any desk jobs would be at council HQ which means much more travelling and I'm not sure I can cope with that. In which case I would presumably be out the door?

I don't really know why I'm posting TBH. Just venting perhaps. :(

[Becca19962014]

They look for something deemed suitable within the recommendations by occupational health and then offer it to you (in my very limited experience).

Depending on how good the report was from occ health and the amount of detail is the only way to tell what will happen. For example Does the report mention issues with travelling the extra distance (I'm assuming of course that's related to your disability)?

Are you in a union, could they possibly help you with this?

Don't know if that's much help or not!

[fuzzpig]

Thank you it is helpful :)

They didn't ask about distance come to think of it. I know my manager is aware of it being an issue though (I don't drive, and even if I could I wouldn't be safe to anyway now due to dizziness/risk of blackouts) as when she first mentioned it, she said how it was unfortunate that the main council buildings are further away (train and bus rather than just bus).

TBH I won't actually fight it if they can't find anything for me - I am devastated that I can't do my current job of course but when it comes down to it, there really isn't much I would be capable of outside the home. I think my main worry is that I'll get forced to do another job that is still too much IYSWIM, and end up getting worse.

[Becca19962014]

I do understand what it's like from my own experience, Im now unable to work due to my conditions and, I was forced to leave as there was nothing for me to be redeployed to. There was nothing that wouldn't worsen my conditions, as they can only deterioate regardless of what I was doing.

I really hope they can find something for you that you can manage. It was, for me, an awful situation to be in.

I really feel for you and hope it's much better for you and you find something.

[fuzzpig]

Thank you and I'm sorry it wasn't a positive outcome for you.

I do have another option for self employment, which would be flexible around my health (and a better rate of pay), but obviously riskier than having a steady income.

[Becca19962014]

Thankyou. It's good to hear you have another option to fall back on.

[HeyMacWey]

Did oh say anything about working from home? Do you think this could be explored? As a local authority they should be open to flexible working arrangements unless of course it's 100% customer facing.

I'm in the same position but no alternative to be redeployed to. In all honesty is better for my health to not work so it feels a bit of a relief to have the decision taken out of my hands.

[fuzzpig]

I would absolutely love to do work from home! Unfortunately my specific job is half customer service (in person, not phones etc) and half stock work so it's not possible to do that from home, but I'm hoping that there might be something elsewhere within the council that I could do at home. I wouldn't really care what, emails, data entry, whatever. I don't know if the council do that, I've always thought of that kind of working from home as something you have to earn the right to, like if you've been in the job a while and that sort of thing, but I've no clue if I'm right! The OH interview didn't mention WFH, it just said 'redeployment to a desk role' or something like that.

IKWYM about having the decision taken out of your hands and I'm sorry it's got to that point for you Hey. I've been so tempted to just quit because I hate not knowing what's going to happen, and I hate the indignity of being off sick (especially because the illnesses I have are subject to a lot of stigma and suspicion, they are invisible disabilities) and feeling like most of my colleagues are judging me. In a way I just want to take a break properly and then get a new start with my little business. Still even though I've known for a while that my job really isn't sensible for my condition, seeing it written down by an official person made it horribly real. I was so lucky to get a job I loved - just stumbled into it when, ironically, my DH lost his job through injury (he's fine now and working). Was all great until I got ill. I keep wishing I had a job that I didn't enjoy, as then I wouldn't miss it!

[HeyMacWey]

I know what you mean - don't quit your job though - you'll be better off financially if they terminate your employment - you're entitled to accrued a/L and whatever notice is in your contact.

Do you know if your local authority currently have any other vacancies that you could move into? Or even any job share possibilities?

[Becca19962014]

Definitely don't quit. I know it's hard when illness/disability is invisible and feeling (in my case being, though not by my manager) judged for it.

[Becca19962014]

Meant to add I hope the business idea goes well and won't effect your illness.

[fuzzpig]

Don't worry I won't quit no matter how tempted I am! My colleague (one of the few who I know is on my side) has a friend who quit due to illness and she has been utterly screwed financially ever since. A very sad cautionary tale :( :(

I'm not sure about vacancies but I guess that's what the redeployment process would be looking at anyway. Job share is an interesting idea.

It really just depends on travel - I'm assuming they wouldn't give me more hours than I already do. I was FT when I got really ill, and

I just realised the GP should be writing my sick note today. She said she'd write it for the maximum period this time. I think that'd also push things forward as it gets even more obvious that I'm not going back.

I know my company sick pay runs out in May but now that it's in writing that I'm not well enough, I guess I will have to leave (if no redeployment available) before that.

[fuzzpig]

I'm a bit confused - I'm on half pay at the moment so does that include statutory sick pay? Would it be ESA after that?

Just realised I left a sentence unfinished above - I was FT when I got really ill, and then gradually reduced it until I settled (which worked brilliantly, I actually had 6 months with no absence at all but then I got a virus which triggered it all off again). I now do 12hrs. So presumably they wouldn't make me try 20hrs or something?

[Becca19962014]

The hours should be the same - that should be in your OH report.

I'm not sure about pay, I think it's ESA after, though I don't know the rules regarding SSP.

[HeyMacWey]

Your current pay would be part of your employers enhanced sick pay so would assume that your ssp is being paid as part of that. You're entitled to 28 weeks of ssp.

You can claim esa once your ssp runs out. If you're claiming contributions based then you can claim this for a year.

[fuzzpig]

Hours are not in the OH report (it's basically just listing my symptoms and describes how they've worsened, and how therefore I am unable to fulfil my current role) but hopefully they wouldn't try to make me do more than my current 12hrs anyway :)

[Becca19962014]

Sorry I'd assumed you had changed to lower hours on OH recommendation. I hope it works out for you!

[fuzzpig]

I sort of did. :) I was FT when I first got really sick, then we dabbled with phased returns etc. When it became clear that FT was too much we tried 16hrs and then even that was too much so we dropped to 12, and they agreed to permanently change my contract to that.

[fuzzpig]

Oh I see I already wrote that. Brain fog. Sorry

[caroldecker]

It is unlikely the council do not have desk jobs that can be worked from home anywhere in its remit but they may not try hard to find one - have a look at council job vacancies to see if anything may suit which you could suggest.

[Becca19962014]

It's ok. I understand, I get it too.

[fuzzpig]

Thank you

Carol that's a great idea, I'll have a look. I'm sure there's a sort of map somewhere that explains all the different aspects of the council which may provide some inspiration too.

Also wondering if as most schools are still council run round here, there may be something in a school office or something. I remember seeing school vacancies on the council website before. And that would potentially reducce the travel time if it was a school in this town.

[fuzzpig]

reduce*