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Original poster

Signed of work due to ongoing back issues - can I attend an event

62 replies

Sunshinexo1989 · 27/06/2023 09:58

I have been signed of work for 2 weeks due to ongoing back issues and horrendous . They have been ongoing to months and awaiting physio

I have been in contact with doctors today and he has advised me to take 2 weeks of work. I work in a high school which involved a lot of walkng up and down stairs , and walking around pretty much all day. As well as a lot of bending etc as I'm often working in the printing section.

I'm aware I need to keep active, but I'm finding by the end of the work day I am in absolute agony even with taking all my pain killers

I have really been struggling and honestly I don't think work is making my recovery much easier. I also have 2 young chidlren to look after.

I am due to go to a wedding reception this weekend with my husband , am I still allowed to attend even if I've been signed of ? Obviously I won't be up dancing and I'm not physically capable

OP posts:
LakeTiticaca · 27/06/2023 12:18

It maybe OK to go but if your colleagues get wind of it they may take a dim view, if their workload has expanded to cover your sick leave.

ApplesInTheSunshine · 27/06/2023 12:28

LakeTiticaca · 27/06/2023 12:18

It maybe OK to go but if your colleagues get wind of it they may take a dim view, if their workload has expanded to cover your sick leave.

They can take whatever view they want. If their workload has increased and they can’t cope they need to talk to their manager.

It isn’t OP’s fault and she shouldn’t feel guilty.

PTSDBarbiegirl · 27/06/2023 12:35

lucylousweetie · 27/06/2023 10:01

You’re allowed to

But it is a touch odd to be so impacted by this crippling back pain.

but able to travel presumably by car to a wedding reception, which will involve sitting and standing and walking

Take a look at yourself. Unhelpful pathetic comment.
The OP can do whatever she wants that will help her recovery.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
viques · 27/06/2023 12:37

vctreen · 27/06/2023 11:47

The difference being that the OP will be able to choose when she stands, sits, moves about, unlike at work where she is having to respond to situations, and doesn’t get to decide when and how she stands sits or moves around and has to keep doing it through the whole working day, not a couple of hours.

Even just the reception and not the ceremony. I wouldn't fancy sitting through formal speeches, etc, for long periods. She won't be able to dance at all or stand stationary if she's in agony with her back.

It can't be someone the OP is close to if they're only invited to the reception, as obviously that would make a difference then I would attend, despite the pain, for close friends or family (for a limited time having explained about my back).

“It can’t be someone they are close to if they are only invited to the reception”

Well , that depends, of course the wedding could be being held in Salisbury Cathedral, in which case your argument is valid, however. some register offices are very small.

PTSDBarbiegirl · 27/06/2023 12:39

LolaSmiles · 27/06/2023 10:04

My understanding is that whatever you're doing can't be in contradiction of the reason you're off work.

If the doctor has signed you off work, rather than saying you could return to work with the following adjustments... then whatever you're doing needs to be in line with that.

Eg. Wedding receptions can be quite long. If you attend for an hour or so at a local wedding and then return home then that's going to look very different than being at a wedding reception for an afternoon and evening, where someone might argue that if you're well enough to travel to attend a wedding for a long period of time then you're well enough to work with some adjustments in place.

"...... where someone might argue that if you're well enough to travel to attend a wedding for a long period of time then you're well enough to work with some adjustments in place."

WHO??? Health, Safety & Wellbeing at work law would argue otherwise.

HowcanIhelp123 · 27/06/2023 12:41

If you go, sit down, and no posting about it you'll be fine.

If you're tagged in videos of you in a conga line coming up and down some stairs you'll probably find yourself in hot water at work.

Chasingadvice · 27/06/2023 12:43

Bluebells1970 · 27/06/2023 10:06

I'd be pretty pissed off if I was one of your colleagues and found out you'd gone.

I've got fusing discs at the bottom of my spine and find walking around/keeping active is far better than doing nothing. Sitting around is the worst thing that you can do.

That's lovely dear but op's medical condition and preferred methods of pain management may differ from yours.

bonfirebash · 27/06/2023 12:44

Bluebells1970 · 27/06/2023 10:06

I'd be pretty pissed off if I was one of your colleagues and found out you'd gone.

I've got fusing discs at the bottom of my spine and find walking around/keeping active is far better than doing nothing. Sitting around is the worst thing that you can do.

I mean I agree that sitting is bad but when my back was at its worst I couldn't keep active because I was walking dragging one leg
I could sit in a chair but I wasn't capable of doing that for long or moving around
It depends on the back issue. I was told not to move in hospital in case anything moved due to risk of paralysis

Spirallingdownwards · 27/06/2023 12:46

LolaSmiles · 27/06/2023 10:04

My understanding is that whatever you're doing can't be in contradiction of the reason you're off work.

If the doctor has signed you off work, rather than saying you could return to work with the following adjustments... then whatever you're doing needs to be in line with that.

Eg. Wedding receptions can be quite long. If you attend for an hour or so at a local wedding and then return home then that's going to look very different than being at a wedding reception for an afternoon and evening, where someone might argue that if you're well enough to travel to attend a wedding for a long period of time then you're well enough to work with some adjustments in place.

If this was Twitter this post would have a fact check alter telling us that this was not correct

takemetothespace · 27/06/2023 16:44

One person got sacked as he was on sick leave with depression but someone saw him drinking a pint in the pub. It was in dailymail so not sure how true that was!

LolaSmiles · 27/06/2023 16:50

takemetothespace
They'd not be able to do much with that as suffering from depression and being signed off doesn't mean you're signed off from life. It wouldn't surprise me one bit that in some workplaces people are managed out or end up in such a toxic environment that they leave though.

It's a bit more tricky if someone gets signed off with a leg injury and is seen playing Saturday league football, or renovating their house when they've claimed they're in agonising back pain. Much as it would be nice to say that nobody would ask any questions, not bat an eyelid, and say it's totally reasonable that someone who's signed off due to saying physically unable to be on their feet at work is out partying, the reality is people are going to be skeptical.

OriginalUsername2 · 27/06/2023 16:53

You’re free to do what you want but people will judge.

Weddings are an absolute killer for someone with back pain unless you can transport an armchair to the venue.

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