Worried I get dismissed for absence.

[Snugglewuggle25]

I work in a school, Nov 22 I had covid, was off for a week. I went back not 100% recovered, still felt weak and still had my cough. Fast forward to Oct 23, I lifted something heavy in work. (Was part of my job) and put my back out. Off for around 10 days, again went back before I was 100% as we were short staffed and I felt bad. I requested light duties. My first day back my boss wanted to put me in the same job role where I originally injured my back, which pissed me right off, I refused and they shuffled me about. 3 days later I woke up very ill, DRAGGED myself out of bed to work. Done a covid test in work as everyone was flapping I had covid....it came back positive. I finished my shift and stayed off the next day, went back in on the Friday. Anyway I got called in for an AMR (absence review) they put me on probation for 6 months and not allowed to be off work more than 2 days. Fast forward to 30 Dec I have yet again hurt my back (at home this time). Let me tell you the pain was a 9, childbirth being 10!!! I couldn't stand, walk, go to toilet, most excruciating pain ever! I'm staying off work until I am able to do my job safely, as my job had a lot of pushing, pulling lifting. Now I'm worried they will dismiss me from my job as I maybe won't be able to do it properly. Has anyone had similar experience? Or any advice? TIA 😊

I don’t believe they can dismiss you for not being able to do your job but they may be able to move you to a different role.
It also depends on the sickness review you’ve not long completed and if this breaks the 6 month probation.

Are you part of a union where you can speak to someone for more accurate advice?

Is it a local authority school or an academy?

Most likely the next step would be a referral to occupational health, rather than dismissal at this stage.

You could be dismissed if you fail to keep your absence in line with the plan. Referral to OH is likey. And pp is incorrect to say you can't be dismissed (you can, but there's a process to be followed) or that your employer will find you a new role. They don't have to do that, so unless a new role becomes vacant, you have to try to make the one you've got work.

Are you doing anything about your back like physio or at least checks at the doctor? Why are you doing so much pushing and pulling at school?

You can't help catching Covid, but what job are you doing that means you're lifting and pulling things all the time?

Its an Academy

Have they given you relevant training in manual handling and how to safely move whatever it is that caused you to hurt your back?

I work in the catering side of things. There is this quite heavy bastard of a food warmer (full of food) that has got to be pushed/pulled over to the other end of school, it has no handles, it's very difficult to control especially up and down ramps and bumps, trying to avoid bumping into small kids, bending and pulling same time trying to keep the doors from flying open and the food going all over the floor. Then unloading all the food once i get to where im going. A member of staff have already left because of this. I feel its affecting my lower back over the years and my back has finally given up on me. I have spoken to manager and higher up but they're just not arsed at all. I'm just a number to them. I spoken to the doc, he's referred me to physio but I have another 10 day wait, which I know is really good. I can only just sit down unaided and go to the loo alone. That's taken a week to get this far. Ive not been out of the house since 30th dec. I do love my job and would love to stay but I just feel so out of place now with all my time off. I just don't want to be out of work.

Yes they have but its nothing even relevant to what I do to the courses completed. If I refuse to do it (as the course suggests) because I can't then it moody throw a strop time for the rest of the staff as somebody has got to do it.

I don't know the answer then, sorry.

Cn two people not move the trolley together? It wouldn't take long for another member of staff to be assigned for 5-10 minutes to help to move it?
Can a member of the college site team not help to move it? They move most stuff in a school.

It needs to be moved when children are not on corridors.

If it can't safely be moved by 1 person then 2 people should be involved. Has a risk assessment been carried out? Look at the hse

Are you in a union, have you formally complained about this food warmer in writing explaining your back etc.

I would do that

has a risk assessment been carried out. you need to get a copy of this.

Find a new job.

4 times off in 15 months isn't ideal, but its not massively excessive, and I'm guessing the 2 back issues are covered by a doctors note, and they told you to take one of the covid tests.

Schools are crying out for staff. Find a school who will look after you.

The food warmer is being transported by 2 people. But it's just an out of control hard to manoeuvre heavy peice of metal, that has a mind of its own. Its also hard to stop & start moving going through many double doors. I'm actually not too sure about the risk assessment. If I refuse to do it then it's going to be whispers and back stabbing, but I honestly can't do anything whilst in pain. I will not do that to myself, esp when I know they dgaf.

Thankyou. Yes the 2 back issues were covered by doctors note. Also when they told me to do a covid test, I was very ill on the day, I finished my shift, as the boss didn't send me home. Serving food with covid??? Red flag.
It has crossed my mind to find new job, but sadly 😥.

I'm not in the union. I have complained via email along with the other person who left because of it. We sent separate emails voicing our concerns, including children in the corridors, it obviously got ignored, not even a reply. That why the other staff left.

Thankyou to everyone who replied.

What does your staff attendance policy say? You may be an academy, but you should still have a policy. There are certain steps they have to go through before you would get to a Contract Review Hearing.