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Original poster

Attend support meeting at work

34 replies

hol26 · 01/10/2024 18:39

I'm so worried, can anyone help or reassure me?

I had an attendance support meeting at work today.

I've had ongoing mental health issues for about 4-5 years. Under community mental health, on tablets etc. sometimes I'm very good other times bad.

It's never affected my work too greatly but recently I've started having severe panic attacks and have been signed off by dr. Came back for a few weeks then panic attacks again.

I want to be at work and I'm trying to do everything I can for my MH, taking medication, therapy etc.

My line manager said meeting was to support me, but it didn't feel that way. I can't control my panic attacks and I've been set targets like no time off for 6 months, it was suggested I change GP (not easy is it!), accused of being ill after annual leave (I had a day off annual leave then fell ill on my normal days off and didn't return to work)

I feel like they're trying to get rid of me because of my MH and this is the first step

OP posts:
loropianalover · 01/10/2024 18:41

I've been set targets like no time off for 6 months

Eh?! They want you to commit to taking no annual leave or sick leave for 6 months and are calling it a target?

What is the consequence for not meeting your targets? And were HR at the meeting?

Original poster
hol26 · 01/10/2024 18:45

I don't think it's annual leave, it's just sickness. Which I'm obviously not planning to have but because it's an issue I don't have control of the prospect is very daunting that if I become unwell in this time that I will be moved to the next stage

OP posts:
Original poster
hol26 · 01/10/2024 18:45

HR were there

OP posts:
Original poster
hol26 · 01/10/2024 20:42

Bump

OP posts:
WhereIsBebèsChambre · 01/10/2024 20:49

It does sound a difficult situation but re
accused of being ill after annual leave (I had a day off annual leave then fell ill on my normal days off and didn't return to work)
What do you mean 'accused of being ill' if you didn't return to work after a/l because you were ill, is that not the case?

AdviceNeeded2024 · 01/10/2024 20:52

Is your condition on your GP file as diagnosed for more than two years? Any mental health condition the affects your life for more than two years (or is thought it will continue to do so if not at two years yet) is protected as a disability under the Equality Act 2010.

It’s very unrealistic to say you can’t have any sickness for 6 months.

Are you in a union?

AdviceNeeded2024 · 01/10/2024 20:53

Work also can’t suggest you change GP, what led to them suggesting that?

AdviceNeeded2024 · 01/10/2024 20:58

It might help to advise you If you can say how much sickness you’ve had and in what time frame, and if you are already subject to an attendance management plan or similar?

While you could be protected under the Equality Act if classed as a disability, there still needs to be things put in place for you to maintain your attendance at work, it doesn’t mean you can go off sick constantly with no one saying anything however they need to put reasonable adjustments in place to help manage your attendance which could look like a number of things. Did they discuss reasonable adjustments with you?

Sorry I’ve posted 3 questions now just had things popping in my head!

Original poster
hol26 · 01/10/2024 20:59

Sorry I was ill, the gp signed me off for two weeks. I had a severe panic attack. But what was implied what that it coincided with annual leave so was it genuine? Of course it was.

What was said in a round about way was maybe I am not doing enough to help myself, my gp isn't the best, so the suggestion was to change, but it's catchment areas I can't? I've also had 3 appointments in 3 weeks which I think is decent? I have a follow up next week too.

I'm productive at work and I don't think there are any issues with my actual quality of work as such

OP posts:
Original poster
hol26 · 01/10/2024 21:00

I've had 16 days in 3 months, 2 weeks signed off and then another 2 days. Well I only work 4 days a week so it's 10 days really

OP posts:
Original poster
hol26 · 01/10/2024 21:01

I'm under mh team and have been for years. I also receive pip. It's all documented

OP posts:
cryinglaughing · 01/10/2024 21:05

hol26 · 01/10/2024 21:00

I've had 16 days in 3 months, 2 weeks signed off and then another 2 days. Well I only work 4 days a week so it's 10 days really

16 days in 3 months when you work 4 days a week?
Isn't that 4 weeks off, or have I misunderstood?

blueshoes · 01/10/2024 21:06

What is the company's policy for going on long term sick leave? If there is that option, do you think you could benefit from a period away from the office?

blueshoes · 01/10/2024 21:08

When you say you are productive at work, do you have deadlines which these absences affect? Do your colleagues have to step in and cover for you?

Original poster
hol26 · 01/10/2024 21:09

I had 2 weeks then 2 extra days. So 10 of ng working days altogether

OP posts:
loropianalover · 01/10/2024 21:09

hol26 · 01/10/2024 21:00

I've had 16 days in 3 months, 2 weeks signed off and then another 2 days. Well I only work 4 days a week so it's 10 days really

Sorry is it 16 working days missed or you were signed off for 16 consecutive days on your cert which was 8 working days missed? And then 2 work days missed separately?

AdviceNeeded2024 · 01/10/2024 21:09

10 days is normally the amount to trigger a stage 1 review which it sounds like this is. They shouldn’t be setting such unrealistic ‘targets’ for you though.

Do you have a union or anyone at all you can go to for advice at work? If you’re receiving PIP as well you should be classed as a disability, you need to remind them of this.

Original poster
hol26 · 01/10/2024 21:09

blueshoes · 01/10/2024 21:08

When you say you are productive at work, do you have deadlines which these absences affect? Do your colleagues have to step in and cover for you?

I have my own workload, yes if I was off for more than a few weeks others may have to step in

OP posts:
GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 01/10/2024 21:17

What do you mean your GP isn't the best? In what way?

Did they say that or did you?

Have they arranged for an occupational health appointment to see if they can suggest any reasonable adjustments, and to confirm to them if your MH condition should be considered as a disability?

Pebbles16 · 01/10/2024 21:21

Ask for an Occupational Health referral. They will support you and advise the company on what they can and cannot ask you. They certainly cannot ask you to commit to no time off for six months.
Also, it would appear you have ongoing and debilitating issues which have lasted more than twelve months, therefore you are protected under the Equality Act 2010.

Original poster
hol26 · 01/10/2024 21:27

So in terms of my Gp not being the best, the gp for my catchment area got shut down as it was inadequate, we now have a temporary set up through whatever the governing body is for gps in my county. It's not the same gps all the time and we have to attend different locations depending on availability, there is a triage line that you call. Meant to be temporary but been this way a while.
That being said I've had several appointments in recent weeks but my line manager seemed to be saying it's not enough and I need to do more

OP posts:
Original poster
hol26 · 01/10/2024 21:28

I have an occupational health referral upcoming. I actually asked for one a while ago but my line manger has only just done this

OP posts:
AdviceNeeded2024 · 01/10/2024 21:58

Make sure you are documenting everything OP, so your request for an OHU referral that has been ignored, what date you requested it etc. also you can either ask for a copy of minutes of the attendance meeting you’ve just had or you can send an email with what was discussed and ask them to confirm it was correct. Please broach the subject of you having a disability with someone whether it’s OHU or your manager.

I would also question the target they’ve set as it’s unrealistic, what is the necessity for this, and do it in writing.

Anything you do in relation to this, so if it’s chasing your manager or asking a question, try and do it in writing so you have a paper trail.

As the saying goes… If it’s not written down, it never happened.

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 02/10/2024 08:00

cryinglaughing · 01/10/2024 21:05

16 days in 3 months when you work 4 days a week?
Isn't that 4 weeks off, or have I misunderstood?

Show quote history

Don't think so. 2 weeks = 14 days/8 working days. Plus 2 days/0.5 week.
Totalling 2.5 weeks.

I'd like to know what attendance gas been like over a longer period. Is this a regar, ongoing pattern?

itwasnevermine · 02/10/2024 08:05

@ByQuaintAzureWasp I read it as they had 16 days (4 weeks) off, plus two weeks signed off sick, then another 2 days off.

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