Sick leave following surgery

[laughingalltheay]

I am currently on sick leave following an operation I needed. I have been off for about 7 weeks. This is NHS, who I have worked for for over 20 years. Never had more than a week off previously. it is quite a major operation I have had.

I have had an email from my manager to say HR want to have a meeting with me via teams or telephone call. I’m still in so much pain from the op. I will have the meeting but should I inform my union and bring them with me or is it just a standard thing they do.

Is it a Health Review meeting? It might be just a 'check in' or slightly more formal- the email should say whether you can invite a union rep.

In our trust it's automatic after 28 days off, purely supportive but is 'formal' so that everything is written down and actions (for both your manager and yourself) can be followed through.

Thanks for the info. I’ve not had a formal letter yet it was just my manager letting me know that I will
receive a date in the next couple of days of it. I just don’t want to start shouting I’m bringing my union if it is just standard

I had surgery recently and the advice was 3 weeks then any extra after talking to the GP. I just submitted the sick notes to HR. What was the advice on the letter you received after discharge?

Unless they have given you a reason to think that they are holding the meeting with the expectation that you are ready to come back to work, it is probably just a monitoring meeting. They are paying you, they have every right to check in that you need to still be off. (Not suggesting that you don't need to be or that they think you don't need to be, just checking everything.)

At this stage I imagine its standard. I worked for the NHS for 20 years and had an operation that went wrong (ended up being medically retired). The first few meetings were just checking in, how was I doing, any prospect of returning and any planning that could be done to help when on return to work (eg phased returns, using anual leave to reduce hours etc).
If they put you on the formal stages thats the point you probably should talk to your union (to keep them in the loop/get advice) but at this stage its more a tick box exercise.

It’s very normal. They need to know you’re okay and will ask if there’s anything they can do to support you.

I had an operation and was out for a while. They did call me to discuss how l was etc..l didnt like it as felt they were questioning my integrity. Then when l went back they called me again asking are you sure you are well enough to be back and who signed you off as fit for work etc so l think its all just standard carry on and nothing sinister. You have nothing to explain as you meed your recovery time.

Thank you very much for replies. My surgeon signed the sick note for first month and GP following that. There is just no way I could go back to work yet, I wish I could 😢

Worst case is you've hit an attendance trigger because you've been off for a couple of months. They need to meet with you about it because it's policy. My query is why it needs to be while you're signed off recovering from your op. I'd be asking your union whether it's reasonable or if it can wait until you return to work.
More importantly, has your manager called to see you with a card / flowers for your recovery?

Maybe attend the meeting and if things get uncomfortable (l don’t mean with pain, that is clear enough) ask for it to be postponed and re-convened with union rep present.

It might be to check if you need any adjustments on your return.