In wanting to go back to work with an injury?

[SharkiraSharkira]

I was in an accident yesterday and have soft tissue damage in my shoulder and arm. Nothing else serious, just sore and bruised.

I have limited mobility in my injured arm/shoulder, can't lift or carry anything with that arm and am in a fair bit of pain despite taking painkillers.

I work in catering so I don't think I will be able to carry out my normal duties at the moment until the pain dies down but realistically that could take weeks and I really can't afford to have that much time off work.

I want to wait a few days and then go back doing what I am able to do, working on the till, making drinks etc which I should be able to do with one working arm. My boss has told me to take the week off because she doesn't want me aggravating the injury and making it worse, which I totally get but I am just really worried and stressed about the effect losing a weeks wages is going to have. Is she right? Should I take it easy? Or should I go back and just do what I can?

It's only a very small company so I seriously doubt I will be given sick pay, hence my reluctance to have so much time off

You need to take the week and rest.

"You can get £89.35 per week Statutory Sick Pay ( SSP ) if you're too ill to work. It's paid by your employer for up to 28 weeks. You need to qualify for SSP and have been off work sick for 4 or more days in a row (including non-working days). You can't get less than the statutory amount."

You would be of little benefit working and will be better returning fully recovered. Your anxiety does not trump health and safety concerns.

I can't see how my returning but only performing certain duties that I can manage would contravene h & s regulations. I think it would be ok if I just stuck to simple duties.

I'm just worried because even if I do get SSP I'm still losing £150ish a week. I only earn MW anyway so I really need that money. What if I'm out of action longer than a week? I'll be screwed

Sharkira, i agree with you.
I have been quite badly injured twice in under two years, and each time my employer has allowed me to return even though signed off sick.
It has done wonders for my mental health, and although i may not have been quite as useful as normal i still have been able to make a positive contribution.

Thank you for understanding Rosie! Despite being in pain I am dreading the next week of sitting around doing nothing

I would rather be doing what I can and making some money even if I do short shifts but I suspect my work are saying to take the week off partly so they don't have to pay me any wages!

Do you get no sick pay at all for that length of time? Do they have a policy?

TBH I'm not really sure because the company was recently taken over by new owners - we are due new contracts but haven't had them yet.

Part of my worry is that they deem that I have to be off work for longer than the week, what do I do? I can't live on £89 a week and that's if they even pay me that

I think you need to take at least a couple of days off. If the injury was only yesterday, there's a fair chance it'll get worse before it gets better. Also you said you're in a lot of pain, which won't help your concentration etc at work.

You could also lengthen the time of recovery or make it worse if you don't rest properly, there by meaning you'll end up taking even more time off.

It's all very well saying that you'll do light duties with just your good arm, but in reality that isn't going to happen. Unless you are sitting doing nothing at all, you will use your arm.

And health and safety doesn't just stretch to what you're doing. I don't know what your job is, but if you're on a till and making drinks I assume it's catering of some sort. What if there's a wet floor and you slip on it or if someone bumps you hard by accident. These are the things your employer will be considering too.

Stay at home tomorrow at least.

You might find this helpful

www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-fit-note-a-guide-for-patients-and-employees

Good luck with your recovery

You should take the week to make sure your arm starts to heal then, if your boss has anything about them, they will ease you back in on light duties.

Going back too soon could prolong the effect of your injury.

Ok fair enough, I guess I should take some time to properly recover or risk making it worse. I'm just nervous because I've never had an injury like this before - I don't want to aggravate it too much and make it worse but I also don't want to rest it too much and end up with a frozen shoulder

Hopefully the physio next week will help!

How's your arm today? Hope you're looking after yourself.

If a new company has taken over your company you will be transferred to them on the same terms under TUPE Regulations - so what would the position be under the existing contract?

Still very sore, I have been trying to rest it but now having a lot of other aches and pains as various other bruises start coming out! I'm such it will start improving soon though (fingers crossed!).

Seconding allthebest - think you should be tupeed across with your current ts and cs.

Get the GP to write a "well note" which lists all the things you CAN do, to give your employer ideas on how s/he can redeploy you as you recover. I work in public transport, and a colleague was assaulted resulting in a back injury. He also had to take strong medication so he was restricted from the front line. Our manager gave him office- and control-room-based work instead. (Not saying the same for you, just that there is scope to do alternative duties)