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AIBU?

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Original poster

to think my employer is being unfair

175 replies

nuggies · 21/03/2018 12:29

Last Friday I fell down the stairs and broke my ankle. Following a trip to A&E I am now on crutches and having to wear a moon boot. I can't drive and the doctor said I'm looking at a healing time of six weeks.

My job is office based but my particular role means I would usually be out and about carrying out appointments. I live 20 miles away from the office and there is no train station near me, or any buses that run to the city that I work in.

My husband works in the town next to our village and in this town is another branch of my company. Although it is not the same 'brand' as my company, and in fact their counterpart in the city I work in is a competitor, we are all owned by the same company and use the same systems.

If my husband was to take me to work every day, I would need to be dropped off 45 minutes - an hour before work starts in order for my husband to then drive back to his office and be on time for work. I finish work at 5.30pm and my husband finishes at 6pm (and 7pm on Thursdays), it is at least a half an hour drive between our two offices meaning I would have to wait an hour and a half between finishing work and being picked up.

I have explained all of the above to my regional director and have requested for the next six weeks I work out of the 'competitor' office in the same town as my husband (although because they are not in our city, they aren't even competitors to my office). I have been informed that they do not want me to do this because they don't want me working for the competition and they want me to be in my office as part of that team. I have asked if I can be set up and connected to my offices system from the other office and this is possible, but they don't want me to do it.

Now I am massively upset and feel my employers are being incredibly unreasonable. Not to mention the fact I will be spending time before and after closing hours in the office, alone and on crutches, is this not a health and safety risk? Thursdays for example, I will be in the office alone from 5.30 - 7.30pm.

My employers have offered no other solution and I am only entitled to SSP which is not enough for me to live in. It wouldnt even cover my half of the rent.

Help

OP posts:
BrendasUmbrella · 21/03/2018 19:18

Is there any chance your DHs work would consider allowing him to be a bit later than usual so that he'd have time to drive you in?

Hissy · 21/03/2018 19:28

See the doctor Tomorrow and see what they say first and foremost

Get signed off for the period up to when ssp kicks in

Come in for a few days and then get signed off again until you are either fit for work or have to come in for ssp again

Some people play the system, learn from them and do what you can in the meantime

You could do ringing around, you could do a lot of admin based roles and your colleagues could do the viewings for a few split.

See what the law is and make this work for you and as much as is fair - for your company

Iflyaway · 21/03/2018 19:36

This is why I never understand why people live in the middle of nowhere without transport links....

helpful I know

Skarossinkplunger · 22/03/2018 08:54

In the other hand I can’t understand why people want to live in the middle of cities Iflyaway.

Horses for courses.

Thebluedog · 22/03/2018 08:56

Get signed off sick. I’m surprised your doc hasn’t done this already

ny20005 · 22/03/2018 08:59

When I broke my leg, gp signed me off for 6 weeks. I couldn't get dressed myself, never mind get out of the house to work.

Speak to HR

oblada · 22/03/2018 09:00

You are being ridiculous. It's 6 weeks! Get a lift and take a book/do your online shopping/catch up with friends/book a few days annual leave. Or go off sick. If they conclude it wouldn't be safe for you to be in the office after hours you'll either have to wait in a cafe or take SSP so not sure what the point of pushing this would be!

oblada · 22/03/2018 09:01

Hissy - some people ONLY get SSP (with the first 3 days unpaid!) when they're sick so this system seems pointless. Most companies otherwise who offer contractual sick pay do it on a rolling 12months basis so again this system would not work.

AppleCrumbleBubbleBath · 22/03/2018 09:28

From the Sequence of events you are describing I have a feeling I may know who you work for and, if so, I have been through much the same situation a few years ago. I was fit for office work but couldn't drive to get to my office so in the end it was agreed that a colleague would pick me up and drive me home and that the company would pay them mileage for doing so. They didn't get a huge amount but it went some way to retaining good will for the three months it went on for. Is there any chance you could come to this sort of arrangement?

Forgottencoffee · 22/03/2018 09:32

I don't think they'll be allowed to leave you alone in the office after hours once everyone has gone, will they. Kind of similar (I think) but when I was pregnant I asked (my old employer) if I could do some overtime once everyone had gone (it was sometimes easier to get more work done when the office was empty) and they said they weren't allowed to leave in the office alone because I was pregnant and 'vulnerable'. Surely having a broken ankle sort of puts you in a similar position.

I don't understand why they can't let you work from the other office to be honest, especially if it's owned by the same company. They've probably already got access to all the same info as you have anyway. I worked for a coroporate estate agents who owned several smaller branches (one of which were mine) who all ran under their previous company name so were all technically 'competitors' but we all had to access to the same information, I could access their Landlord and tenant details and they could access mine. Obviously it depends on what line of work you're in though.

Dungeondragon15 · 22/03/2018 10:21

I don't think they'll be allowed to leave you alone in the office after hours once everyone has gone, will they.

Of course they're "allowed to". There isn't some law stating that pregnant people or injured people must be accompanied at all times and can never be left alone. A workplace may itself have regulations on this but probably best if OP doesn't bring it to their attention as they don't have to let her stay in the office after the day has finished. They can just tell her to leave and she will have to find somewhere else to wait. It isn't their problem.

flowery · 22/03/2018 11:51

”Get signed off for the period up to when ssp kicks in”

Even if the OP hadn’t mentioned her sick pay entitlement at all, it’s a bit odd to assume she would be entitled to enhanced sick pay.

And in fact in any case she confirm in her first post that she is only entitled to SSP.

Hissy · 22/03/2018 16:10

Ah, OK

OP - talk to HR, this is not a regional manager speciality, you are a willing worker trying to find a way to make things work. Agreed the other office is not an appropriate solution, can you look at lift shares like others have suggested?

I'd push for home set up too.

MotheringMilly · 22/03/2018 17:39

Unless you broke your ankle on their premises or they are a big organisation that can afford to lose you for a-while then they aren’t being unfair. What would you do if you were self employed!?

A friend of mine who battled cancer many moons ago told me this story. He was part of an early group trialling a new chemo drug, the drug was administered in London. People came from far and wide, the furthest was a Scottish Farmer with children and a wife. I don’t know how frequently the patients made their way to and from London but my friend said after treatment you were in immense pain and discomfort. This farmer used to travel home on the train on his own and then go back to work on his farm as he simply had no other option.

NippySweetie16 · 22/03/2018 17:40

Are you in a flatshare or are you married? If you are married then it's for better or worse. This is worse and you shouldn't be worrying about your half of the rent. That's what partnerships do!

WoollyMollyMonkey · 22/03/2018 17:48

I wouldn't bank on being able to drive straight away, once your cast comes off! Your foot will be stiff and weak so it could be a few weeks before you get the OK - just warning you as I broke my wrist in December and have only recently been able to drive again!

pigeondujour · 22/03/2018 17:52

I don't think that story proves the point you thought it did @MotheringMilly

MotheringMilly · 22/03/2018 17:56

Ok i'll be more to the point. You aren't ill, it's an inconvenience, get on with it!

PolarBearkshire · 22/03/2018 17:56

It will make you think about injuries/sickness insurance! So many live beyond their means and cant afford to be ill- what if much greater illness will come and get you??? Insure yourself for the future. I would stay home on a sick note. Doesnt sound there are many things your employer can offer you they jave rights not to let you work in the office they are competitive with.

LuckyLuckyWoman · 22/03/2018 18:04

I haven't read the whole thread, but are you able to work with the boot and crutches? I wouldn't be allowed to work in my building as they would see me as being at risk if there was a fire or an incident that required evacuation. I would have no choice but to be off sick.

MRSGGG · 22/03/2018 18:06

@nuggies

This may sound like I'm taking the piss but what leg was it? Left or right? If left could you hire an cheap automatic car for 6 weeks? Or one that has gear changes on the handles?

BrieAndChilli · 22/03/2018 18:22

My friend has broken her foot and is on desk duties as her job involve being out in the field.
It’s been a nightmare for her and her kids are having to get up very early or stay up very late in order to go with thier Dad to pick her up from work. Other friends have pitched in to help get the kids to school and various family have also come to stay to help etc .

It sucks but it is what it is. I’m sure you can sit in a warm office for an hour or two and watch Netflix or something If you can’t count the time as flexi time.

GTG123 · 22/03/2018 18:25

I broke my leg a few years ago. boss picked me up and dropped off a few times, then I went in on crutches every day 1k walk (on crutches then hobbled in). Used to spend the day hopping around the factory floor too. Great for rehab and getting fit. All about attitude!

Drum71 · 22/03/2018 18:27

Hire an automatic car or get your husband to drop you somewhere you can get a bus or a taxi or train to the office.

I have to agree, you’ve broken a bone. You aren’t actually unwell. If you can’t afford to be off sick and get SSP then you should have a contingency.

Could you condense your hours? Do more for 3 or 4 and get a day or two off.

Take annual leave.

TwitterThread3 · 22/03/2018 18:31

Your employer should definitely make adjustments for your injury - something obviously needs to be arranged whilst you heal. However I’m not sure if your plan is best either. You really need to discuss things with management and HR again.