To think my return to work was handled badly?

[user45091233]

I returned to work last week after been off on long term sick. I work in retail so it was a very busy and stressful week. My manager didn’t do my return to work and didn’t offer any support. I was treated like I hadn’t been off sick even though a lot has changed with COVID since I have been off.
Aibu to feel annoyed I was treated like this?

What does it say in the work policy about phased return etc?

@Littlefish

What does it say in the work policy about phased return etc?

Not on a phased return I only work 4 hours a day

You should have been offered a 'return to work' meeting with Occupational Health, a member of your SLT and possibly, your union representative.

Ask your line manager for a rtw meeting.

Depends on their policy.

@cabbageking

Depends on their policy.

Policy is I should have received a rtw on my first day back

So you returned to work the week before Christmas, normally the busiest week of the year in retail?

Honestly it’s not ideal but I think sometimes you need to see the bigger picture that you returned in busiest week of the year. Have you discussed with your manager?

What support did you need? I'm not sure it was realistic to expect a f2f rtw meeting at such a busy time. Could you do it virtually?

They definitely should have followed their own policy on return to work especially in view of procedures to do with Covid . Having said that , a 4 hour shift in retail is hardly very stressful/tiring compared to a lot of jobs . I say that as someone who worked long shifts in retail whilst at college .

You returned the week before Christmas and only work a short shift of 4hrs a day - what did you want specifically in terms of how you expected to be treated?

a 'return to work' meeting with Occupational Health, a member of your SLT and possibly, your union representative

This can only have been posted by someone with a public sector / civil servant background

Do you have any idea of what working a 4hr shift the week before Christmas will have been like? (Ex-retail staff over several years at uni here, admittedly a while ago now but it was sink or swim then, with supervisors on about 40p more per hour than us NMWers, fuck all support nevermind union membership or OH referrals).

This can only have been posted by someone with a public sector / civil servant background

I work in OH in retail and have done for 20 years so I am not sure what your point is. I have never worked with the public sector or civil service all private sector.

Another one here who thinks your expectations were unrealistic. It was the busiest week of the year for retail and it's not like it can have changed all that much. You are just back, I wouldn't be complaining about this.

I agree that your expectations were unrealistic, considering your shift length, the time of year and the unprecedented COVID situation.

I work in public sector and the return to work HAS to be done. Written warnings for sickness absences are regularly overturned if the return to work interview has not been completed.

The tears refuse to flow

Sorry but I'm another saying your expectations were unrealistic. Christmas in retail was bedlam! Unless you needed adjustments to your role, I can't see the problem.

@1Morewineplease

You should have been offered a 'return to work' meeting with Occupational Health, a member of your SLT and possibly, your union representative.

On what basis? It will depend entirely on the company’s policies!