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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Work won’t send me to occupational health

113 replies

Mumstights · 16/11/2021 20:31

Work won’t send me to OH due to my mental health that worsening.

They know it’s a disability since I started 2 years ago.

I won’t go into details as boss might read MumsNet but I just need a bit of guidance.

Boss stated HR are stating there is no need. I’ve noticed my MH worsening recently and this week I’ve done no work due to poor concentration etc.

Any guidance?

OP posts:
Original poster
Mumstights · 16/11/2021 20:55

@Mum6776

Ok. Is there anything you think might help you?
I can’t think at the moment, that’s my issue….. they are wanting me to tell them but I really want to speak to someone independent who has a bit more of an understanding. Plus my boss means well but doesn’t help the situation.
OP posts:
daisypond · 16/11/2021 20:56

Can you make a list of things you can do in your job and things you can’t?
Eg: I can’t do x but could do y instead.
I can do x but need more time to do it.
I need to rest for ten minutes a couple of times a day.
I need a very quiet place to work.

Soontobe60 · 16/11/2021 20:56

@ItsSnowJokes

I work in OH. You need need go to your GP first and foremost. Get help for your mental health condition, be that medication, being signed off, counselling, steps to wellbeing etc......

Then after you have done that you can approach your work regarding a OH referral. At the moment you don't stay what you expect OH to do, they are there to see how/when you can be in work and what adjustments may be required for that to happen, it is purely from a work point of view they won't be able to get down to the nitty gritty of your mental health conditions and give you treatments.

Does your work have an employee assistance programme? They may be able to help with counselling etc... if they do.

My employer referred me directly to OH, I didn’t go to the GP, I didn’t have time off sick. OP referred my for a block of counselling sessions which my employer paid for.
ItsSnowJokes · 16/11/2021 20:59

@Soontobe60 where I work that would be what the EAP is for.

OH onward referral is for how you can do your job, what adjustments can be made, if you are well enough to be in work etc.......

As the OP isn't really stating what the OH would be for it's very hard to judge. She seems to be getting the help with her mental health but hasn't been clear why she is struggling to perform in her job.

Pinkgorrilaz · 16/11/2021 21:16

Is there something specific about what is happening at work that is contributing to your worsening mental health? For example, unreasonable deadlines; a bullying manager; an unrealistic workload; difficult colleagues; changes in working practices; tasks outside your competence etc. It might help if you could work out specifically what is causing your difficulties, which might help decide who is best placed to support you.

Yuppie20 · 16/11/2021 21:26

I've referred myself to OH before. If you work for the NHS you should be able to. Just get the number for OH and phone them direct or I think you can put one through on the system when you log into staffnet. Good luck

UniversalAunt · 16/11/2021 21:31

What is it that you expect OH to do for you & your line manager?

Is there an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) available in your workplace. EAP will likely offer you a short term course of counselling & support, & may offer assessment for further treatment

However, both EAP & OH services hinge on primary MH treatment available from the NHS, so the first point of contact is your GP which is what you are doing.

I suggest that a call to EAP will help you define what it is you want to do & how to access wellbeing in workplace support.

As you are aware your long term MH condition is a disability, & my interpretation of your comments is that you are looking for adjustments to be put in place, by your line management, to support you so that your wellbeing does not deteriorate.

At best, a workplace assessment is a swift set of transactions between employee & line manager with HR support built on sound equalities practice in the workplace.

Have you taken a look at the company’s intranet pages about equality & disability? Likely your line manager has not & may not realise what can be done to help you.

I suggest EAP are your first port of call. They are contracted by your employer to provide you with support. In this case they may be the key to unlock the door to get the adjustments you need.

UniversalAunt · 16/11/2021 21:39

It seems that OH & EAP type support are used as interchangeable terms.

My experience in the corporate sector is that Occupational Health is a specialist independent medical advisory service, contracted by the company to advise HR on employee capability, how best to rehabilitate employees & other matters such as medical retirement.

For assessment for disability based adjustments, other agencies were involved.

Employee self referral to OH was not available, self referral to EAP actively encouraged.

dottycat123 · 16/11/2021 21:54

The risk you face by not going off sick is that you become vulnerable to performance management, you say you are not currently working effectively. I am a manager for a nhs mental health team, you can ask to complete a WAP assessment ( if your company recognizes this) where you get to identify what may help to reduce stress etc at work, things like more frequent breaks. Your manager has to agree that the service can meet these. Personally I would suggest going off sick and then being referred to OH but they are unlikely to treat you. OH will most likely suggest some short term work place adaptions. If you have a serious mental illness you will have some protection under disability discrimination legislation.

LakesideView · 16/11/2021 21:54

If you have a diagnosed disability, you are entitled to “reasonable adjustments”. I have a disability diagnosed in recent years. It took me a long time to establish who would assess for these “adjustments”. Health and safety for physical (makes sense) but I’m autistic…anyway, after some investigation I discovered that for my workplace (NHS) we had an agreement with Access to work. The assessment starts by you referring yourself, they make contact with you and your manager, they then come in and assess and make recommendations. There is a fee (I think it’s about £1500) but they should pay it because you’re entitled to it. Might be worth looking into that.

Chloemol · 16/11/2021 21:58

Our OH wouldn’t see you. You would be expected to go to your GP, then if signed off long term eventually OH would be involved to allowa return to work

Just go to your GP

headintheproverbial · 16/11/2021 22:06

What would be the purpose of your visit? The most common purpose of OH is to try to support people back to work who have been off sick.

As others have suggested I'd say GP would be more appropriate.

Hankunamatata · 16/11/2021 22:06

My work wont refer to OH until you have seen your gp

Mum6776 · 16/11/2021 22:07

If you're NHS staff, as pp says, you can self refer to OH I think. Just find their email or phone number and ask them. If you are in a safety critical role and not performing to reasonable levels, get signed off by your GP until you are well enough to work again.

Spiceup · 16/11/2021 22:08

What do you want from OH? Honestly I've never seen a useful report, they just repeat what the staff member told them.

Far more useful to see your GP

Sittingonabench · 16/11/2021 22:14

If you are unable to work due to your health then you should be on sick leave and see your GP. From what you’ve said you absolutely need this and it is there for this reason. Is there a reason you’re so reluctant to go off sick?
The EAP would be your independent group who can speak to you about coping strategies and signpost to counselling. If it’s like my company you can reach out at any point and get this support. If you are on long term sick leave then OH may become involved but in my experience they don’t provide you with the support you are expecting. They will ask you the same questions - what measures could be put in place to get you back in work and being productive, but you seem to want support in figuring this out. EAP would be where I would send you for this.

Original poster
Mumstights · 16/11/2021 22:15

[quote ItsSnowJokes]@Soontobe60 where I work that would be what the EAP is for.

OH onward referral is for how you can do your job, what adjustments can be made, if you are well enough to be in work etc.......

As the OP isn't really stating what the OH would be for it's very hard to judge. She seems to be getting the help with her mental health but hasn't been clear why she is struggling to perform in her job.[/quote]
I’m getting no help with my mH.

I don’t feel like I can talk to people at work about my health. I don’t want to go into specifics about my job but my Mh
Does have an impact on my ability to do my job and also my MH.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mumstights · 16/11/2021 22:17

@Sittingonabench

If you are unable to work due to your health then you should be on sick leave and see your GP. From what you’ve said you absolutely need this and it is there for this reason. Is there a reason you’re so reluctant to go off sick? The EAP would be your independent group who can speak to you about coping strategies and signpost to counselling. If it’s like my company you can reach out at any point and get this support. If you are on long term sick leave then OH may become involved but in my experience they don’t provide you with the support you are expecting. They will ask you the same questions - what measures could be put in place to get you back in work and being productive, but you seem to want support in figuring this out. EAP would be where I would send you for this.
I don’t need to go of sick. Don’t know why you made that judgment and someone being told to go of on sick (and potentially have no income) is why MH is discriminated.

I’m asking for a report so my employer is aware and they’ve also covered their own back.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mumstights · 16/11/2021 22:17

@Mum6776

If you're NHS staff, as pp says, you can self refer to OH I think. Just find their email or phone number and ask them. If you are in a safety critical role and not performing to reasonable levels, get signed off by your GP until you are well enough to work again.
Neither apply
OP posts:
Mum6776 · 16/11/2021 22:19

Ah ok. Can you say if you're public sector or private sector? I think people can advise better if they know which.

Seafog · 16/11/2021 22:19

If you are struggling to do your job, speaking to eap is a good first port of call.
They are more independent than OH, but won't sign you off either.
They may suggest seeing the gp , or help you ask OH for what you need.

Original poster
Mumstights · 16/11/2021 22:22

@UniversalAunt

What is it that you expect OH to do for you & your line manager?

Is there an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) available in your workplace. EAP will likely offer you a short term course of counselling & support, & may offer assessment for further treatment

However, both EAP & OH services hinge on primary MH treatment available from the NHS, so the first point of contact is your GP which is what you are doing.

I suggest that a call to EAP will help you define what it is you want to do & how to access wellbeing in workplace support.

As you are aware your long term MH condition is a disability, & my interpretation of your comments is that you are looking for adjustments to be put in place, by your line management, to support you so that your wellbeing does not deteriorate.

At best, a workplace assessment is a swift set of transactions between employee & line manager with HR support built on sound equalities practice in the workplace.

Have you taken a look at the company’s intranet pages about equality & disability? Likely your line manager has not & may not realise what can be done to help you.

I suggest EAP are your first port of call. They are contracted by your employer to provide you with support. In this case they may be the key to unlock the door to get the adjustments you need.

Hi thanks. I don’t see how the EAP can help?

Couple of things. I need the NHS to provide me with the help they’ve assessed me that I need.

The EAP can offer me what? counselling? to be honest that isn’t what I want and can be harmful to me. If things get bad I call nhs helpline and they’ve been effective for me. They will contact community mental health etc.

Is there anything more the EAP can do?

OP posts:
Original poster
Mumstights · 16/11/2021 22:23

@Seafog

If you are struggling to do your job, speaking to eap is a good first port of call. They are more independent than OH, but won't sign you off either. They may suggest seeing the gp , or help you ask OH for what you need.
The GP will only sign me of. They don’t get involved with community mental health. So please tell me what the GP can do?
OP posts:
Original poster
Mumstights · 16/11/2021 22:23

@Mum6776

Ah ok. Can you say if you're public sector or private sector? I think people can advise better if they know which.
I work for a public sector in a company supporting disabled people
OP posts:
lynntheyresexpeople · 16/11/2021 22:24

But what can OH actually do for you? What is it you want them to do?