Work won’t send me to occupational health

[Mumstights]

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?

@AudacityBaby

I recognise that your MH is poor at the moment and that you work for an employer that's not acting so as to change a burnout culture (same to be honest), and I'm sorry for that.

You do need to be mindful of how you're coming across. You've been quite rude to previous posters who've taken time out of their day to help you, when they don't know you from Adam. You've been offered you some really useful starters for ten, and have snubbed the posters giving them. You've also asked us to tell you things that we really can't know - where your 121 policy is, what the EAP in your organisation will say, how your manager will react.

Mental ill health is horrible and painful, but you do need to take ownership of it and try to meet others halfway in finding a solution. Nobody is going to do it for you. I understand that you're overwhelmed, but take a step back and then return when you're feeling calmer, rather than taking it out on people who are trying to help you on a thread you posted.

Thanks…. But it’s a forum. I don’t need to meet people halfway on a forum whereby they may have taken a response a certain way - because I’m not doing what they want.

EAP stated they can’t help, I don’t want talking therapies from them (no I don’t want to chat on the phone to them).

I don’t need to disclose my 121 policy, it’s not relevant. We also don’t have one.

I’ve already stated how my manager acted.

As I’ve been able to access help that’s good

My employer is working fine…. When you speak to the right person

What sector do you work in? I was a Civil Servant & got referred to Occ Health when my sickness level hit a certain point.

I've been off sick for several months with MH issues. I put it off for ages and ended up making things worse and going to pieces at work. Its only now that we're discussing me going back in the New Year that OH are involved. Their remit is more with assisting me in getting back, phased return etc rather than any hands on help.

I'm not sure what OH could do for you

Did EAP offer talking therapies and you declined?

@Redglitter

I've been off sick for several months with MH issues. I put it off for ages and ended up making things worse and going to pieces at work. Its only now that we're discussing me going back in the New Year that OH are involved. Their remit is more with assisting me in getting back, phased return etc rather than any hands on help.

I'm not sure what OH could do for you

To prevent people from going off from sick. Long term mental health issue classified as a disability. They suggest reasonable adjustments that help people whilst as work to help them. Protects the business as wel.

I've skipped some of the thread but it sounds like you want OH to get involved to help you change your job role.

Were you able to do the bits of the job previously and now because your mental health has deteriorated you're now unable to?

I dont know if them being able to do that is a possibility. It didnt work for a friend with a physical disability and she eventually was managed out. I do think you need to be aware that both HR and OH are there for the company's benefit more than yours.

Can you arrange a meeting with your line manager and discuss the possibility of a role change without OH but with a union rep as support?

To prevent people from going off from sick. Long term mental health issue classified as a disability. They suggest reasonable adjustments that help people whilst as work to help them.
Protects the business as wel.

This isn't really what OH do. It's your line manager who has to discuss reasonable adjustments with you.

Do you have some suggestions for what those adjustments might be? You know yourself best so you are best placed to ask for what you need.

And "long term mental health issues" are not automatically a disability. Only if they impact on normal day to day activities.

But, what are you hoping the company can offer you to help?
Also, did you speak to Access To Work as many of us suggested?

Sorry to post this yet again on MN, but Access to Work have a Mental Health Support Scheme. You can self refer via the main scheme - Gov.uk website or direct to either of the two service providers able-futures.co.uk/individuals or www.remploy.co.uk/about-us/current-programmes/access-work-mental-health-support-service you can do it without telling your employer if you prefer or they can help you talk to your employer to get support in place.

If ypu are in the UK you can contact remploy. They can help you request reasonable adjustments. You self refer off their website

OP, have you ever been signed off by your GP for your condition before? It ask that, because you are expressing such resistance to that idea. There is nothing wrong with taking time off work for mental health issues, particularly with an employer who cannot even implement regular 1-1 for staff...I don't know how old you are/ what your life experiences are...but that is a sign of a bad employer OP.

For all you people questioning this person like they are at fault in some way, they are clearly too scared to go off sick incase it goes against them and gives work a just cause to terminate her job. Bradford scores and 3 occurrence rules put the fear of God into any employee even if they have a sick note or registered disability. Workplaces can suggest you are no longer capable of doing the job they hired you for. Wether or not they have a legitimate reason for this or not, or a strong or weak argument, the employer will exercise every dirty trick in the book to either make you too scared to speak up, or create a fictitious reason for firing you if you choose to fight your cause. The equality act 2010 doesn’t really carry the same weight that it did 10 years ago. That’s because workplaces have worked with their own HR and employment law teams to find loop holes in everything. Example: you are discriminated against because you have an anxiety disorder that causes you to need a bit more time to accomplish a work related task than others. You speak out, and the employer then drags out the help and assistance you need but monitors your every move. They then find that you are in breach of a rule of their code of conduct by discussing your feelings with a colleague. You are found to have committed gross misconduct and you receive summery dismissal for a deliberate breach of the conduct requirements mentioned in your contract….your argument was that you needed more time to complete tasks, not that your condition caused you to talk freely without thought.

They then get you the help you request, but shortly after serve you with a disciplinary letter. They look like they’re helping you, but at the same time simply exercising their right to discipline you via their procedures set in your contract and over a completely none related issue.

i’ll sit here and wait for someone, experienced or legally trained, to tell me I’m wrong here…

Or for someone to tell you that this thread is 3 years old.