Why have HR asked me this and can I say no?

[Hrrrrhr]

I started some medication recently. A side effect is drowsiness and on those occasions not driving. It’s supposed to settle over 8 weeks. I’ve therefore asked my employer whether I can work from home during this time. My job can completely be done from home and often is. I’ve been there a long time. They’re asking me if they can contact my gp and ask my gp a number of questions instead of going through occupational health as occupational health can take much longer (ie beyond the time I’m asking for to have the adjustment anyway). I’m not comfortable having direct questions sent to my gp as I’ve never heard of this before. I would prefer occupational health. Can anyone explain my rights? Thank you

I’m no expert but I would be very surprised if your GP told them anything - haven’t they heard of patient confidentiality?

Gp is allowed to answer if you give permission, you would be required to sign a form to say so, giving the doctor permission.

@Ddakji apparently it’s an alternative to occupational health. I have to agree to it before they do it

Does the leaflet say do not drive? I'd imagine your GP will tell them it's fine to drive as several medications list drowsy as a side effect. You're within your rights to say no to HR, but they're also able to say no to 8 weeks of WFH. I can see why they might want "proof" for such a long period.

@TheShadowOfTheWizard but why have they even suggested this? It feels so invasive

@NestaArcheron it says you shouldn’t drive when feeling these side effects. It’s also on the nhs website

It's cheaper and quicker than occupational health.

Ask them to send you the questions directly and then you decide if you will allow your GP to answer them.
If you are not happy then go via OH
But it may be that there is also a worry about you on H&S grounds as you are at work but alone.

why have they even suggested this? It feels so invasive

They want to check you're not lying. It's sad that employers these days often have such little trust in their staff.

Your work just want proof you're not pulling a fast one, especially with the hoo ha over returning to the office. It's perfectly allowed what they've done. You can say no, presumably OH gets involved at that point.

I would send them that then. It sounds like they’re tedious employers who want everyone under their eye and don’t trust their staff. I agree that I’d find contacting my GP directly hugely overstepping.

And I’d start looking for a new job.

They've explained why - it's quicker than going through occupational health. Maybe they also need to check if the medication also has cognitive effects that will impact your job.

I'd only agree if they showed you the form they wanted to ask the GP to complete and then you could sign to say that only the questions on the form were to be answered. Oh, and get them to pay the fee.

Tell them you'd prefer to go through OH.
Have they made you feel particularly drowsy?

I’d just ask your GP to write you a fit note stating that you can work but will need to work from home.

There will likely be a policy or guidance whereby all requests for adjustments including working from home have to be formally requested by a Dr or OH.

Could you ask them if yiur GP could just issue a revised "fit note" to state yiunare fit for work, providing you are able to wfh for eight weeks.

Sadly op, such things have been introduced to weed out the people abusing the the hybrid/wfh rules.

Ask them which questions, who will be reading the answers and how it will then be stored. Or wait for OH.

I wonder if a fit note would suffice. With just the the adjustments that are relevant to your employer stated.

That is invasive. Also HR don't have any qualifications to understand or interpret what they're told. OH are much better equipped to have those conversations with your GP and then handle the information.

@SwanOfThoseThings but they can do the occupational healthy route surely?

I’ve been there a long time and only ever had one week off sick ever! So this feels heavy handed

@Fitzcarraldo353 do OH contact the gp then?

@MuggleMe yes I could suggest that thank you

For me I would be worried that if you're not well enough/alert enough to drive, you may not be well enough to perform all parts of your job and so might need to think about adjusting your duties in that time too.

They may do, with your permission.

But there's a reason why OH is separate to your workplace. It's more independent, they may have clinical staff involved and they handle the data confidentially.

I agree, get the fit note and if they decline your request then take sick leave.