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

Occupational health will talk to the GP anyway - so you have 2 steps instead of 1 and the same additional load on the GP.

There is zero way I would approve for work to speak to my GP.

The options are get a fit note from the GP which is tantamount to the same thing, or they wait for OH.

Are you supposed to pre-approve a script of what is and isn’t off limits for the GP to say - ridiculous!

What is the medication? Not suggesting it’s this but some anti-histamines cause drowsiness so there is a whole spectrum of ‘don’t drive’. Does that mean not fit for work in other ways?

Did you read the OP? It's kind of the whole crux of the issue.

Aren’t OH usually independent of the business, as oppose to having a non-objective HR person or line manager accessing private patient information that might go beyond the issue at hand and with no supervision to ensure best practice.

It doesn't matter what they ask for - OP has the option of seeing the report before it goes to her employer and having anything unnecessary removed.

I am not in the UK but at my company these type of requests have to be handled by the third party OH provider, they are trained to interpret documentation and approve/deny the workplace accommodation. HR don’t typically have this type of training and knowledge plus there are always concerns about too many people having access to private medical information

You could ask them to give you a list of questions so you can see what info you’re requesting then, if you’re happy, pass it onto the GP and ask them to write a letter responding

Should see the report but that depends on factors outside the OPs control

So on the stupid happens the OP is better off getting the questions sending them to the GP and getting the reply back.

She's only on the medication for 8 weeks

The authorisation request form contains a box for the OP to tick indicating that they want to receive a copy first.

No, OP says side effects should settle by 8 weeks.

Your forms may have that.
The OP's is something HR may be putting together outside their normal process.

Jesus...the consent forms FROM THE GP have this on them.

Thats great but the OPs job is contacting the GP after getting the OPs permission and after they have created their list of questions.

CarrieOnComplaining:
OP, I would say you are happy with this IF they tell you what questions will be asked. And give permission for your GP to answer those questions.
They aren’t going to ask for a copy of your entire medical history to keep on file.

And me:
And never underestimate stupid or blindly trust that a HR bod would not ask for more access than needed

Remember my point to CarrieOnComplaining was about how not all HR bods are professional in their role and some will think that they get to access the OPs full medical history.

Do they realise they'll have to pay for a GP report?

Unless driving is an essential part of the job , rather than how you get to work, your employer may ask you to take public transport to work, if that's available.

If I were writing a fit note, I wouldn't say "may be able to work as long as WFH" I would more accurately say "may be able to work, but should not drive if feeling drowsy". Not everyone feels drowsy and in some cases the drowsiness often improves after some time on the medicine.

Would a fit note indicating you can't drive not just cover it?

This seems very excessive to me and I have worked in HR for 20 years, especially if you have not had any absence previously. I would send you to OH who will be able to offer an opinion on your fitness to work whilst taking this medication and the likely side effects, I would also possibly ask for a fit note detailing amended duties if perhaps the manager was pushing back on agreeing this. Never contacted a GP in my life (oh apart from to report a fraudulent fit note once!)

Unreasonable. Should all go through occupational health. No reason for direct requests and they would have to jump through hoops to gain information and with your consent due to breach of confidentiality.

If your medication can cause drowsiness, I would feel they’re thinking you may be sleeping on the job if you’re at home and if they agree to this and these side effects last longer, it could end up a permanent situation which they don’t want.

Presumably the point of asking the OP if they can do this is to get her consent to the GP providing the information

No it doesn’t - these forms have a tick box as standard to indicate that the employee wants to see the report before it goes to the employer. Nothing is outside OP’s control - if she ticks that box she gets the report first.

No, the effects she’s worried about last eight weeks, not the medication itself. The medication may or may not indicate a long term condition for which she may qualify for reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act.

Assumption made on mode of access:

AnSolas · Today 07:14

Thats great but the OPs job is contacting the GP after getting the OPs permission and after they have created their list of questions.

CarrieOnComplaining:
OP, I would say you are happy with this IF they tell you what questions will be asked. And give permission for your GP to answer those questions.
They aren’t going to ask for a copy of your entire medical history to keep on file.
And me:
And never underestimate stupid or blindly trust that a HR bod would not ask for more access than needed

Remember my point to CarrieOnComplaining was about how not all HR bods are professional in their role and some will think that they get to access the OPs full medical history.