Return to work after long term sick

[autisticbookworm]

I’ve been off work for 6 months. After several years of increasingly painful back pain/sciatica I collapsed and couldn’t walk. I ended up in hospital two weeks and have had a slow recovery since.

im still in pain and struggling with mobility but I’m reaching a point of looking at returning to work and seeing how manageable it is.

i work ina customer service role 1.5 days a week, lots of sitting/standing. My ideal would be a phased return just doing the half day initially as that time length (3 hours) feels manageable but at the moment 7.5 hours (full day) does not.

Im also concerned because a couple years ago I had a work place assessment due to my back issues and a new chair with lumbar support was recommended (the current chairs are very uncomfortable) plus an adjustable desk. This never happened despite it being brought up in my annual work place assessment and at my annual review. So I would ideally like a new assessment before I return to work and I will need a better chair.

When I spoke to my manager (local authority) they said they can only offer 1 week phased return ( so do the half day for one week then normal hours the following week) and I can’t have a work place assessment until I am back at work. I’m concerned about going back without having things in place . Do I have any rights here?

Also I get 28 weeks continuous sick leave, if I return and then have to leave again on sick does it restart or is it the following calendar year it will restart?

Thanks

1 week phased is utterly inappropriate. The return needs to taking you ideas into consideration to make it a success! As you say you are local authority and it appears your manager needs help ask for occupational health. I’m surprised they haven’t been consulted as that would be the norm. . Don’t put yourself at risk.
not quite sure what workplace assessment is but surely they need to be ready for your return especially any equipment, you won’t be comfort or safe without it.
youll need to check the sick pay policy (or your contract) for linking periods.

I doubt there is only one week oh phasing available, check with HR. One week isn’t exactly a phase is it.

Sickness is usually based on a rolling yet rather than a calendar year. If you return and go off sick again it won't reset your sickness entitlements until a year from the date your first period of sickness was.

1 weeks phased return to work seems unfair after 6 weeks. What does your fit note say from the GP? Usually you see occ health prior to your return. Be aware that they don't have to pay you full pay for your phased return, just the hours you are owed.

Ask for an occupational health referral. As you work for a local authority I hope you're also in a union who can advise you.

Check with HR and review your policies I'm local authority and every LA I've ever worked in offer 4 weeks phased return with potential to extend using own leave/unpaid leave if required. I was off sick last year for 5 months and had 4 weeks phased return and then another 4 weeks p/t using my leave I'd accrued whilst off sick. Its in their interests if the phased return means you are able to return and not go back off sick and fully function in work. I also wouldn't return to work without an occupational health assessment and again ensure with HR that the recommendations (if accepted - they don't have to accept) are progessed. Potentially also worth contacting access to work who may be able to part fund equipment you need, they have for a number of staff I manage.

Doesnt it go down to half pay after 6 months? Although you can’t go back and then get another 6 months paid off. I might be wrong but I think that if it is not possible to return and be able to do your job after 6 months then they would look at capability? If you can’t manage 1.5 days then you may need to look at a different job? They can’t pay sick leave indefinitely. Ideally you need to work with your employer to get back to work. Ie go back and take regular breaks from sitting etc. good luck.

They should be able to extend your phased return. However as you only work 1.5 days they’ll want you to achieve that fairly quickly (4 weeks is reasonable) as otherwise it points to you being unable to fulfil the role. Sick pay is usually viewed as a rolling 12 month period so returning to work won’t reset it.

I would involve HR and ask them to make an Occupational Health referral for a proper assessment of any long term reasonable adjustment needed.

Also, if what happened to you means you are left with long term mobility issues and chronic pain that affect your daily life then it becomes a protected characteristic (disability) and Occupational Health will be able to confirm this as an assessment.

Also ask your GP to list in your fit note what they recommend is put in place to make it possible to come back to work.

Swap to 3 half days - Mon/Wed/Fri with a rest day in between.

Thanks everyone. By workplace assessment I meant occupational health. At the minute half day feels manageable but full day doesn’t but hopefully in a month or so tgat might be achievable. The chair issue does concern me. Unfortunately I’ve never joined the union I’m guessing it’s too late now?
I do really love my job and I think I can do it. The other option is leave it a bit longer and then do the week phased return just doing. But as people have said a week isn’t really enough to know.
I get 4 months full pay and 4 months half pay plus statutory. Not sure after that as policy states 28 weeks statutory which is 6 months so not sure if thats on top of the 8 month or along side

That would work fine but unfortunately the service only opens 2 half days and 1 full day and I can’t work the other half day as I’m not contracted to it (someone else works it. ) I would happily do half of my full day as part of my return but I don’t think they would agree. I’ve never been able to take part of a shift off, I have to take the full day as they won’t cover it otherwise. It’s a very small public service and everyone has set hours there’s no flexibility at all.

Thank you I’m having a GP assessment next week I will ask them to do this.

It is classed as a disability, I do have chronic pain and it’s unlikely to go (it may improve with treatments) it will get worse over time though.

Tbh I’ve not been supported at all I’m not sure what the norm is but I’ve had no contacted from work at all after the first contact when I said I was in hospital. I’ve emailed my sick note every month and given an update but never had a reply until this month when I asked what retur. To work would look like.

I worked for LA for 40 years.

Your work should be sickness monitoring usuarly monthly ie stage 1 - 3. If they have not done anything for 6 months but start now / soon it should be from stage 1 not jump to 3 etc.

Are you not in a union ?

if so they can help and attend meetings with you.

Your manager also should refer you to OH. Make sure its known and documented that it's considered a disabilty.

OH can do assesment via the telephone with you but may request that you attend.

You can ask for a copy 3 days prior to your manager receives it.

GP can put on fit note to have OH assessment prior to return to work
pending OH assessment Aids / adaptions, phased in required etc.

You discuss phased in with OH it can be from 1 wk to 8 wks etc
a few hours to start each day you work then increase slightly next week etc.

Just tell OH how it affects you and how phased could work / benefit your return.

Could you work from home for phased in period and do longer hours if your work says you have to do full days ?

You will be going on half pay now / soon

I think what a lot of people do not realise if you have any sick in the same year it adds to you current absence, ( that's if your manager has actuarly been entering it on HR system which inform payroll etc.)

You can also put in a complaint that they have not fullfield their duty of care in contacting you or referring you for support for 6 months.

Your work place or circumstances may be a little different to my LA but In my experiance the above is usual procedures for LA .

Can you you access the absence policy ? which they should send you a copy when they start montioring period .

Hope this helps somewhat.

Have you considered referring yourself to mental health access to work, who will help you to develop a wellbeing action plan?
If you've been unsupported and are worrying about your return they should be able to help you.

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@autisticbookworm
Sorry just seen you not in union . They used to say you had to be a paid member for 8 weeks but think that may have changed just call them and ask. I think they may not like to represent if action on something has began but your hasn't yet by what you say sini would just make that phone call.

Amazing thank you