Mental illness and work - please help me find some advice!

[edwardcullensotherwoman]

Hi,

My DH is suffering with PTSD, and is currently going through the mill with his employer.

6 weeks ago he advised them of this, OH referral made, recommendation given which employer ignored because they want more info. Medical paper obtained off GP to confirm diagnosis and also giving same recommendation as employer. DH was also asked for a detailed explanation of his condition and why it is now affecting him when he has worked satisfactorily for several years (since the incident), which he has provided.

Employer is now saying they can't make a decision on adjustments/change in role until next week, so DH came home early today and has advised employer he is off sick until further notice.

I think his employer has acted totally unreasonably, has been very insensitive about the issue and has caused DH much more undue stress, which has now caused him to go off sick. I can expand on this if need be, just trying to keep it short and to the point.

Is there an organisation we can get advice from about the way he has been treated? Are there some kind of laws/regulations in place regarding mental illness (albeit temporary) and work?

ANy advice appreciated, thanks

I don't know anything personally but he should give ACAS a call. They're a free impartial employment law service who are very knowledgeable with these type of things

Hi - if it an on going condition - it come under the disabilty dicrimination act - they have to made a resonable adjustment - which to be fair they havn't refused -
maybe look at mental health charities such as mind

Tbh I don't think ACAS are your best bet for advice about mental health in the workplace. MIND would be a good start I agree. I went to a good seminar with a speaker from MIND about this issue.

There is no specific legislation about mental illness, it would be the same as all illness and it is certainly possible for mental illness to be a disability.

What exactly are the employer doing which is 'totally unreasonable'? On the face of it, sending him to OH, wanting more information before implementing recommendations and asking the employee for more about their condition all sound fine, and you say they are going to make a decision as to whether they can accommodate adjustments to his role or changes to his role next week. It sounds like it's taken a long time, is that the problem?

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I had wondered about both ACAS and MIND, but I was worried that each may only be able to advise on their own expertise, IYKWIM? There is a MIND office in a larger town near us, so I might think about giving them a call.

flowery the length of time is the main issue here, but I can't understand why they would employ an organisation to advise them on an employee's health, then ignore the recommendation. (The impression they gave was that they didn't "believe" DH, or didn't think it was that serious. DH had already offered a letter from GP before OH referral was demanded, but his boss said there was "no need" for that, it "had" to be an OH referral.

Also, asking an employee for more information about their condition is completely reasonable, and necessary, if it's information individual and personal to the employee. His boss basically wanted him to give a write up on PTSD in general. I would have thought they should look that up themselves, or seek information from the OH service?

please google tamara lewis londonlawcentre publications

Slightly in their defence, I would say that for larger organisations OH do have to be involved, especially if they offer continued salary/long term illness etc. Also OH normally need to step in to cover them insurance-wise in case they are 'blamed' in any way for any health issue.

Saying that, it is frankly daft that they have ignored the OH advice (though I have known firms take OH advice and ignore GP advice). If it were me I would simply state that I am signed off sick, with the support of both the GP and OH, and that they should refer any general questions about the nature of the condition to the OH, but that I would be happy to answer any specific questions that they have, and will be taking the advice of the GP with regard to fitness to work as soon as the firm confirm the changes they will/will not be making.

I would look on Minds website as a start - they may have a telephone helpline - and when I had a health issue my employers OH were brilliant - really helpful - wouldn't have got back to work with out them