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Meeting with occupational health.

5 replies

FrostyPopThePenguinLord · 31/07/2017 11:19

Does anyone have any idea what this will entail?
For context, I've been off a lot over the past few weeks with pregnancy related sickness, so I went to my doctor and he has signed me off work till the end of the 1st trimester.
My job role has been adjusted since I told them I was pregnant to make it safe, but the new site where I'm working has a smell that permeates the whole site and triggers my sickness really badly. Every 10 to 20 minutes I have to dash to the loo and it's wearing me down to the point of dizziness and I had a fall.
Once/if I get over the smell thing, the job is ideal for pregnancy, off my feet, not too strenuous I think they have been amazing with all of it so far.
I have had bad experiences with management (at a different company) in the past relating to a past pregnancy that didn't end well, and I've never seen the company's occupational health before but I was called up and told to attend a meeting with them on site.
I'm very anxious about this pregnancy anyway and I can feel my anxiety rising, I'm sure it's not going to be a negative thing but I don't really see how they can make my job any better because you can't remove the smell, I've tried all the tricks to block it.
I thought being off sick was a better option for them anyway as they only have to pay me sick pay, if they have to suspend me because the job isn't suitable then they have to pay me fully.

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Helspopje · 31/07/2017 11:26

They're trying to protect themselves and you
Sometimes being off more often than a certain amount or for too many days in a period an occ health referral will be triggered
Occ health will listen to your issues and make recommendations eg when I had preg hypotension and kept falling over then got spd I couldn't carry a full clinics worth of notes upstairs anymore (no surprise!) So they recommended I got a box on wheels.

Eurghhh · 31/07/2017 11:29

I wouldn't be anxious - seeing OH in my experience is about the employer making sure they do everything they can to help you and either facilitate you working, or agreeing that being in the workplace is not right for you or them.

FrostyPopThePenguinLord · 31/07/2017 11:46

So it's more of a formality? I totally get they need to protect themselves but the HR lady on the phone said they needed to assess suitability etc. I'm only concerned because I think the job they have given me for my pregnancy is very suitable, I just can't hack the smells which is unavoidable anywhere on site, even in the offices. It's embarrassing because a large incentive for them to hire me originally was that I have a cast iron stomach, not squeamish at all and nothing ever makes me sick....now I'm puking like a pro!
I've just been googling and I've wound myself up with anecdotes of people being forced back to work or fired if the OH says they are fit. I've for another 3.5 weeks on my sick not and this has already been a very rocky pregnancy.

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Eurghhh · 31/07/2017 17:33

Not a formality, but it is about protecting both you and the employer. You may find that the problem goes away after the 1st trimester. I couldn't bear some smells, but by second trimester it was much better. So you may find you just need to review the situation then. You can't be fired for a PG related condition, since PG isn't a permanent thing

FrostyPopThePenguinLord · 31/07/2017 19:17

Thanks guys, you have talked me down a bit, I have no reason to think the company is out to get me, they have been awesome so far and really accomodating with all my baby stuff.
It's my old company that's put the scare on me, I had an ectopic and surgery and an absolutely vile manager who as good as forced me to leave by making my life so hellish it's soured me a bit and made me really nervous of management.

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