Occupational health - stress

[neverbee]

Hi, unfortunately I've been off work for a month or so now with work related stress and have been signed off by the dr for another month. I am struggling to get any sleep at night despite getting up at 7 every day for the school run and staying up all day to try and stay in a routine. I'm definitely not fit to work at the moment.

My question is that I have been referred to occupational health through my employer and I just wanted any advice about what this will entail. Is it an opportunity for me to get support in returning to work or is it my employer trying to find reasons to get rid of me? I've been told it's not confidential and a report will go to my employer and I can request a copy before it is sent but that's all I know.

I am in touch with my union but they have been fairly slow so far.

Any advice gladly received.

Your employer will want occ health to establish how long you expect to be off, and for recommendations as to how they can help you come back to work. They will also want an opinion as to whether you have a disability as defined by the Equalities Act. It’s nothing sinister. Your employer does not have to implement their recommendations but most do.

Is it a face to face appt? Last time I went I saw a doctor at my request, but it could have been a phone appt with a nurse. The doctor wrote the report while I was there, so there were no nasty surprises. He said he always does that to avoid future contention. He was happy to leave out a couple of personal things or phrase it differently, for instance I had had something truly awful happen in my personal life that had contributed to my time off but I didn’t want work knowing all the details, so he referred to it as “extreme personal difficulties” or something like that. He also left out a bit about my manager being useless and unsupportive, as we decided it wouldn’t be productive!

Basically you should approach it honestly and realistically. If you don’t think you can go back to work soon, don’t say you can. It will help to make a list to take with you of all the reasons you’re experiencing stress (is it all work based, for instance, and be specific to the work issues, and any issues you’re experiencing in the rest of your life). Talk about what you’re doing to get yourself back to work - trying to access counselling etc if you are, medication, that sort of thing.

Also beforehand have a really good think about what changes you think would make a real difference to your experience at work and reduce the stress for you. Make a list and discuss every possibility no matter how stupid it seems, and say why you think it would help.

I've not long been through this and it was fine. I did it by telephone and the assessor was very nice. I felt that they were understanding of the issues I was having and how it has impacted on my work. I was entirely honest and it made me quite upset but I felt that it gave me an external view of my illness that supported my need to be off work for now.

We also discussed how I could return to work and the steps I had taken to help myself ie medicine, referral to counselling.

Overall it was positive for me. Mine was not done by someone working for my employer which made me more comfortable. A long time a ago I had one for pregnancy related sickness that was done 'in house' and even then it felt supportive.

Thank you so much for your advice both of you. I have found it really reassuring. My appointment is by telephone on Monday morning - part of me wishes it was sooner so I don't spend the next two days losing sleep over it but it's really helpful to hear your experiences. Thanks again.

I had this via phone. The assessor was lovely and couldn't believe what I was going through. Got the feeling it was all very routine for her. I was being bullied by my boss and did not give permission for my report to be shared with my employer as I felt it would exacerbate the situation. You are totally within your rights to do this.