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Working from home, back pain, and leaving date!

2 replies

Timeforabiscuit · 22/06/2021 14:55

I have an issue where I have a good large employer with lots of benefits, one of which is referral to occupational heath provider in the event of an injury.

I've been working from home as a data analyst, with only a laptop and phone provided, you could apply for a laptop riser and chair if you wanted, but I had an office chair and the advice make do with what you've got, and get as close to a proper dse set up as you can - which is what I did.

9 months in from lockdown I started getting arm pain, so re did the dse assessment, and narrowed it down to the office chair not being fully adjusted. You could apply to get a new office chair, but I couldn't get the form to work, I wasn't sure whether I would have to return it - so I made do and did stretches and walks.

I then decided to apply for other job roles, and was successful!

I then suddenly developed an incredibly bad back, when I just stood up from my desk to go for a walk and went suddenly stiff all over - I then lost movement progressively over the next few days and ended up with a hospital admission as I couldn't stand or walk.

I've controlled the pain now, gp advised using my work occupational health provider rather than nhs as it would be quicker.

My employer has asssessed me, and say I do need physio and referred me to a private provider - but now have told me I will only be covered up to my date of my contract ending. My first appointment is the day after my leaving date.

Do I have any grounds for recourse as I gained the injury on their clock?

My preferred option would be to have this covered until the injury is resolved - but I don't know if I'm right in thinking this?

OP posts:
flowery · 22/06/2021 14:59

That would be a personal injury claim. And no, you don’t have recourse because you gained the injury on their clock, you might have if you can show they were at fault and you incurred financial losses as a result of their negligence.

I think if there was an issue because your office chair wasn’t properly adjusted but you decided to “make do” just because you couldn’t get the form for ordering a new chair to work you’re going to struggle to argue it’s their fault.

Timeforabiscuit · 22/06/2021 15:07

That's what I was afraid of @flowery

The only reason I'd want it aired is because they have been so thoroughly shit at providing anything useful, so I bought my own desk, second screen - I was weighing up if I should by my own chair or not when the back went.

Should flag to my team to just get the office chair, we all spend alot of time at screens.

OP posts:
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