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Original poster

Employer requesting "medical documentation"

23 replies

AnxiousMummy91 · 31/05/2022 18:23

Hello lovely MN people, this a long one sorry!
I have recently been diagnosed with IBS-D (March time) and since then have been off work 3 times with flare ups.
I'm currently off (so this is the third time), due to having terrible abdominal pain when I came on my period Friday (out of hours doctor said it was IBS as not my usual period pain which are painful.and heavy but this was different) but I saw my GP yesterday who said he wasn't sure if it was IBS related, as the pain isn't like my usual IBS pain and I didn't have the bowel movements along with it (plus the pain was enough to nearly make me vom and I am not a vommy person - think once in 15 years kind of vommy). I've been referred for a scan of my ovaries and put on strong cocodamol for the pain. In terms of IBS they have put me on amitriptyline (was on mebeverine which did sweet fa) and the combination is making me spaced out as hell (have been on antidepressants before so I know this is par for the course).
I work in a call centre, evenings, 5-10pm 5 days a week. They have now requested a medical document from the GP to put on my file that states that I suffer with IBS and they symptoms I get during a flare, how long it can last etc. The trouble is they want it asap, they told me when I called to report my absence again today. The GP classes this as private work and it can take up to 4 weeks and also there is a charge of £25 which I am unwilling to pay, but I know my employer will not pay this.
I just want to know where I stand and where I go from here.
I asked to WFH today due to being spaced out to hell and not feeling safe to drive into work, and got told no because my headset is broken and they can't guarantee me non voice tasks. But yesterday were begging me to log on from home even though i could barely look after my own kid...just to tell you the type of place it is.

OP posts:
CornishPorsche · 31/05/2022 18:26

Ask them why you aren't being referred to the company Occupational Health team for this review. I've no doubt they are cheaping out by trying to get your GP to write a report.

Make sure any contact with your employer is in writing.

BlanketsBanned · 31/05/2022 18:33

If you have had 3 flareups in 3 months and are on strong painkillers would it be better to go on sick leave and get a doctors note, how long have you worked there. Is there an occupational health service at work.

vipersnest1 · 31/05/2022 18:33

It's mentioned about half way down:

www.acas.org.uk/absence-from-work/fit-notes-and-proof-of-sickness

To sum it up, your doctor will only give information if you agree - but have a read so you are aware of what that might set in motion.

FWIW, it's sounds like they want a narrative to hold you to. In your shoes I would only allow a report that says your symptoms can vary in what they are and also the length of those they affect you for.

For now, just tell work you can't get any information that quickly, and get in touch with your union.

Original poster
AnxiousMummy91 · 31/05/2022 18:47

I have been off A fair bit for various reasons since I started - a sinus infection (am now under ENT for sinuses, recently had a CT scan), a horrid viral infection, my back went into spasm and I was signed off for 3 weeks - this was the 2nd time in 6 months but the first time happened before I started. I started there in October 21, but health wise its been the worst 6 months of my life, I've never been so consistently ill. I've only just been put on the strong painkillers and antidepressants yesterday (not for depression but they have found they help with IBS).
I have just received a letter via our online HR thing - dated 25/5 for an absence review meeting on the 30/5 - which says I can get in trouble for not responding to say why I wasn't there....funny. how can I respond to something that I wasn't aware of. No way am I signing anything.
Basically my manager should have done an absence review meeting months ago and hasn't pulled her finger out, and is now getting it in the neck.
I will contact my union tomorrow. As for getting signed off I just don't know if I can afford to live on the pitiful sick pay they give.

OP posts:
MichelleScarn · 31/05/2022 18:52

How often have you been off in the 8 months since you started? Definitely speak with your union for advice and support.

Original poster
AnxiousMummy91 · 31/05/2022 18:59

MichelleScarn · 31/05/2022 18:52

How often have you been off in the 8 months since you started? Definitely speak with your union for advice and support.

This most recent absent (now) is my 10th absence since I started. So I definitely should have had a review by now....if not 2 or 3....but one of those was self isolation for being in contact with a positive covid case...which was after the time you had to isolate but they insisted. And one time was for childcare reasons which should come under dependents leave.

OP posts:
Ragwort · 31/05/2022 19:06

That's a very large number of absences in 8 months ...

LIZS · 31/05/2022 19:09

How many weeks absence out of 8 months? Are you still on probation?

BlanketsBanned · 31/05/2022 19:12

Speak to your union, they should give you a sickness review, I would also ring or email HR to explain that you only received their email today so was not aware of a meeting. Have they asked you to sign anything? Without the covid and childcare sickness its still 8 episodes of sickleave.

Mumwantingtogetitright · 31/05/2022 19:30

I'm sorry you've had so many health issues, OP. That sounds stressful.

From your employer's point of view, it looks pretty bad. 10 unplanned absences in 8 months, and at least one of those was for 3 weeks. You're right that they've left it quite a long time before intervening, but I don't know what their policy says on this. How is it that you didn't receive the letter from HR re the review meeting until today?

They're inevitably going to be questioning whether you can actually do the role, given the level of absence, and I imagine they're trying to assess from the GP letter whether your condition affects you to the extent that you are likely to be covered by disability legislation. If it looks like you meet the definition of disabled, then they will have to make reasonable adjustments for you. If not, realistically, they will probably be looking to sack you. (Sorry!)

It's good that you have Union membership. If they have failed to follow their processes properly, this may buy you some time and an opportunity to improve your attendance, if your health allows.

Good luck!

Original poster
AnxiousMummy91 · 31/05/2022 19:33

LIZS · 31/05/2022 19:09

How many weeks absence out of 8 months? Are you still on probation?

Of actual working days it's around 5 weeks. I'm on a 3 week rolling pattern so I work 1 in 3 weekends and have some days off in the week. Not still on probation....although I don't even know if it was a thing....never had a probation meeting! My interview consisted of 3 questions on the phone and I was hired. No references, no checks, nothing. So you can see what kind of company it is. Hire-to-fire. I know it is A LOT of absence...trust me I am aware.

OP posts:
Original poster
AnxiousMummy91 · 31/05/2022 20:07

Mumwantingtogetitright · 31/05/2022 19:30

I'm sorry you've had so many health issues, OP. That sounds stressful.

From your employer's point of view, it looks pretty bad. 10 unplanned absences in 8 months, and at least one of those was for 3 weeks. You're right that they've left it quite a long time before intervening, but I don't know what their policy says on this. How is it that you didn't receive the letter from HR re the review meeting until today?

They're inevitably going to be questioning whether you can actually do the role, given the level of absence, and I imagine they're trying to assess from the GP letter whether your condition affects you to the extent that you are likely to be covered by disability legislation. If it looks like you meet the definition of disabled, then they will have to make reasonable adjustments for you. If not, realistically, they will probably be looking to sack you. (Sorry!)

It's good that you have Union membership. If they have failed to follow their processes properly, this may buy you some time and an opportunity to improve your attendance, if your health allows.

Good luck!

I know it is A LOT of absence...believe me I've never been this consistantly ill in my life. Couple that with having a very boisterous almost 3 year old, generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, post natal depression and underactive thyroid. It looks bad, however they should held a meeting after 3 periods of absence in a 6 month period. The dates of absence to review that they put on the letter was my first 3 which was ending February, and the amount of days they have put down is wrong. I've no idea why I didn't receive it until today, I'm presuming my manager forgot to send it. But sending notice of it the day after it should have happened is ludicrous. My manager said on the phone that we should have had the meeting a couple of weeks ago but then she didn't do it so she rearranged for yesterday but I was off so...
They have 3 stages, this is an interview to stage 1. However I should be at stage 3 by now which is looking at dismissal....however they haven't followed their own policy so I don't see how that could happen? They basically couldn't be arsed and now are panicking.

OP posts:
Aprilx · 01/06/2022 09:05

My advice would be to cooperate with their requests for medical information and yes pay the £25. You have had a very high level of sickness in eight months and I would recommend you do what you can to provide evidence. Not doing so, it going to harm you more than your employer.

BlanketsBanned · 01/06/2022 11:24

You dont sound very happy there, it may be a genuine mistake they didnt hold a sickness review meeting before, not everyone gets a probationary period, it would state on your contract. They might ask that you get a fit note for any future sickness, its not all been due to ibs. Do you think you would be happier working for a different company, I wouldnt work somewhere that didnt do references or checks on their staff.

Original poster
AnxiousMummy91 · 01/06/2022 11:53

BlanketsBanned · 01/06/2022 11:24

You dont sound very happy there, it may be a genuine mistake they didnt hold a sickness review meeting before, not everyone gets a probationary period, it would state on your contract. They might ask that you get a fit note for any future sickness, its not all been due to ibs. Do you think you would be happier working for a different company, I wouldnt work somewhere that didnt do references or checks on their staff.

I am not very happy there, it is a terrible place to work. But unfortunately until September when my child gets 30 hours childcare I can only work evenings and the only jobs that seem to be around are call centres or care. I did care for 18 months after maternity and moved to here as again not a great company to work for. Before I got pregnant I had a great job in payroll working for the council, but due to childcare I couldn't work there anymore, it didn't work financially. I am applying for jobs for September in schools and/or payroll/admin based jobs, this is literally a place holder until then so it doesn't seem worth it to move now. But tbh I am considering going back to the care company as although it was stressful I loved my job and they said they would have me back any time. I thought a company couldn't be worse until I started here.

OP posts:
Original poster
AnxiousMummy91 · 01/06/2022 11:55

Aprilx · 01/06/2022 09:05

My advice would be to cooperate with their requests for medical information and yes pay the £25. You have had a very high level of sickness in eight months and I would recommend you do what you can to provide evidence. Not doing so, it going to harm you more than your employer.

I have spoken to my union who said they can request this but they have to make the request to my GP and they have to pay for it so that is what I will tell them.

OP posts:
BlanketsBanned · 01/06/2022 12:27

You havent worked there very long so they may be able to dismiss you, have you looked to see if you could qualify for disability payments

Original poster
AnxiousMummy91 · 01/06/2022 12:57

BlanketsBanned · 01/06/2022 12:27

You havent worked there very long so they may be able to dismiss you, have you looked to see if you could qualify for disability payments

I haven't, I'll look into it though. Apart from my absences I am actually the top agent in my team for performance and quality. They have stopped hiring (they made the training team redundant) and are focusing on keeping the staff they have, but people keep leaving so it is getting busier and busier as they haven't got the staff to keep up with the demand. There have been a lot of changes since a new ops manager started a few months ago so maybe this is why the absence hasn't been called into question until now. I'm hoping the new meds I am on will settle things down once my body gets used to them and I'll be able to function the next few months before I leave if they keep me. Their policy is not to dismiss until you reach stage 3 and they haven't yet done a stage 1 review so who knows how things will go or what they are planning.

OP posts:
cathyandclare · 01/06/2022 13:07

Not much use with work- but have your doctors considered endometriosis? You can get lesions affecting the bowel.

Original poster
AnxiousMummy91 · 01/06/2022 13:14

cathyandclare · 01/06/2022 13:07

Not much use with work- but have your doctors considered endometriosis? You can get lesions affecting the bowel.

They are sending me for a scan as they were unsure whether latest flare was due to bowel or whether it was ovary/womb related. It does run in my family and my mum has suffered the same symptoms as me throught her 30s being passed back and forth so I'm not hopeful

OP posts:
BritInUS1 · 01/06/2022 14:13

Wow that is a huge amount of sickness in 8 months, especially with different things wrong with you

I think at this stage you need to comply with what they are asking

Original poster
AnxiousMummy91 · 01/06/2022 23:30

So I have been into work today and had my absence review meeting and I am on a stage 1...they only brought my last 3 absences into account and the slate has been wiped clean. Also my manager was shocked when I told her that the GP said I would jave to pay for a doctors letter, and she said she needs to double check exactly what they need and said I would not have to pay for it. I told her I would need the request in writing and they would need my permission in writing too. All in all, it was fine, I don't know what I was worried about (hence my name anxious mummy, literally Grin) and I even asked if they were looking to sack me and she was like "what? No!!" And that even if it got to a stage 3 it isn't an automatic dismissal but I won't let it get to that. We have also put plans in place for me to work from home if I am having a flare up. So all is good. Thanks everyone for your replies x

OP posts:
LittleOwl153 · 01/06/2022 23:45

Glad you seem to have sorted work for now.

Looking at your meds you are on similar to me (for a slightly different but related purpose) so I wondered what you were taking when? The amitriptyline is a nightmare for brain fogging. I have found taking it about 2-3 hrs before I got to bed is the best time. But I would not take it before getting into the car (unless it was a very short trip.) You can also ask for a stomach protector which you should have if either the amitriptyline or the cocodemol causes issues something like omeprezole. You can also ask for just codiene rather than cocodamol which also contains paracetamol which also messed up my stomach. Beware those that cocktail can also cause constipation! But if you've been on the amitriptyline a few weeks and have changed timings then I'd ask for something else.

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