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Original poster

Mental health and working for building society

11 replies

rimx · 15/04/2023 22:57

Hey guys
I just need some advice. I work for a building society (A very well known bank. I'm not sure if I'll get into trouble telling the building society name) and recently have had major mental health struggles. I currently work in an area where I have to discuss mental health and financial difficulty with members of the building society. I am currently on a sick note. Speaking about mental health with others is a major trigger for me.
my role consists of speaking with members who are in financial difficulty and they may have mental health struggles of themselves. I am really worried about returning to work as I feel like one conversation with a member would trigger my mental health off and they become very ill.

I have spoken to work regarding a non telephony role but they have denied. Is there anything that I can do to try and help my situation regarding the non-telephony role as I feel like this is very un fair considering my mental health issues.

OP posts:
ssd · 15/04/2023 23:08

It just sounds like you're in the wrong job. Sorry.

Original poster
rimx · 15/04/2023 23:09

I can't afford to leave my job fully. I am looking hard for a new job but it's just taking a bit of Time.

OP posts:
PussBilledDuckyPlait · 15/04/2023 23:24

Have occupational health been involved?

Original poster
rimx · 15/04/2023 23:51

No, I don't think we have that at our workplace. They've referred me to some counselling. While I was speaking to counselling she said for me to get some legal advise which I can do as part of my contract.

Do you think they can help out?

OP posts:
HyuNis · 15/04/2023 23:59

If your MH issues are longstanding then you'll be covered by the equalities act. So you need a letter from HCP involved in your care stating the reasonable adjustments that you require in your job.

Your company will have an OH service they buy in (Bupa or the likes) and you can also ask for referral there. They can also recommend suitable adaptation to your job role which may involve you swapping some of your duties or moving depts

Original poster
rimx · 16/04/2023 00:01

Ok, thank you so much x

OP posts:
Original poster
rimx · 07/06/2023 22:23

Just an update on this post.

I've spoken with occupational health and they deemed me unfit to return to work without suitable adaptations and adjustments to be in place

They advised me to have a non telephony role and to have a work risk assessment.

I have a management and HR meeting coming up soon. I am just scared that they may kick me out of a job. Surely, they can't do that because my mental health is long-standing.

Also I was still in my probationary period when I went off sick with my mental health.

I am so worried, I have a baby son and a mortgage to pay!

I just need some advise and reassurance if possible before I have a breakdown!!!!

OP posts:
MichelleScarn · 07/06/2023 22:26

What other roles can you move across to? Do you think it would help to be able to have a list for the meeting?
I'm sure there's been a recent similar thread which had good advice I'll try and find.

MichelleScarn · 07/06/2023 22:27

Oh, its probably this thread 😳 (exhausted baby brain here!)

Original poster
rimx · 07/06/2023 22:32

@MichelleScarn

Thanks for your reply.

I get the feeling- very exhausted with a 17 month old too!

It's a big building society so there are many jobs available and can be offered to me or else the occupational health advisor wouldn't have advised this.

Do you think they can turn around in the HR meeting and say no there arent any jobs we can just move you into and just quick me out. Surely, I should be covered by some act such as the equality act or something?

OP posts:
Quveas · 07/06/2023 22:53

It's a big building society so there are many jobs available and can be offered to me or else the occupational health advisor wouldn't have advised this.

Occupational health have no idea whether there are suitable other jobs to offer you or not. Their role is simply to advise the employer what adjustments might be appropriate for you - they cannot say that those adjustements must be made available to you. There may be many other jobs in the company - that doesn't mean that the jobs are vacant and available, or that you are suitable for any vacancies that do exist. This is a conversation that they need to have with you.

Do you think they can turn around in the HR meeting and say no there arent any jobs we can just move you into and just quick me out. Surely, I should be covered by some act such as the equality act or something?

The Equality Act doesn't prevent you from being dismissed if there are no suitable roles for you. Being disabled isn't a free pass to a job, or to keeping your job.

You say that you are still in your probationary period so I assume that means that you haven't worked for them for very long? Your job entails being in a stressful position discussing mental ill health and financial difficulty. And yet you also have a longstanding history of mental ill-health? Did you declare that history to your employers when you took the job with them, because it is a very valid question as to why you took a job that would very likely have an adverse impact on your own health, and why the employers allowed you to do so. Surely this came up as a question of suitability for this kind of role? Were there no pre-employment health questions?

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