Scared - Occupational Health assessment this week - any advice?

[Startingagainandagain]

I have never had any dealings with OH before but my workplace has referred me and I have an appointment at the end of the week with them. I am nervous about what to expect so any advice would be most welcome.

I went back to work a month ago after needing almost two months off following really bad depression leading to a complete breakdown and (trigger warning) plans to end my life.

I am on the autism spectrum too so I have had issues with mental health for decades but this time I think everything got on top of me. I had already declared my long term history of mental health issues to HR a few months and the fact that I receive PIP so they know my long term health conditions are considered disabilities/protected characteristics.

The thing is my manager has not been supportive or understanding of my long term condition (which is ironic in a way as this is a charity that supports vulnerable people...).

On my first day back my manager was trying to get me to ignore the GP's recommendations attached to my return to work fit note. I also think work stress contributed to my breakdown.

I want to be as honest as possible with OH. I can work and I am getting better but the main issue is that I am exhausted after all that happened still and I struggle massively with being on public transport.

Any advice as to best approached the conversation with OH?

My workplace recruited me under the false promise that I would only need to travel to the office once a month maximum (it is a 2 hour journey each way for me to travel) then pressured me into being there on a weekly basis for no good reasons.

I was also shocked to find out recently that other people in the team have not had the same pressure put on them to be in the office and someone was just recruited and told again they would only need to travel once a month and could be home based the rest of the time.

My long term plan is to leave this place as the flexible working was the only real benefit of the job but in the meantime I really want to address this inequality in the pressure apply on me.

I did tell them that I wanted to request home working as a reasonable adjustment before my breakdown, the manager said it was fine at the time verbally but they never address my request in writing. And then again the pressure started. I really struggle with the constant moving of the goalposts.

Should I share this with OH? are they really independent or do they just look after the employer's interest?

I have a bad feeling this could all lead to me having to make a claim for disability discrimination and being pushed out.

Apologies if this was long...

Generally I find that as medical professionals ie doctors or nurses, you can say what you want to OH but they don't put everything you say into the report that goes to your employer- and you can say 'I'll tell you this but I don't want my employer to know'.

Ie they might put that your on anti-depressant medication at night which affects x, y and z but they won't tell them what drug, dosage etc.

They normally let you see the letter before it goes to your employer for your approval.

All the above is the OH I've either seen as an employee or received their report as the manager in the NHS so it might differ by the organisation.

They basically advise the manager on how your illness/ disability affects your work, rather than on the illness itself. That said, they also give lifestyle advice, which you'd expect from a medical professional.

Sounds really confusing and difficult to manage, if it were me, I’d have a think about what you want to get out of the meeting and go with those goals written down and your thoughts etc next to each point
this ought help-
https://www.leicspart.nhs.uk/autism-space/employment/reasonable-adjustments-at-work-autistic-people/

@Circlingthesun

Thank you for the advice. Yes I was put on medication by the GP and thankfully that helped a lot.

I will make sure I state that I want to see the report.

I did have to declare my suicide attempt at work already. I felt pushed into it by my manager because they seemed to think I had been on a vacation for 2 months to deal with a bit of stress...Obviously that was all very upsetting to have to disclose something so traumatic & personal.

@Hellnope

I am sorry if I made things confusing but the main points are:

• I have long term mental health issues (depression, autism) which I had declared to HR, so it is in my file

-my manager has so far made things worse by constantly messing around with my flexible working arrangements -I now have a referral to OH & I want to make sure I navigate this correctly but I also will likely have to mention the fact that the workplace has not been helping me and in fact contributed to my recent breakdown -I am concerned my workplace is going to push me out. It has potentially treated me less favourably than other members of my team already who as far as I know do not have disabilities.

Thanks for the link.

No I’m sorry! I didn’t mean your post was confusing, I wasn’t very clear, it sounds like your work place and manager are making it confusing for you by changing expectations and not making it easy for you to communicate your needs to them by not being very kind.

my advice would be to go into the meeting prepared (I find it easier to have things written down or I forget under pressure) and keep written records of anything. If they do try and push you out, it would be disability discrimination and I’d recommend contacting ACAS for advice

I would say what you want to say to OH. If they do subsequently discriminate about your disability at least you'll have the report to use as evidence. And OH's recommendations might help you with your manager and their expectations.

How long have you been employed by the company? Apologies if I've missed this.

I think it's fine to share that the moving of goalposts affects your health.

OH are there to assess your current health, any treatment you're having and how your recovery has gone. They're also there to advise your manager on any reasonable adjustments you require in the workplace in order to manage your health condition.

It sounds like you are covered by the discrimination act therefore if your workplace don't make the recommended reasonable adjustments there has to be a very good business case which would stand up at a tribunal.

So I'd go to the appointment and be honest with how your health is now, what treatment you've had, any ongoing issues and how work impacts on these.
Be clear about what will and won't help you and which aspects of job are affecting your long term condition.

Good luck

Thanks everyone again for the comment. I had my chat with OH yesterday and it went surprisingly well and I was told I would see the report before it goes to the employer so I have an opportunity to ask for changes if needed.

It was actually really eye-opening to have that conversation.

The person I spoke too was quite surprised and rather dismayed that the employer did not discuss any adjustment or suggest a phased return when I came back and that they simply ignored the GP's recommendations and pressured me from day one of my return...

They said they would clearly remind the employer that what happened to me was an 'acute episode' and not simply a bit of low mood and that support should have been/be provided and that my condition is classed as a disability. They also seemed bit concerned that I am the only person in the organisation looking after quite a big area of work.

It has really made me look at all this with new eyes and reinforce my feelings that the organisation has been rather unreasonable.

My plan is still to look for a new job but at least I am hoping that the OH report will help in the meantime.