Long term sick for a large corp, can my friend request to go back into a different job?

[OrangeKnickers]

Title says it all really.

My friend has been off long term sick for about four months, stress caused by our job has made her sick. Also complete lack of management, no management structure etc etc has exacerbated the situation.

She's now in the care of HR, and dealing with them and is having therapy, CBT and on ADs. She wants to come back to work but NOT to her job. She used to work in a completely different part of the firm and would like to return there.

Does anyone think it's possible and should she ask HR directly for this? She has a Initial assessment with an occupational health doctors coming up soon. Also another friend has recommended hiring an employment lawyer - but I think that's too aggressive.

Any advice gratefully received. She's not a mum but I am!

A friend of mine was off for almost a year long term sick, with depression and anxiety. It was not firectly linked to her job.
She had many meetings with HR and she didnt think she could go back into her old job as she wouldnt cope.
They devised a completely new role for her so she was able to return to work.

HTH

Absolutely possible. Stress and related issues are very much health and safety issues - the company has to consider redeploying her in a different role if it's acknowledged that the previous role was responsible for her deterioration in health. They have to consider, if another role isn't available that's a different matter i think.

ooo thank you that is intresting. I have had a look for her and there are a few roles available in the department that she wants to go back to.

Does anyone have advice about if she should mention this to HR now / the occupational health doctor?

I think both. OC work on behalf of the company so they reinforce and advice about health and stress if it means that they're saving the company a lawsuit in the longrun! Hr would probably recommend OC are involved anyway.

She can certainly request it yes. I can't see any reason she needs a lawyer; you don't mention any sense of them not handling the absence fairly, and there doesn't seem to be any notion of attempting to dismiss her or anything?

The OH appointment will be to talk about the prospect of her coming back to work, to work out when this is likely to be possible and to find out whether there are any adjustments that can be made that will help her go back. Obviously if redeployment is a possibility and will mean she goes back sooner, then that's a plus for everyone, so talking about it with the OH doctor would be a good idea, then he/she might formally recommend it.