Occupational Health advice please?

[demolitionduo]

Hi

I don't post much, but lurk a lot, especially at present.

In short, I had a nasty accident in September & badly fractured my kneecap. I had surgery to repair it, was in plaster for 6 weeks and am now rehabilitating.....it is a long slow process.

My employers (large well knowm bank)are putting immense pressure on me to return to work. All well & good but I'm still on crutches & will be for several weeks, & have limited bend in my knee so sitting is very awkward unless I'm on a bed (not ideal for work!).

I have a certificate to cover me to 7/12 but work are expecting me back then and are already rather shirty over my extended absence.

I have spoken to my GP & he says Occupational Health should assess my ability to return to work, so I sent an email to my boss asking for an assessment & this was his reply:

We do not have occupational health on site in and I do not have any contact numbers for them.
How do you want to proceed bearing in mind the rest of the 2nd floor is now empty since the other sections moved out?

He seems to think that because there is plenty of space I'll be fine! I don't want to ballroom dance; I just to feel comfortable & safe at work!

The loos are up 13 stairs...can't do stairs very well (live in a bungalow!)...I need to know I'd be catered for in the event of an evacuation, find it difficult to sit on a chair & one with wheels is likely to roll away from under me!! etc...

Does anyone know how I stand on insisting I be assessed & any necessary allowances/adjustments made?

I feel so ropey & fed up anyway that this added pressure is the icing on the cake.

Thank you.

i would reply stating that you need the numbers and would be grateful if he could suggest how you would get hold of them. Also telling him that using the loo would be impossible

and asking who the nominated person with training for use in an evacuchair is. then ask if you have an evacuchair and if not, if he could supply you with the relevant number for the heath and safety at work person for the bank.

Dear me your employer sounds horrid!

I would dig and find your occy health department.Sounds very unfair to me that your employer is putting so much pressure on you.Can you get your gp to sign you off for a longer period if you cannot realistically do your job??

I work in public sector and have to say that reading things like this makes me really glad.Though I do not earn loads my employer and occy health were excellent when my dp became really sick and granted me 6 months sick leave to deal with disabled dd and ds whilst dp was sick,then countenanced a year unpaid and kept job open.I guess it is the payoff between earning loads and having good terms and conditions of employment.Hopefully someone in a hr/oh capacity will be able to answer your query more fully but good luck.

Your manager is being very rubbish. I would suggest you ring HR and find out the occ health arrangements and telephone numbers, including details of what your boss needs to do to get you referred and present that information to your boss. Say that as your GP has said you need an assessment by occ health to enable you to come back to work, without that it seems likely he will sign you off for a further period once your existing certificate has expired.