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Author Topic: Occupational Health Departments  (Read 1026 times)

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Offline Miss Demeanour

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Occupational Health Departments
« on: February 04, 2015, 08:33:05 PM »
Has anybody had any experience of these being useful ?
I have had to refer someone in my team to our OH dept.

She is currently on 36 days sick in the last year and facing a final hearing for her sickness absence which could result in dismissal. She has just been diagnosed with diabetes so that is not going to improve any time soon. She does not look after herself , is showing signs of stress and is not performing well in her job.

I received the report today.
Main conclusion was that I had to sit down with her and discuss how she can balance working full time with her home life.

Wtf evil:
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Offline Nick

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Re: Occupational Health Departments
« Reply #1 on: February 04, 2015, 08:36:23 PM »
They are all called Jilly and have concerned eyebrows.
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Offline Barman

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Re: Occupational Health Departments
« Reply #2 on: February 04, 2015, 08:37:02 PM »
Quote from: Miss Demeanour on February 04, 2015, 08:33:05 PM
Has anybody had any experience of these being useful ?
I have had to refer someone in my team to our OH dept.

She is currently on 36 days sick in the last year and facing a final hearing for her sickness absence which could result in dismissal. She has just been diagnosed with diabetes so that is not going to improve any time soon. She does not look after herself , is showing signs of stress and is not performing well in her job.

I received the report today.
Main conclusion was that I had to sit down with her and discuss how she can balance working full time with her home life.

Wtf evil:

facepalm:
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Offline apc2010

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Re: Occupational Health Departments
« Reply #3 on: February 04, 2015, 08:42:14 PM »
well that's the first sacking made easier... Thumbs:
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Offline Steve

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Re: Occupational Health Departments
« Reply #4 on: February 04, 2015, 08:49:12 PM »
My experience of OHD's was they were always suggesting I put my best staff on final warnings because they kept trying to come back to work when sick so triggered their stupid 3 times sick in a year test even if each occurrence was just 1/2 a day.  Utter fuckwittery and I told them so to their faces when ignoring their advice.   

In this case though what can you do other than give a final warning and if no improvement get rid?  Seems you already have to manage good staff into redundancy so with such slimming down you can't carry someone who isn't doing enough to help themselves to help your department.

That's my 2 cents worth anyway
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Offline Grumpmeister

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Re: Occupational Health Departments
« Reply #5 on: February 05, 2015, 04:39:48 AM »
Back when I was a student nurse I'd been saddled with being the RCN student rep so spend a decent amount of time liaising with the hospital OH department and realised pretty soon that they were essential to running the place efficiently, there were involved in everything from staff inoculations (they were the only people I've come across who were able to give an injection that not only didn't hurt, but if I hadn't looked across at the lass and seen her pulling the needle out of my arm I wouldn't have even known it had been done in the first place), arranging for specialist equipment for staff with medical needs through to being involved in research into factors that were affecting the efficiency and competency of hospital staff (given that they place seemed to be in the news a couple of times a month for cock ups back then and they were just the ones that were picked up on it was a big deal a the time).



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Offline Miss Demeanour

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Re: Occupational Health Departments
« Reply #6 on: February 05, 2015, 07:55:57 AM »
Quote from: Steve on February 04, 2015, 08:49:12 PM
My experience of OHD's was they were always suggesting I put my best staff on final warnings because they kept trying to come back to work when sick so triggered their stupid 3 times sick in a year test even if each occurrence was just 1/2 a day.  Utter fuckwittery and I told them so to their faces when ignoring their advice.   

In this case though what can you do other than give a final warning and if no improvement get rid?  Seems you already have to manage good staff into redundancy so with such slimming down you can't carry someone who isn't doing enough to help themselves to help your department.

That's my 2 cents worth anyway

Indeed Steve but because she now has diabetes this qualifies as a disability under the Equality Act and she has to have 'reasonable adjustments' made for her condition. This means they will be very scared about dismissing her. She has also gone to the union because this situation is causing her additional stress.
They rocked up yesterday wanting to know why such a hard line approach was being taken for someone obviously going through some stuff !!!
Until it was pointed out that this person had been continually going through health and home issues for the last 7 or 8 years. That her sick record had been abysmal for longer than that and that she has had every possible support given but it has made no difference.
Bet they are too scared to dismiss her though or offer her a pay off to go !
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Offline Grumpmeister

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Re: Occupational Health Departments
« Reply #7 on: February 05, 2015, 09:12:46 AM »
Ok with regards to the Diabetes as far as reasonable adjustments are concerned I'm assuming that she can still walk normally so disabled access, other than what is already in place, isn't going to be an issue. Most of it is going to be simple changes such as allowing flexitime for treatment and check ups, home working or additional smaller (say 5 minute) breaks to allow her to regulate her sugar level. There isn't any specialist equipment that needs to be brought in except possibly having a supply of glucose tablets as if she is Type 2 then she will have her own medication or constant insulin pump.

The big question is, if the diabetes and stress weren't a factor can she perform adequately. If the answer is no, then an alternative to dismissal could be to move her into a position/department where she would be 'better placed' I've known employers use a similar approach with staff who have returned to work after being signed off with stress in the past saying that the new position would place them under far less pressure. This also means that if she still can't perform even with the allowances in place then the union will have less room to maneuver if/when the time comes to let her go.
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Offline Steve

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Re: Occupational Health Departments
« Reply #8 on: February 05, 2015, 10:40:25 AM »
A tough one.  Diabetes is a disability, sadly it affects good workers as well as useless ones.   Can't blame the union though, it's their job to explore every option for the employee.

Best of luck with it Miss D
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Offline boogs

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Re: Occupational Health Departments
« Reply #9 on: February 05, 2015, 04:29:47 PM »
OH waste of a great deal of money  evil:

And I am diabetic I just get on with it and control it myself no big deal angry041:

If she was that bad she would be in hospital or at least signed off .  noooo:

Stressed my arse  angry041: She is taking the PISS she should get her finger out and get on with it.

Why do these companies fear these people .... Offer her a less "stressful" job or pay her off if necessary she obviously does not want a job  angry041: cut their losses cheaper in the long run, and give the job to someone who does want it.

They all piss about and costs more.

People like that make my blood boil but they only do it cause they are allowed to  angry041: 

Fucking do gooders are to blame for this lot it started for the right reasons but because of people like her it has gone toooo far.. angry041:

Rant over better do some work  redface: angel1
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Offline Steve

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Re: Occupational Health Departments
« Reply #10 on: February 05, 2015, 04:48:25 PM »
A top rant though young Boogs  :thumbsup:
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Offline apc2010

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Re: Occupational Health Departments
« Reply #11 on: February 05, 2015, 05:05:57 PM »
Quote from: boogs on February 05, 2015, 04:29:47 PM
OH waste of a great deal of money  evil:

And I am diabetic I just get on with it and control it myself no big deal angry041:

If she was that bad she would be in hospital or at least signed off .  noooo:

Stressed my arse  angry041: She is taking the PISS she should get her finger out and get on with it.

Why do these companies fear these people .... Offer her a less "stressful" job or pay her off if necessary she obviously does not want a job  angry041: cut their losses cheaper in the long run, and give the job to someone who does want it.

They all piss about and costs more.

People like that make my blood boil but they only do it cause they are allowed to  angry041: 

Fucking do gooders are to blame for this lot it started for the right reasons but because of people like her it has gone toooo far.. angry041:

Rant over better do some work  redface: angel1

 Thumbs: Thumbs:
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Offline Darwins Selection

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Re: Occupational Health Departments
« Reply #12 on: February 05, 2015, 05:26:24 PM »
Quote from: boogs on February 05, 2015, 04:29:47 PM
OH waste of a great deal of money  evil:

And I am diabetic I just get on with it and control it myself no big deal angry041:

If she was that bad she would be in hospital or at least signed off .  noooo:

Stressed my arse  angry041: She is taking the PISS she should get her finger out and get on with it.

Why do these companies fear these people .... Offer her a less "stressful" job or pay her off if necessary she obviously does not want a job  angry041: cut their losses cheaper in the long run, and give the job to someone who does want it.

They all piss about and costs more.

People like that make my blood boil but they only do it cause they are allowed to  angry041: 

Fucking do gooders are to blame for this lot it started for the right reasons but because of people like her it has gone toooo far.. angry041:

Rant over better do some work  redface: angel1
happ096

About time we heard from a moderate perspective. :thumbsup:.
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