took my union rep with me to the meeting, got a stage two anyway. Problem is that they are in the process of updating the sickness/absence policy so things are a bit up in the air. Despite having seen occupational health and them telling management that i am having test and treatments for my current period of sickness and this should be taken into account prior to any sickness reiews being implemented i feel that it was ignored. am thinking about appealing against the stage 2 with regard to this but not really sure what to do!
Hi becket You should definitely appeal against the Stage 2, particularly if occupational health advice was supportive of your case. Regarding the policy being in a transition phase - that shouldn’t penalise you, but it sounds like it is. If you can’t see any published policy that reflects the action that has been taken against you then that should be solid grounds for an appeal. It may be worth asking your union rep if the case should be referred upwards by the union to give you help in preparing your appeal case. Best of luck.
Beket.
I am surprised that given you are off work sick, you are being called into meetings. If you are too sick for work I would expect to be too sick for an absence review. As long as you have been off work with incidents easily attributable to your MS, I cannot understand why you have progressed to stage 2 especially not during a period of sickness.
You mention awaiting tests…so I presume that these tests are directly related to MS ??
It is not your problem that the policies are up in the air, and I would definitely appeal the stage 2 decision, check your policy there are normallys trict timeframes that you have to appeal within, and to whom.
However you need to get hold of your absence procedure and thoroughly digest it.
I would also be thinking about what practical steps could be taken by your employer to help you reduce your absence level…ie what have they ACTUALLY done to help you?
The burden of proof lies on the employer to prove that they have been “reasonable” in making adjustments, and you have a diagnosed illness.
Hello xxx My advice would be to make sure you record absolutely everything - try & get it all in writing and save your e mails x
I’ve just been made compulsory redundant whilst still on phased return and there were comments made in meetings that it was very much due to me beng on sick leave. I’ve just found out that if it’s anything to do with disability then it must be recorded as ‘disability related sick leave’ and not be held against you or reported in references etc
I’m seriously hinking of going down the tribunal route so I’m glad I kept copies of all e mails etc
Good luck xxxxxjenxxx
Hello ,I’m wanting advice ,I asked my employer for special leave for two days due to supporting my daughter through my 3weeks old daughters small op .my employer said no I can’t have it ,I was willing to take unpayed leave which they refused ,in the meantime I had been visiting the doctors ,the doctor said I really need to take time off through depression ,I have just heard my relative is dying ,I’m at my wits end crying can’t eat ,if I do what the doc says Work will think I have gone o& on purpose ,the doctor said they can ring him ,I feel so stressed ,now ,when I asked for special leave my supervisor said horrible to me ,so u are going on holiday then ,I said no ,helping my daughter ,but I feel Work is not helping me ,
If your doc signs you off & you stick to ‘stress’ & at any meetings when you return, you stick to it, young are safe