Going to be serious for a change on trucknet :-~)
Knee operation booked for 3rd May this year. (high tibial osteotomy.) Due to severe arthritis.
Advised company in Jan this year, that it will be 3 months off work.
Worked for company for 5 and a half years.
Company (after my permission ) have got their HR team to write to surgeon asking if i will be fit for work after op.
Job involves class 1 driving and light manual handling.
I do not get sick pay, and no company insurance.
Have not asked for anything, I will get bye on government statutory sick pay for 3 months.
I really want to get fit and back to work, but:
I’m 36 now but 8 years ago playing sunday league football i smashed my right knee cap into 5 pieces . Luckily i live near Harrogate which has one of the countries best knee specialists and he was able to piece it back together (tension band wiring very painful). In all i was off work for 13 weeks on ssp and i couldn’t get back quick enough to earn some decent money, looking back i probably was too eager to get earning again should really of had a bit more physio, i’ve been told i will need a replacement knee cap in later life due to arthritis . I drive class 1 still, doing between 5 and 15 drops a day self tip so i’m in and out and up and down like a yo yo all day pushing and pulling a pallet truck usually no bother at all but during the cold wet months it gives me some grief. Anyhow i see no reason they should make you redundant aslong as you make a decent recovery and the surgeon/doctors are happy and you feel confident to carry on. Hope all goes well for you bud keep us posted
They might just be covering their Arse’s. With all the Litigation these days their solicitors & HR are probably putting plan ‘B’ into operation, where they offer you light Duties for a while.
If they were to keep you doing your normal work & it affected your knee, you could Sue them for all sorts of stuff.
Go in the office of the boss. Not the Transport manager, or any other employee that thinks he’s the main man, The Managing director.
Explain the situation, and ask him straight out. Tell him you like working there, He runs a decent company in difficult times, and you’d like to get back to work asap. You just need to know where you stand.
You’d be suprised what they’re like. Hardly any businessmen have been born into money, They’ve worked for what they have, and they know a good grafter is hard to find.
As above without a doubt, also m4rky is right, if made redundant job no longer exists.
Are they looking for cutbacks in general and trying to use your op as an excuse ?
Best of luck with both knee and job
Jim
fredthered:
Take some proper legal advice. Sickness these days takes on a disciplinary tone and if they can they will use it to their advantage.
They take the position that with any sort of dodgy back, legs or anything else, any work they ask you to do could lead to a claim against them.
I’m no expert but I have known (do know) people who have been shown the door because of a medical problems and such.
I’m afraid there is no such thing as loyalty for most businesses these days it is purely bottom line cost and profit.
TAKE SOME PROPER LEGAL ADVICE!! YOU KNOW IT MAKES SENSE.
You really should get proper advice. Opinions don’t pay for anything. No offence to any other posters but you really are exposed to unscrupulous employers theses days.
. Luckily i live near Harrogate which has one of the countries best knee specialists and he was able to piece it back together (tension band wiring very painful). In all i was off work for 13 weeks on ssp and i couldn’t get back quick enough to earn some decent money, looking back i probably was too eager to get earning again should really of had a bit more physio, i’ve been told i will need a replacement knee cap in later life due to arthritis 
. I drive class 1 still, doing between 5 and 15 drops a day self tip so i’m in and out and up and down like a yo yo all day pushing and pulling a pallet truck usually no bother at all but during the cold wet months it gives me some grief. Anyhow i see no reason they should make you redundant aslong as you make a decent recovery and the surgeon/doctors are happy and you feel confident to carry on. Hope all goes well for you bud keep us posted
