Advice please.
I fractured my shoulder a number of weeks ago and although I’m not fit enough yet to drive a 44t, and do associated tasks I wish to return to work on light duties for a couple of weeks.
So, Occupational Health discuss options with me and agree to pursue this with HR.
HR contact me and say nothing is available. I find this very hard to believe, it is a big company, which I’ll not name, with a 24/7 operation.
Now, I was under the impression that a company was legally obliged to offer a phased return to work, and in this case promoted by their own OH people. Am I wrong?
I’ve worked for this company for 6-7 years. My injury happened whilst at work. I’ve always considered this a relatively decent company.
Any help or information gratefully received.
Cheers
Think there saving you from
Yourself
I believe there’s a fit for work website with loads of advice/facts.
The sun is out, enjoy the time off and await the compo Pay
Take as long as possible off
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My understanding is that they are legally obliged to consider it. They have considered it and decided no.
This could be for many reasons.
- Covering their a***. In case you damage your shoulder more whilst on light duties.
- They have enough people to do the work that comes under light duties.
- They genuinely dont think there is anything suitable for you. Just because you do, does not mean they have the same opinion of your abilities.
BTW, I dont mean the last bit rudely, just pointing out a potential reason why.
It may be the same there as here, down to company policy. Most companies here don’t do light duty, only want you back at 100% after you’ve done a physical and have a note from Doctor certifying your fit to return to normal duties.
WHY would you want to go back if your not 100 % able to do your normal job, if the Company reckons they don`t have any light work for you as long as they are paying you whilst your off, recuperate fully.Get another sick note from your Doctor until your fully fit to do your work normally.As you say your injury happened whilst working,presumably your putting a claim in for it any claim should include compensation for any loss of earning.
My guess is your bored stiff and itching to break the monotony of being at home and so kidding yourself you could do light work.
lolipop:
WHY would you want to go back if your not 100 % able to do your normal job, if the Company reckons they don`t have any light work for you as long as they are paying you whilst your off, recuperate fully.Get another sick note from your Doctor until your fully fit to do your work normally.As you say your injury happened whilst working,presumably your putting a claim in for it any claim should include compensation for any loss of earning.
My guess is your bored stiff and itching to break the monotony of being at home and so kidding yourself you could do light work.
The ‘boss’ at home may be making him work harder than if he was at work. 
albion:
My understanding is that they are legally obliged to consider it. They have considered it and decided no.This could be for many reasons.
- Covering their a***. In case you damage your shoulder more whilst on light duties.
- They have enough people to do the work that comes under light duties.
- They genuinely dont think there is anything suitable for you. Just because you do, does not mean they have the same opinion of your abilities.
Definitely number one i think, companies are all about covering their rear. They would probably want a Doctors note OK’ing it but i don’t know if a Doctor would do that as he doesn’t know what you’ll be doing for light duty and as you say may aggravate or prolong the healing process.
The larger companies are probably the worst for not having people back.
We would do light duties, but that was easy for us, you just escorted in a van on shortish days with instructions to carry nothing heavier than a delivery note.
In this case it could be people before you have screwed it over. Come back to work with no intentions of staying, aggrivate (or claim to) injury and get another chunk of time off especially if they getting paid non SSP.
There are plenty of loopholes to allow HR to say no, if they can show they have “considered it”.
The problem with most driving jobs is that there is no such thing as light duties, not unless your company will let you take a passenger just to open and close your curtains and shift your load. You would think if you were injured whilst working they would try and find you something to do such as working in the office and maybe ease you back in that way
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Think there worried about your welfare .
You come back light duties then pull a.muscle make things worse thus needing even more time off
Or maybe there worried your hurt yourself and put In a claim
CookieMonster:
The problem with most driving jobs is that there is no such thing as light duties…
Was thinking about my job which is just curtainsider trunking these days - one of the easier jobs phsyically. Only light duties are driving and taking in the notes.
Curtains, curtain clips, throwing straps, ratchets and especially airlines all hurt when you’ve got an injury. My wrist can testify and its only sprained.
Depending what you do, but suspect you’ll need physio after the shoulder is healed before you can do the job, esp if you do straps.
Our current crop of (mis)managers would gladly take people back in on light duties and make them sit in a corner on a chair facing the wall each day as they’d think that you weren’t “.getting away with it” sat at home on full pay!
Presumably there is going to be an injury claim going in, and we presume they are paying you normally whilst off work, or has your sick pay (if applicable) now time expired and money is getting tight? , prompting you to want to return and earn some normal pay again?
Do you have a solicitor, union provided or privately sought, advising you, if not it is in your interests to get some good advice here how to play this.
My tuppence is, be prepared for a derisory offer to arrive if they realise funds are getting low, a fraction of what should be due for an industrial injury, i’ve seen this game played out with a good friend, be in no hurry to accept any final offer because you do not know the long term effects of your injury yet.