work have asked me to attend a formal meeting with a person from hr plus.my employer and line manager what should I expect from this meeting I'm taking a family member with me also for surport
Equality and Diversity Act 2010 is your new best friend. It says that anyone with a chronic illness should b supported to stay in their job, if that is their wish, by whatever means reasonable. In my case, my employer has made very effort to support me and continues to do so. The purpose of the meeting is a legal requirement by your employer. Make full use of it and say what you need and if you don't know, ask what they ar offering. If you aren't in a Union then join one now as they have a wealth of experience to ensure you stay in work and are supported. If your employer fails to do this then they will take it forward for you.
i realise from being on this site that I am the exception to the rule when it comes to decent employers. I'm not sure whether it's because of my legal background or whether they are just decent but I can't complain. I was even told at work about an Access to Work scheme as I am no longer able to get myself to work and with a supporting GP letter I now go by taxi and pay a minimal amount towards it.
please don't rely on what I am saying as up to date and to be relied on legally as I retired about ten years ago and my current job is part time but if I can be of any assistance please ask.
they sent me to ocupatinal health a few weeks back and r not willing to adjust my role as they don't see it resonable and also I'm not gulified todo out else other than be a lunch time organizer the meeting I had last wk they gave me only two options which included me standin for 1hr and a half they been told that's in possible as I also have a spine problem iv been on the phone alday getting advice as iv only just joined a union I'm not able to get there help until iv been with them for 4wks so instead I'm taking my dad who knows how to word things a lot better than me I get tongue tied and my speech is not very good when I'm under pressure
sara - just make sure that you or your dad document every single thing they and you say at the meeting. It's often the case that when the action points of such meetings are documented, they take on the 'interpretation' of those writing them, not necessarily the facts unfortunately. You are entitled to see those documented action points, or minutes, if they choose to call them that. If when you receive them you feel they do not accurately reflect what was actually said or agreed, raise a grievance. You do have protection under the various bits of employment legislation even without union back up - not all employers officially 'recognise' trade unions in the workplace so they dont always have any powers. Take along to the meeting any and all documents/letters etc., you have from doctors etc. It is illegal to discrimate against you if you have a disability, a diagnosed condition affecting physical abilities is just that, a disability. Your employer must make efforts to accommodate your physical inability to do certain tasks and if standing for long periods is impossible due to your disability, they need to provide alternatives, even something as simple as being able to sit down to do your job. Best advice at this type of meeting is to listen as carefully as possible and don't be stressed into agreeing to anything you dont feel is acceptable - ask for time to consider the options if you have to. good luck hon.
I have a feeling that you can ask for the meeting to be rescheduled to enable your union representative to attend the meeting. In fact I know you can. I did that too! Simply send an email apologising and saying you would like to reschedule the meeting.
as this is the second meeting I would take an educated guess that the meeting will not be to your advantage and would seriously suggest you have it rescheduled.
as for them deciding they cannot make any adjustments to your job role, well that could be so. If for example you were a long distance runner then the likes of me and you won't fair so well! If you are an office worker then your workload could be altered as in my case. See if you can identify alterations to your job role that you believe are reasonable and suggest them. If you are willing to be flexible then you are showing willing. See if there are any other posts available that you believe you could do instead of your current post and suggest it. It shows you are open to change. These are all milestones that you will be expected to have offered to be able to demonstrate your willingness to accommodate your employer.
if your dad is better at wording things for you, good for him. But please bare in mind that with years and years of legal experience I would not represent anyone if there is the option of having a union rep as their experience is gobsmackingly impressive. I sat and listened to mine and thought 'why the hell is she asking that, we all know the answer to that' a bit later she repeated what they had said and suddenly the obvious was written as a fact on a blank page of paper which then became reliant information, or evidence. Get your dad to rearrange your meeting. Get him to do it for you as your representative.
what do you do for a job, if you don't mind me asking?
Loxie, I agree with you that not all employers recognise Unions but under the 2010 Act you are entitled to have representation at meetings regardless of whether they are there as Union officials or not. The bit about the Union was to suggest to Sarapainfree that she uses their wealth of experience and information. The representative they sent to my meeting specialised in Employment law and what she didn't know wasn't worth knowing.
unless the law has changed in the ten years that I have been out of it I don't believe you can raise a grievance on the notes made by the employer at a meeting but anything they intend to rely on you have the right to see. It used to be that they would have to ask your permission to take notes. If you disagree with the notes then you do not have to accept them as written. You simply need to put in writing that they are not accepted as drawn. You can, if you want, write your own notes but the danger in that is lack of experience and while they hold the cards, Sarapainfree and her dad sound like they are just opening a new pack. Last thing she would need is an employer challenging her notes lol
they have previously change my role for a week here and there but there not willing to do so now even with all my evidence they eve have a copy of it all but doesn't make a difference I have fibro and also spinal restrictions I'm on crutches iv been on sick for 6 weeks now but they are looking at all the sick days over the last 12months
I'm a lunch time organizer in a primary school so that in tales me to stand in a hall or on playground duty I asked to sit at first aid post in side but they said I'd be a risk as if was a emergency I couldn't get a member of staff quick anuff I just feel stuck on what todo
Sarapainfree......that sounds like Bradford scoring? They do that at my place too. That's where they take all the days sick you have had over a 12 month period do some mathematical calculation and low and behold say you have breached and you have to ensure you will improve otherwise action will be taken! Fabulous, so your dr has signed you off as too ill to work and your employer is saying you have to ensure your better. Irony is wonderful sometimes. Equality and Divesity Act 2010 says that when a disability is recognised and substantiated all periods of illness associated with the disability will not be accountable. That means if you are off work because of your fibro they have to ignore it. If your off because you have a broken arm then they can.
I'm not giving in to them altho I feel iam unable todo what there asking of me and not giving me any other option what else can I surgested to them??iv already asked for a different post but I'm a risk they had me in tears with fustrating last week and turned rd and told me to go to my doctor and get another sick note they told me that and then there pulling me over sick days I can hardly walk most days my memory is affected I carnt stand for long and on crutches really don't know what they want me todo
What a fabulous job! You must have the patience of a saint.
ok, so you need to find reasonable adjustments to your job role and your employer cannot be seen to discriminate, so they can't say in a job description "able bodied people only" but if you are expected to run around and play games with the children then they have a point that you can no longer do the job that you were employed to do. It's hard but that's the truth if it.
im going to presume you are supervising rather than participating in running around at lunchtimes in which case you could suggest perhaps that you find alternatives. I for one cannot get cold. That's enemy number 1 and will knock me over within ten minutes and will take me days to get over it. If I were in your shoes I would be looking at finding ways to do what they are asking. So, they want you to be in the playground supervising. Do you have to be in one place or walking round? One place, ask for a chair. Moving around......just a thought but what about a mobility scooter? These are just ideas off the top of my head. My local mobility shop hires scooters at £20 a week. No idea if this would be financially viable for you but it is an alternative. As your employer isn't allowed to discriminate and they have already complained that you getting help would be too slow in an emergency, this could be one way round it. Would they like it? Nope but you have tried to accommodate their needs so you are showing willing. If they don't want a scooter in their playground they are discriminating and on dodgy ground.
my spinal problems are for life now and from what I read until someone figures it out so is fibro so I look for ways round things rather than looking at what I can't do.
they won't even let me in on crutches and occupational health and my doctor have said I need these I get swollen and pain full knees on a daily basis I get very fatigue very quickly as u know with fibro bit of house work and u r out for the rest of the day I just don't want to be the one to hand in my notice iv been there 7 years never had problems they must think I enjoy being ill
Sorry if I'm coming across as a know it all. Truth is I'm in pain and diplomacy doesn't come easy when your climbing the walls waiting for the next pill popping time lol
very true I'm currently on gapapentin 300mg I have 2of these 3times a day only tabs iv tryed so far that havent made me sick thankyou for your advice it's all appriciated
Pills popped!
didnt schools change to include disabled children some years ago? Are you telling me your school only accepts able bodied children? What about if a teacher needs crutches or a wheelchair.........aren't they allowed in school? This all sounds like discrimination to me but as I said earlier if there aren't any reasonable adjustments that can be identified either by you or them there is no wiggle room but I just can't see that.
i would still be looking to get that meeting postponed!
as for the advice, your more than welcome, I hope some of it proves useful but. Your biggest helper is the 2010 Act. I've spoken to w friend who is a primary school teacher who says that her school has lunchtime assistants who are deaf and use sign language and one who is in a wheelchair. H r school actively promotes integration in all its forms......her words not mine lol
they have put electric ramps in in certain places but they don't use them as at the moment there are no disbabled children I just carnt see how they can change my role and neither can they
Hi Sarah I total know how u feel I'm a classroom assistant in a small school. So I do a lot of duties like urself. The worse I find is doin the yard n goin down to do shoes etc...
My class teacher is great but sometimes I think other staff members could be more sensitive. I had to contact the education board about my experience with tryin to work through this horrible illness and I was very lucky that BELB were very much on my side as was the board of governors. But I always remember that the principal hasn't got the final say as she or he does not employ u.
Take care n Gd luck xxxx
Which is why you need to postpone the meeting and get that union official involved 😉
Do you have andy Official Health and Disability workers or offices set up 'Anywhere?' You must do surely.... Ring a National Office, as they can advise you where is the closest Office and they have experienced People working in the Mental Health, Tempory and permanently Disabled and Aged folk criteria's. They have Co-ordinators like these work in the Hospitals to..
I have currently found finally a person in an Office whom does exactly 'Advocacy work'. These folk KNOW officially how things are supposed to be done, what is expected from all quarters and what needs to transpire. Even when it comes to Medical Board Reviews, and Employer meetings on issues.
Please seek a proper advocate and possibly a union Rep... BUT it is a Health and Disability Advocate who know the Legislation etc. Not a family buddy, member, and possibly not even a Union Rep as it's not really their criteria.
Good Luck, and as minnie4 has said 'Equality and Diversity Act 2010 IS YOUR Best Friend, and also it's the Health and Disability Advocates who work within and help inforce this Legistation for their Client. Don't delay!
Hi I'm going through exactly the same thing as you this week in currently off work after having a big toe joint replacement I went into work Monday just to hand in my sick note I then had a meeting with my headmaster which like yourself was very much aimed at obviously my absences record over the last two years since being ill what he went on to say was he didn't think I was up to doing my job anymore and it was having a negative effect on my health I told him I was more than aware of my attendance 1. I had to take time off while trying a multitude of drugs that caused many side effects meaning I was unable to work 2. Last year I went down with shingles 3 times its school policy that you can not go into the work place with this so I had no choice but to be off in fact he had sent me home on one occasion I have already dropped down to a 4 day week but asked if I could reduce my hours more he said he didn't think that would make any difference when I am at work I can do my job as I always have I never moan or refuse to do anything I was absolutely gutted after this meeting especially emotionally I have always worried myself sick about having to take time off but I have no control over my body when I have a flare up. Luckily through the pain management clinic I'd already been referred to see an employment advisor what an eye opener I have many rights and actually my headmaster is totally out of line with the way he has handled this and There are a wealth of things to help us stay in work and I intend to use them I know I'm not able to do this job long term but I can't afford to give up without something else in place my advise to you is speak to your local employment advisor through the job centre they will support you and get the right organisations to help you stay in work it all comes down to the equality act most schools say they support this if yours dose then he will have to make reasonable adjustment to your job so you can continue working also look at access work they will also help good luck I know it's an emotional nightmare I felt totally drained couldn't eat or sleep yesterday I have worked at this school for 19 years feel absolutely stabbed in the back .