Are you off work on the sick?
Have you had a letter or phone call from your manager asking you when you are going to return, or to attend an interview about your absence?
Do you feel harassed, under pressure, or bullied by your manager about returning to work?
There are National Agreements that specify how your manager should deal with:
- Rehabilitation after a period of absence,
- Returning to work on modified duties,
- Medical Retirement or Medical Severance if you cannot return to work,
- Issuing warnings under the Attendance Procedure.
Royal Mail is obliged to follow the procedures laid down in these agreements. But the only sure-fire way to make sure your manager sticks to these procedures is to make sure that you get CWU representation.
Recently, managers locally have been implementing their own peculiar procedures, which may or may not be in line with the existing National Agreements. That is why the CWU is advising members to get in touch with their local representative immediately after receiving any communication from Royal Mail regarding an absence. This particularly applies if you are contacted regarding one of the following:
- Any interview with a manager, whether your line manager or the Delivery Office Manager (DOM), or the Delivery Sector Manager (DSM) regarding your absence, or a proposed return to work. (Whether at your own office, at another office, or even at your own home, you are entitled to CWU representation at these interviews.)
- An appointment or invitation to go to see the Employee Health Service (EHS) doctor or nurse. (The EHS service has now been sold off to a private firm, but it is Royal Mail that employs the EHS. As such, its purpose is to provide a service to Royal Mail. It is not independent. You can take a CWU Representative along to that as well)
- A proposed Rehabilitation Programme / Duty, aiming to allow your return to work on temporarily modified duties.
- Proposals to arrange for either Medical Retirement, or Medical Severance, of employment. (Particularly where an employee is unable to return to work, at least for the foreseeable future, Royal Mail might pursue retirement or dismissal on medical grounds.)
- Proposals offering transfer to another duty in a different office.
All too often, people feel that they are being put under pressure to return to work before they are fully fit. This can lead to anxiety and stress. When people do return to work too soon, they can aggravate their condition or find that they cannot perform their duties, and so have to go sick again. This causes additional problems under the Attendance Procedure.
However, if you need or wish to return to work on Rehabilitation, or temporarily adjusted duties, then you should be able to do so. The CWU recommends that any Rehabilitation arrangements are formally drawn up in writing and agreed with Royal Mail. Then there can be no confusion later over what exactly has been agreed. Again, you are advised to seek representation from the CWU before agreeing to any Rehabilitation arrangements.
In addition, there are laws covering how employers should deal with people who suffer from conditions that may be classed as disabilities under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Many people are not aware that the condition that they suffer from is classed as a disability. However, this law might well give some added protection for a person who is on a long-term sick absence due to a disability.
Also, under the nationally agreed Attendance Procedure, any absence resulting from an accident at work should not be counted towards the issuing of any Stage One, Two or Three warnings. If your absence is the result of an accident on duty, then you should record it in the Accident Book as soon as possible. Then you should also contact the Department of Work and Pensions to get your accident recorded as an Industrial Injury (DWP Industrial Injuries: 0845 758 5433). This will help in any future Stage Warning interviews under the Attendance Procedure, as absences due to accidents on duty should normally be discounted from the procedure.
For all the above reasons, the CWU strongly advises you to arrange representation at any interviews relating to your sick absence or return to work.
Had an accident whilst at work?
If you have an accident whilst at work, if necessary make sure you receive first aid from a trained First Aid volunteer (if you are working indoors). If you are outdoors and your injuries are such that you cannot continue with your work you should call your Line Manager as soon as possible.
If you are in a fit state to do so and your accident was caused by a visible unsafe condition, take photo’s using your mobile phone, they may be of use later. If there are any witnesses to your accident gather their details as they may be of use at a later date.
As soon as possible within the next 24 hours report your accident to your manager and ensure it is recorded using the electronic accident reporting system. Insist that this is done at the earliest possible time. Do not be fobbed off with ‘come back later’ or ‘I’m busy right now’, ask for a specific time and get it recorded! Failing to do so may come back to haunt you in weeks, months and years to come.
It is always a wise precaution to have your accident registered with the DWP as an Industrial Accident.
This is to ensure you can access your statutory rights in the event of your injuries being more serious than you first anticipated. To do this ring 01977 464111 and ask for Form BI 95. Follow the instructions to complete this form when it arrives and return it to the address provided.
If you believe you accident was caused by someone else’s negligence then you may want to consider exploring the possibility of a claim through your trade union’s legal department. To do this either contact the Branch on the number on the home page or using the internet type into your search engine http://www.cwuaccidenthelpline.com/
This will enable you to complete a form online thus speeding up the process considerably.
If you feel that you need any more advice then speak to your line manager and/or your trade union safety rep.
Attention all members - EHS appointments!
It would appear that the employer's Occupational Health Services (EHS) contractor have changed their tactics on appointments, Members are not able to request either a telephone or face to face appointment
Now you will initially be telephoned to set up an appointment with yourself for a follow up call to discuss your problems over the phone, it will then be decided whether you warrant a face to face appointment, so once again another service to our members has been down graded.
This is just another cost cutting exercise
Do you have difficulty talking, explaining your situation over the telephone?
This is such an impersonal procedure, if you have any problems with this service please contact the Branch
