Attendance review at work

[nicnic]

Sorry if this is a bit long, I just need some advice and nowhere else has proved fruitful.

I've been suffering for about 2 years with depression and anxiety. I'm taking medication and had a short course of cbt (which wasn't fantastic and badly run) I'm also awaiting Psychotherapy.

Although I'm not 'on the sick' from work, I do take days off due to feeling very stressed and anxious about my job and other things. There are days where I just can't get out of bed or end up throwing up etc through feeling anxious.

Yesterday I got a review meeting about my illness, which was meant to be 'supportive'. I found it anything but. I explained what problems I had and why I hadn't been at work. They inferred that there wasn't actually anything wrong with me, didn't give me any help at all, suggested I got a different job. I did get offered a referral to Occupational Health but they said 'I doubt if they'll do anything for just this'.

I feel so let down and wonder how ill you have to be before they're supportive. Anyone got any experiences of this? i feel like just getting a sicknote from the doctor and not coming back.

[Margo]

Okay you need to speak to personel!

If you have an occ health dept then im assuming you have a decent personnel department and there will be strict protocol that this kinda interview must follow.

Speak to personnel and tell them what was said to you.

There is no way on this earth that they should hint that occ health cant do anything for you and refuse to refer you to them. The only people that can make that decision are occ health!

Your Managers have a duty to review your progress and the possible effects it has on thier business. They also have a duty to ensure that they are seen to be doing wht they can to try and provide you with help before they look at re-distributing you or going down the redundancy line!

Your managers can make a case regarding your effectiveness and impact on the business but they are not qualified to make a case as to whts best for your health!

If you have a union then join them. Get a rep along with you.

Im sorry this has happened to you. ou could actually put a case against them stating that this has caused you even more stress and anxiety.

Good Luck

Matthew

[Rubylou84]

(((hugs))) I have been through exactly the same thing. I thought i was doing well by not taking a sick note but as my random days off mounted i had to go through this sickness review thing and i found it more stressful. In the end i did my normal running away thing. I work in a deparment store of sorts and i was working for them but i changed to a different company in the store. So i still work there but my managment and pay etc come from somewhere else. My new managment are very supportive but i still find the store management very unsupportive. If i was still working for the store i would join the union in a flash they are experianced in this kinda thing and can get you the support you need from work. Sorry not much advice but i know how you feel. Just dont get stressed by them X You could tell them that their attitude is contributing to your condition and try and get someone else to hold your reviw meetings in the future.

[Stellata]

If it's on your medical records, which it will be, you should have nothing to worry about.
Occupational Health do tend to be pretty good, despite some weirdnesses, they're generally on your side.