Occupational health companies - how confidential are they

Hibby65 said:

After a period of sciatica month off, company are arranging a private company to review my work station and work practices, and a confidential chat on my health. They assure me that anything said to this company is confidential and they will not divulge anything to my company. However this company will then make a report to my company with their thoughts and recommendations.

Have been told l will probably been asked by them to give them permission to contact my go for access to my medical records

Anyone any experience with such a situation. How independent/ confidential are they. Worried it’s a subtle set up to get an independent company to gain access to my health records and then say with my diabetes lm not fit for purpose.

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I haven't been through this myself, but I did help someone with an Absence Policy problem over a preiod, about a year ago.

To be honest, I would have thought that you would, at some point, sign a consent to the process. That should state what will or won't be shared (although not in any detail).

For the person I was helping, her consent included the ability to request sight of the resultant report before it was shared with her employer. Naturally, she took the opportunity to see the outputs.

Just take it all steady.

If you are in direct contact with them, then ask them to provide, probably easiest by email, a copy of the documentation you will be expected to sign, so that you can read it slowly and raise any questions you have, ahead of your appointment with them.

Let's face it, just prior to that meeting you may be a bit distracted by what's coming up, without the hassle of digesting a consent form that may include legalese language.

Good luck with it all.

Biggles2 said:

I have not been through this process either, so I just have general tips on how I would approach this.

It may be helpful to take a look at the website of the organization your company has hired to conduct your review. I would expect that they have information for employees and employers on their website. Take a look at both so that you have a better idea of what to expect. It may help to put your mind at ease.

You may also be interested in the following 2011 government report. It is lengthy, but easy to navigate. It explains the rationale for undertaking an independent review of sickness absence, and describes the benefits of such a review for the employee, the employer, and broader society:
“Health at work: An independent review of sickness absence” (2011), Dame Carol Black and David Frost, CBE:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/181060/health-at-work.pdf

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Thanks Biggles. I've saved that report for perusal at another time.