Referral to Occupational Health

[Greatheart]

I recently moved jobs, last job was off sick for total 21 days in 2 years due to issues with the heating system. Blood sugar levels on avg between 14 to 28, went through a long sickness review process where they constantly denied there was anything wrong with the heating system, I would be off sick improve away from the office and then get sick again when I had to endure the heating system again...water..all the previous paper work about it being a health and safety issue disappeared and Occ Health were no help supporting me, I was told to my face, that they are employed by the employer and have to tow the line.

Since moving jobs been off sick once in 6 months for two days, non diabetes related, am following lighter life diet, my blood sugar levels are between 2-6%.

I have also recently been diagnosed with mild dyslexia. My management first claimed that I was dishonest in applying in March 2011 because I did not mention my dyslexia even though it had not been diagnosed yet. I suppose I suspected I had it as I do mix up my letters, write slowly and misread things, but then am careful to read carefully use a ruler or finger read and mostly use a computer for work anyway so never really let myself think there was anything different about me, I just go about my job normally. I was diagnosed with dyslexia in October 2011, am 40 now.

Just had my 6 month probation meeting and the manager tried to imply that there was an issue with my health that I looked tired at the end of the day and that it was caused by my diabetes.

Well to be honest at 16h30 in the afternoon on a 600 calorie diet, after several boring meetings, yes I ampretty tired, but don't see what this has to do with my diabetes.

Despite telling him about my diet (which he knows about) and it not being diabetes related, they have gone ahead with the referral.

This seems almost to discriminate against me on the basis of my disabilities as an excuse to refer me to Occ health. They are claiming it's so that they can make reasonable adjustments to my "health issues" now reworded to issues with my diabetes and dyslexia.

I smell a rat this looks like a fishing expedition and not clear what my manager is trying to achieve.

Are they allowed to refer me to Occ Health like this?

 

[viviennem]

Yes, they can do. In a lot of cases it's not to get at you, but to cover themselves in case anything happens to you while you're at work.

The result of an Occupational Health assessment is supposed to tell them what alterations/allowances they need to make in your working environment to enable you to do your job as well as possible.

In my last job I was referred because the job involved a lot of outdoor work and walking over moorland etc. At the time it was becoming obvious that I had some mobility problems, though I had not yet been diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis. I could still walk (say) 5 miles, but I had to do it at my own pace so I wasn't as fast as a younger, fitter person would have been.

I was convinced they were doing it to get rid of me, but in fact they wanted assurances that I wasn't (eg) going to have a heart attack while out alone! I had all the appropriate H&S equipment, and I was allowed to set my own work programme and timetable. A colleague who covered the adjacent area would cover some of the things I couldn't do (a 20 mile walk over part of a national footpath, for instance) while I would do a few of her smaller jobs to make up for her time.

You can make an Occupational Health Assessment work for you. They are independent, even though your employer pays for it, and the aim is to keep you in work. I would advise you to be completely honest during the assessment, just as you have been in your post above.

Your diabetes is under control. There's a valid reason for you 600-cal diet, I assume? Your dyslexia has only recently been diagnosed - are you having help wih that? You could ask, at the assessment, if there is any help/training available that might help you in the work place? though it seems you are already holding down your job okay. Maybe ask your GP or whoever for a letter giving confirmation of your date of diagnosis, if you don't have something similar already.

One tip - I always get our practice nurse, who doesn't freak me out at all, to take my blood pressure before I go in for anything like this. They'll take yours at the assessment, and it helps if you can blame it on 'white coat syndrome' and give them an indication of what's 'normal' for you! :lol:

Try not to worry about it - and good luck!

Viv 8)

 

[CraigyB]

I've been on both sides of this to some extent, as I manage a team of people, one of whom is diabetic. I referred him to occ health because I felt that I could not make the right decisions in order to fulfill my duty of care to him as an employee, and I did not understand the condition. Since then have been diagnosed myself, so can see how it's not so easy for people who don't have the condition to relate to it, and the effect it can have. My advice would be to be as opoen as you can with your boss, that way you'll put them at ease

 

[Jenfy]

HI, i was sent for an OH consultation recently. My boss assured it was f my benefit but by then I was managing my diabetes well with the help of my GP and the DN. I assured my boss I would be much healthier now this was happening and would not need any special measures. He kept banging on about my driving and refused to believe that as a Type 2 I did not have to report this, get spcial insurance and was very unlikely to get a Hypo. In the end I agreed to the OH referral just to shut him up but insisted the doctor I saw knew and understood about diabetes as otherwise it would be a waste of time.
It turned out to be a very positive experience and the report I got from it was very positive too. My boss believed a doctor when h wouldn't believe me. He then also admitted that it had been to protect the organisation I worked for against any liabilities. My boss still does not understand the condition himself and makes no effort to even though I have suggested lots of reading up he could do and I don't think he will ever bother as as long as I am fit to do my job ad he has followed procedures that's all he cares about. However, the bottom line is that does not matter. What matters is the OH referral validated me and will prevent any discrimination on his part or the Company as it is all on record. I do think insisting on having a doctor who understood the condition I have was vital though t this positive outcome. Be firm and tell them how it is for you and you should be ok. Good luck, I know how it feels before you go but hopefully your outcome will be just as positive as mine has been.