Many thanks honeybee13-I will ask my employer for a copy of the policy. I have no further infromation at all -other than UNUM-don't know type of policy or anything. I am considering accepting the offer of redundancy from employer-listing money owed to me -overtime, holidays 2009, holidays 2010, notice pay (3months) etc. I will ask for copy/details on UNUM policy.

Thank you very much for this advice -I really appreciate the advice from you. There is a broker involved -when I contacted the broker - he sent me rather a 'blunt' reply -saying he could not deal with me at all as it is an employer sponsored insurance. We have never been issued with any policy details whatever on the scheme -and as for the MD -he has no idea of what he is doing anyway. The company is UNUM. I have a definite diagnosis of work related stress -this has been on every sick note I have received from my GP-the doctor has included on my notes details of the work issue and that he does not see my health improving until the work issue is resolved. Also noted the lack of contact from my employer -since May 10th -when I made contact to my employer -there was no reply until 30th June -when MD stated he wanted a reply asap. I do therefore have written confirmation from my GP-of work related stress. I also went for counselling in January -for my initail assessment -there was a huge waiting list though for further sessions -they did confirm that I would require further sessions. I had a call a couple of weeks ago and they are calling me again in August -as I am still not up to going due to my operation/complications. I am trying to find as much infor as poss -but not able to spend long on the computer at a time as I am still tired/drained etc from my op. Once again, many thanks for your help and advice-very much appreciated.

Thanks for that, I look forward to any advice you may have.

Letter from my disability insurance-come via my emplyer. The insurance company have declined liability in respect of the claim because my ongoing absence is as a result of issues within the workplace-rather than an illness or injury. Any advice please? My contract includes payment-my works director did make a comment once when the previous company declined to cover me due to my back problem -he said that if I was off then work would still have to pay me because it is in my contract of employment. My employer is aware that they have declined -as he has sent the form to me. Advice please-what do you think now?

My HR has been a total waste of time -when I first was told about the situation she said to me "you are made of strong stuff and you can deal with it", when I asked for a copy of grievance procedure etc -nothing was forthcoming until I emailed her my request. I don't have sight of any policy re the disability ins -this is dealt with by the works director-th HR has never been involved. I only know in the past that when a member of staff had used up her sick leave entitlement -then she was paid 50% straight through -and we offset the receipts from the insurance against the payments. I know this from preparing the accounts. I think I will ask the MD again what is happening. I will acknowledge his letter, ask about the consent form-gp, ask about holiday entitlement 2009 and 2010, ask about unpaid overtime and say that I will reply to his letter in due course. I visit the doctors again next week -subject to be able to get a lift there -or I will have to try and get a home visit. I have not been anywhere at all for 6 weeks now. Once again, thanks for advice.

I have been off since mid October. I am entitled to 11 weeks full pay and 11 weeks half pay (1week for each year of service).I had 4 weeks last July -following surgery and therefore was left with 7 weeks at full and 11 weeks at half. Payments ceased at the end of February. My contract states: The company operates a long term disability scheme based on 50% of salary , plus a 5% maximum esvalation cover. This was only instigated after I made numerous requests -I have not heard anything for a while though. Good point about -who will see the report from my Gp and the fact that it will be kept in line with data protection guidelines. Many thanks for the above advice. I have asked for the post to be merged -thanks.

As you know I have an ongoing grievance from last October -they were not willing to have a meeting to discuss unless MD present. Solicitor was acting -now no longer acting based on letter from employer -the letter states I have two options: 1-take a new contract -15 hours per week, then he will ehgage services from outside -accountant 2.5 days per month to assist. 2-face possibly redundancy situation He insists that my work has now been taken over by HR partially,and theref ore I will be able to complete workload in 15 hours -worked over 3 days. HR has never been busy, and has always said if there is a redundancy she would go first as she is not at full capacity. I am still off with stress, and recovering from my hysterectomy -which I have had complications and am having nurses in still everyday as I developed a haematoma. I therefore look like being off at least another eight weeks due to hysterectomy. Can I be made redundant whilst on sick? Employer wishes to gain copy of my doctors notes? I have worked for employer 11 years, I have 16 days holiday from last year plus the accrued days from this year. I also have unpaid overtime. My contract states that I would be entitled to 50% pay whilst off -due to disability insurance. However, since Feb, I have not received pay from work, forms were completed in April for insurance and I have heard nothing since -although my doctors have recently completed a questionnaire. As this is included in my contract then surely I should have been paid 50% pay from feb to date. I am unable to drive at present, live in the country and cannot get much help at all. Can anyone please advise me: If I don't accept 15 hous -is it redundancy? Holidays will be accruing and pay will be due from this year? Overtime worked from 2009 -still to be paid? Redundancy will be 11*380 plus -three months notice? Money due for sickness as per contract of employment-50% since feb? Any help appreciated-thanks

Glad to hear that SSP is being paid -you are entitled to it. I think we are both currently in the same situation at the moment. Keep your head up and hang on in there -easier said than done I know.

Contact from employer. He has decided my role is to be reduced from 36.5 hrs to 15 hrs. And he will engage services of a firm of accountants for 2.5 days per month. Therefore they will be doing work, I have previously undertake. I am given the option to accept -or reject. If I reject is it redundancy -as he is engaging somebody already to undertake my role. How can 36.5 hours be completed in 15 hours. I have just been in hospital for total abdominal hysterectomy -and have been out only a week -MD is insisting a meeting is held next week -as he is then on holiday for two weeks. Unfortunately, this is not possible, I also have a burst haematoma, which is being dressed everyday -and could take 12 weeks for me to re-cover from surgery -still very ill and painful. Obviously cannot drive for at least another 8 weeks. Md stated, I have not tried to resolve grievance -despite me sending numerous requests for a meeting -to no avail. I have not had anything on disability ins at present -and have completed numerous forms -these should have been completed in FEB -nothing since from employer -re pay -although contract states 50% pau under disability scheme for long term sickness -therefore four months here -suggest half pay is due for this. What views do you have on 15 hours and still engaging someone else? It may be a couple of days before I log on for any replies -as I am resting as much as possible -and not feeling up to spending time on computer etc at present.

Letter received -disability insurance have registered claim. They will now begin processing. This is six weeks since I returned the forms to my employer -clearly he was in no hurry to foward the forms to the insurance company. No suprise really -and yet the works director was asking me how the claim was going -he must have known at that point it hadn't even been received by the insurance company. This is getting me more and more stressed out -they just seem to be dragging everything out. I have a hospital admission in just over a week -for a major op -and will not be able to drive for six/eight weeks or do anything for around twelve weeks -work will probably finally settle on a meeting during this period although I won't be up to going anyway.

Yes, company policy -disability scheme, so company will hear about decision etc before me -don't know why director is asking me what is happening. I realise insurer won't talk to me -why is employer asking me -they should be contacting insurance to find out -not me surely?. Will ask about recording the meeting -as works director see it as a chat and not a meeting.

Update: after two weeks letter from works director. Very sarcastic that I will not meet MD -(as you know he is part of grievance and he knows this as well) now suggested he will meet me for an informal chat. Then he will discuss with md. Unfortunately I cannot get a formal meeting as advised by all, been advised by sol to request notes after the meeting and also agenda for meeting -any suggestions as sol on holiday for two weeks. Works direct -states due to size of company and limited resources -all grievance meetings are informal. My solicit suspects though it will end at a tribunal -and therefore I will need notes etc from the meeting. Despite my sol saying it is not a redundancy situation -as if they finish me they will have to employ someone else to prepare accounts -cannot be done inhouse. This letter today again mentions possibility of redundancy situation in accounts. Any advise please, help or suggestions, don't really feel that I can wait two weeks for sol to return -but have been off seven months trying to resolve. Letter states I can take companion providing that the companion does not delay the meeting due to his/her availability etc. Please, recently had sick not for three months -severly affected by stress, and having read this letter just totally stressed out even more. He also says they require medical evidence of sickness -sick note recently sent in what else can they do. Also asking about my disability claim -I have not heard a thingnd anyway he will know more than me as it is employer sponsored and they hear first. Dont know what to do, who to contact please help me!!!!

Having read your post. I can confirm that your employer must give you a SSP1 form -to explain why they are refusing to pay you sick pay. This is then forwarded to jobcentre plus -who deal with ESA allowance. I am fully aware of this as I am currently in the process of trying to resolve my ESA allowance. It does take at least five weeks then for the jobcentre to calculate payemnts /allowances etc (mine is currently seven weeks) and still no money. So unfortunately, it is a long process, but your first step will be to ask your employer for form SSP1 -this is normally completed by the payroll person. Good luck.

Hi, thanks for the advice. Have been looking on the acas website -for useful info. Letter to works director to request grievance meeting with him, and my chosen representative -to accompany me. I will be choosing a member of staff to accompany me -who is a very good member of staff-but unfortunately is not liked by works director -as 'too hard working and too thorough in his job'. The draft letter received from sol -suggested that I inserted the staff members name to accompany me -but at this moment in time I have not made any contact with him. I will do this -should I receive a promising reply from the works director. Can a chosen companion -refuse to accompany you at a meeting -I expect they can really -but not aware of this -any body aware of this -and at what point do I inform director who my chosen rep. is?-they won't like this -don't think they can refuse -can they?

No further forward - after 7 months. Contacted works director -in reply to his email to ask about grievance meeting -reply received -took two weeks -still insisting that I have meeting with MD -no-one can understand that I shouldn't have meeting with MD -he is the cause of my grievance. The last letter from director -of the board -stated I needed to contact md to arrange meeting -nobody can understand why this is not correct. They even have HR-and are being advised by solicitor -to no avail. I have not received any money from anywhere -since 2nd April -work sent me SSP1 form late -therefore ESA not yet sorted. Disability form received in April -should have been completed prior to end of feb. All notes from doctors sent off in respect of disability ins. but nothing yet received. Not sure how long they take to process things. I have been docs again -and have been signed off for three months -I am not well -totally sressed out etc at present. How can a situation like this be resolved when md -will not let meeting go ahead without him being present. Any ideas -or any suggestions?

After three requests -I received the disability scheme forms. I have completed these and returned them to my employer -MD, as instructed. I am awaiting contact now from the insurance company.

Email last week from works director, still insisting I meet with MD. I replied to say that I would not be meeting with MD -as previously informed. Email now received from works director -suggesting two options: 1)i meet with him(works director), he takes notes and then gets back to me. 2) i meet with employer solicitors don't feel up to meeting with employer solicitors -I am still in a stressed out way -maximum medication for stress and feeling very angry, annoyed , tired etc all the time. This has now come about following me requesting disability scheme inof -three times -to be received finally last week. Almost three weeks too late. Any advice -on meeting etc.

I have been off over 6 months with work related stress. Have posted under grievance previous. MD won't allow me to have a grievance meeting without him present -yet grievance is with him!! Anyway, all along eveything they have done has been wrong. Numerous underpayments, SSP errors, SSP underpayments, and also SSP cease day is incorrect. We have a disability scheme which guarantees 50%pay when off sick -after normal sick entitlement. Despite requests from MD- he has not forwarded documentation to me -re the scheme -which is in my contract of employment. I have contacted insurer direct -they have confirmed all documentation was sent to employer . MD not sent any correspondence to me. They sent my SSP1 form in wk 26 -should have been wk 23, means that I am due to claim ESA -but this takes five weeks -and there will therefore be three weeks -without pay -due to work sending my SSP1 form out late. The disability scheme should have started at end of feb -when my 50%pay rate ceased and I went on SSP solely. What can I do. Where can I go. I have emailed other director for info. All a total mess up beteen MD and HR. They forget I have calculated payroll for 24 years -and therefore know my entitlments etc-but how can I get info if they insist on with-holding it. Grievance will never be resolved as long as MD insists he is presnt at the meeting -the original item was he wished to reduce my hours from 36 to 15, or make me redundaNT -his argument being that I will have two days a week for physio, etc -as I have a long history of back disability. This however, would not be allowed -dda, he also stated he could employ a junior -also age discrimination. He suggested I ask my mum to assist me financially -and made several sarcastic comments. Solicitor is acting on this -although we have got nowhere yet. SSP, disability scheme is for me -but don't know what else to do. Please any advice, assistance would be appreciated.

Two weeks ago I requested info from MD -in respect of our disability scheme at work. However, letter from MD -saying he will send paperwork in due course. I contacted insurer direct and they have confirmed that all paperwork was sent to MD last week. My md is now on holiday -and I am even more annoyed that I have no pay -from 2nd April -entitled to disability scheme cover from end FEB -yet employer did not instigate at my request -where do I go now? Unable to obtain information despite it being in my contract that I am entitled to 50% when off sick. I just don't know what to do, been off since October everything has been calculated incorrect. SSP paid short, ssp finished too early -a total disaster -and then they wonder why I am still off with stress -the whole scenario gets worse. Any advice

Update. Letter sent to director (from the board)stating an informal meeting had taken place -and that I am requesting a formal meeting -as per grievance procedure. Received reply from this director -stating I must have meeting with MD -again insisting the meeting is held with the person who I have the grievance with. I cannot believe that despite several requests to this director (from the board of directors) for a meeting still refusing. He has come up with dates - end April and beg May -when meeting can be held with MD, I find this disgusting in that I am now not receiving any money. I sent letter last week to MD -to request written statement on SSP -as they are finishing this seven days too soon, and details on the disability scheme. I have not had a reply from the MD -I understand that the statement on SSP should be sent within seven days -as per revenue and customs -to no avail. Also no details on disability scheme -which I am a member of. I have sent an email today to MD -again to ask for info -I suspect that he will be on holiday now till 12th April, he has not replied to me. And I am left with no money. SSP1 form was sent to me on 18th March -ceasing pay 2nd April -should have been received in February as it takes five weeks to process claim. I just feel that I am getting nowhere and despite requests to MD for SSP details and disability -no details sent to me. Despie several requests for a grievance meeting -not permitting me to have this. They are adamant this is with MD -how can it be, grievance is with him, and there are other directors. I have made this clear in letters -but can get nowhere. Any suggestions, advice, please. How can I get information I am entitled to??

Thanks for advice so far. Update. Scribbled letter in pencil received from HR. Paid me basic ssp for march. My 28 weeks entitlement for ssp will cease 5th April. I must return my £10.00 xmas gift card -they don't have a card with that number on !!! Having checked my pay ect it comes as no suprise to find the following: March underpaid ssp by £47.49 -equates to three days. 28 weeks sick pay -ceases 23rd April not 5th as stated by HR -a further 15 days are due. I cannot believe this -it seems everything she does is wrong -although when she underpaid me in December, she sent me a scribbled note to say monthly salaries is all new to her -in which case I don't think she should be doing. It is really simple to add days up -I would have thought to calculate ssp -not for her. It is end of tax year and I really want my pay for march correcting -they refused last time and I had to wait a month -this will be interesting. Can you believe hr has calculated my pay for 5 months and got it wrong for two of them. Suspect I will have to send in a formal grievance -re these incorrect issues -any advice. No mention of disability scheme-will have to ask info. I do know in the past we have continued to pay employee 50% and claimed money from ins -but for some reason HR has made no mention to me. Really stressed out, in tears all the time and cannot sleep -hence the reason to be typing at 1.30am. Any advice. suggestions please.

Yes, my terms and conditions -do state full an part time -entitlement, however, it then states there is disability insurance to ensure salary of 50% is huaranteed -nothing any further re waiting period etc.

update -not paid yet subs. Plus underpaid this month -no payslip checked statement -and appears to be paid ssp 79.15per week for march -when in fact we have a disability scheme -to guarantee salary at 50% -clealry not used. Really stressed out -off for a further month by GP, this is second time my pay has been incorrectly calculated -in five months. Cannot afford to pay my subs -207.00 when only been paid 320.00 for month. Really stressing me out now with money situation.

update: Received no payslip -but checked statement and have only been paid ssp, cannot understand why when we have a disabilty scheme -guaranteeing 50% pay. Not happy -I realise I have used up my entitlemet per contract but do not know why they have reduced even further -when contract stipulates disability scheme. don't know what to do now -I have always had to request copy payslip -as they are not sending them to me -when I know I am legally entitled to them. They owe my subs -total £207.00 -still not paid, Signed off for a further month by doctor -what can I do?.

Thanks for the prompt reply. Non payment of subs will have an impact on my job -and will incur numerous penalty charges -I have notified both bodies of the current position and have ten days to sort the matter out. I have read the post regarding delays by an employer -and the acas guidelines which state exactly the same. I cannot believe that they have acted in this way -unlike other employees who have been off for any length of time -they have always been rung by HR or work director -to enquire about their health etc. I have had no contact etc from HR -or anyone else to enquire about my health etc.