Long term sick and not being allowed to return

[flipper79]

I'm hoping someone can help me on this one. I've been long term sick now for about 8 months. In that time I've had no real contact with my direct boss other than to say I'm not in on a particular day where I hadn't yet provided a doctors note.

 

Anyway, last saturday I phone my work to check my upcoming shift times as I was expecting to return to work shortly. I was told I'd been removed from the system and wasn't given any explanation as to why. It wasn't until the following thursday when I was called by my boss to say it was because my statutory sick had come to an end. She also said that HR wanted a meeting with me the following tuesday. I said that was fine and said that I would probably be in before then anyway.

 

I went back to work on the Sunday which is one of my fixed days, and after 3 hours was told by my manager that the queue manager needed me to leave as I wasn't scheduled to work. I asked my manager if I'd been suspended or my contract terminated since I work fixed shifts and was contracted to work that day. She categorically told me no. I asked her if I was going to be paid since as far as my contract is concerned I should be working and was willing to work, but she said I couldn't be paid because I wasn't scheduled. I then said from my point of view it appeared I'd been suspended without pay and left it at that.

 

At no point have I been told I needed a specific return to work date from my doctor other than my doctors note ending and they still haven't asked for anything. They've basically just said I can't work until I've had a meeting with HR and I can't be paid, even though I'm ready and willing to work. Can they do this, and should they have had contact with me before I was removed from the scheduling if this was going to be a problem? Any help would be massively appreciated.

[Guest Old_andrew2018]

Send a PM to forum contributers with HR expertise such as sidewinder, elche, or ell-enn ask for their advice please include a link to your thread.

 

Andy

Edited June 15, 2009 by old_andrew2007

[flipper79]

Just some additional info...They're now saying it's because I didn't give any notice to return. This is contrary to what they originally said and as I've already mentioned I did say I was looking to get back to work and wasn't told there'd be a problem with this. Also take into account that I was regularly calling work and was just being told to call in my next shift if I wasn't able to come in, thus indicating I didn't need to give notice, and also no mention of what I was required to do should I be able to return. I should also point out that I was regularly calling work, but not once did they call me to check for a possible return date.

 

Thanks for the suggestion Andy, and will do.