grievance at work,

[angel1987]

Hi all im looking for some help and advice.

i had to visit occ health for personal stress and depression, at the appointment i was in a vulnerable state and gave consent for medical records to be accessed. once i got back to work i withdrew this consent and notified my HR rep accordingly, who said she would email occ health to make them aware, 2.5 months on, i recived the report at the same time as my employer as the HR rep had allegedly forgotten to send the email withdrawing consent to occ health.

the report makes a few remarks which i dont agree and which i dont believe to be true.

i want the report of my file, especially due to the fat it was obtained after i withdrew consent.

work have refused to remove it.

i have raised a formal grievance and i have my meeting next thursday with an impartial manager and HR manager.

i am allowed to take in a trade union official, though i am not currently a member of a trade union.

 

i dont know whats going to happen at the meeting and this whole situation has made me stressed and anxious as well as made me feel helpless and the comments made by occ health have made me quite emotional as i dont think they are a true reflection of me.

 

please help.

[Emmzzi]

hello, sorry you are feeling rotten just now.

 

what do you want the outcome of the grievance to be? people cannot unsee what they have seen and know... if you feel the report is inaccurate you should ask to be referred back to discuss your position again.

 

have you asked your own doctor for copies of records that have been sent to OH?

[angel1987]

i want to report removed from my file- i understand they can not unsee what they have seen, but because of the way it was obtained i believe it shouldn't be kept on file. i wouldn't want a future manager to see that and have an inaccurate view about me.

 

occ health have refused to review the report or the comments made.

[Emmzzi]

can you show the report to your own doctor and ask if they feel it is accurate?

[angel1987]

i haven't done so, but yes i suppose i can, but it wont be until after my grievance meeting.... do i take in a union rep? and has the company breached data protection etc? if i withdrew consent then it should never been accessed, the hr rep who i had emailed revoking consent emailed the report to my manager as well once she had received it.

[Emmzzi]

I'm not sure it is worth spending your energy being annoyed about it - and focusing on the past. It's bad that it happened, it's most likely an admin cockup. But you dont have a time machine and neither do I....

 

I would try and focus more on how you get the help you need to return to work? Which may involve your own doctor and their reccomendations.

[SabreSheep]

HI there sorry to hear you are going through a bad time.

 

You could try asking them to request a report from your specialists to which you would be entitled to read the report before it is given to the company. You would also be able to challenge or add to it if you thought it was inaccurate.

 

As for union representation, Sadly as you are not a member of a trade union, they are not likely to be able to help you. After all their services and training is paid for by members subscriptions and the members do not normally take too well to the idea of non members benefiting. (unless its a serious Health and Safety Breach that impacts on all of them)

 

To put it in context, you cannot drive a car without insurance, crash and then ask an insurance company to deal with it if you do not have a policy.

 

HOWEVER

 

You might be able to take a colleague in with you as a witness.

 

I hope this all gets sorted out for you

[billathome65]

Did you email HR stating you were withdrawing consent or was it a verbal conversation? If verbal then you have no proof of the request simple as that unless HR admit wrongdoing. Obviously, if you emailed then that's covered.

 

Were you referred to Occy health or was it your own request if it was work, then they probably felt they had good cause to send you.

 

If Occy health have made statements you don't agree with then you are within your rights to challenge.

 

You also say the outcome you wish from the grievance is to have the file removed? Why? You say you went due to personal stress and depression which i'm assuming you accept otherwise why go?

 

Occy health has compiled the report based on the facts from the meeting. I understand you say you were vulnerable when you went however, had you been a member of the union they could have supported you. (But irrespective of that you could have taken a colleague in with you.)

 

I personally would use the meeting more productively and express your concern with the points you do not agree with and look at what support the company can give you to alleviate the stress etc and agree what you can do to support your own well-being to.

 

Regards Bill

[angel1987]

thanks to all who have replied.

 

I gave written confirmation of withdrawing consent. I was sent to occ health as I had a breakdown at work in September and it was for them to see what measures could be put in place to support me.

The report that has been issued recently was from my medical reports. And does not have any measures of support but just want to see me again.

 

I want the information removed as it is making me upset and anxious I admit I have mental health and depression problems but since my lat breakdown in September I have been working to overcome this and I had gotten stronger and had been fine most of nov and dec up until I received this report and now feel like I have take. A big step back.

 

I understand that it may not be worth wasting my energy on but if someone says something about u that isn't true surely u should defend urself?

 

I am a survivor and want to fight this just need to know if legally I stand a chance at getting this removed? Or is the company right in keeping it on file?

[Emmzzi]

I think having it "removed from file" is academic and your focus needs to be on getting the support you need to be a) well and b) back in work. But that is just my opinion, and others may take a different view.

[billathome65]

I totally agree with emmzzi the issue is to get the support the occ visit was meant to be addressing.

 

Bill

[king12345]

I support the idea of an independent report to challenge /add to the medical record.

Even if they agree to remove it from your file, it could be kept in what it's called your 'Holistic file'.

Our company keeps this very secret, but in recent times it's become very evident that such secret personal files do exist, so not just a myth invented by trade unions.

As said, I would concentrate on disproving the details of your medical record rather than have it removed.

[angel1987]

So meeting has been and gone it was adjourned for a few weeks whilst they looked into the claims. It re conveyned and was concluded yesterday. They are not going to remove it but have given me a right of reply so I can add a statement.

 

They have just pushed and pushed and pushed. Hr was late to both meetings, she didn't have the notes from the conversation with occ health and was giving their answers from memory. She completely contradicted herself.

I kept zoning out and being withdrawn during the meeting. Had a 5 min break towards the end. Whilst I was in a back room with a colleague who had accompanied me I completely broke down

He went to the bathroom n I ended up crouched on the floor in tears and ended up self harming

I was dropped home by my manager and don't remember a lot of what had happened. I spoke to crisis team last night who said I need to go to another agency. I saw my dr at adult mental health last week and I was discharged from his care as I was doing so well.

 

I feel alone and helpless

[king12345]

Please Angel, please, try to keep alert and calm.

You clearly need help and shouldn't deal with this alone.

I know it will sound wrong to you, but this situation is not as terrible as you see it.

Because you are stressed and depressed, naturally everything seems much bigger than it really is.

Have you got any relative or friend you can open up to?

I can't say it enough times, you need someone to walk this path with you, so don't try to do it on your own.

The Samaritans offer a great free support service, give them a ring, they're brilliant.

You're not alone, people care for you, even strangers like us feel for you and want to help.

Keep writing in this forum for advice and support.

Remember, you are important.

[king12345]

Here is a link to the Samaritans contact page, insert your postcode and you'll find your local branch

 

http://www.samaritans.org/branches

[Emmzzi]

remember that if you are feeling very low you should get yourself to A&E as soon as you can and ask for the duty psychiatrist.

 

Thinking of you.

 

xx

[angel1987]

Thanks for the Samaritans link will defo chek that out. Thanks for ur kind words.

 

Yesterday was a very hard day. I was passed from pillar to post. From iapt to crisis to and fro. Eventually both agreed my GP needs to refer me to secondary mental health but she said she wouldn't for just breaking down one day. She was a lockin and this my first appt with her.

Even though this been on and off since September.

Iapt then did the referral. It was like I'm crying out for help and no one wants to help. I had a talk with mental health matters as well which helped but all they can realy do is listen.

I've been signed off by the dr with stress for a week as well.

I wish I hadn't ended up here and let this pressure get to me.

I woke up in the middle of the night shaking and scared

[king12345]

Angel, do you live alone?

If so, can you spend some time with family or friends?

Or you could invite someone to your place for a few days if more convenient.

Being alone is not a good thing while you are going through this.

[angel1987]

Angel, do you live alone?

If so, can you spend some time with family or friends?

Or you could invite someone to your place for a few days if more convenient.

Being alone is not a good thing while you are going through this.

 

 

I live with my husband and daughter. He is very supportive, but I think he's v afraid of me doing something and feels a bit helpless.

[billathome65]

Hi I'm assuming you are still working at the same place if so it may be an idea to speak to you mental health support team at the local job centre and see if they can put you in touch with a local work support agency like Remploy?

 

Just a thought.

 

Bill

[king12345]

I live with my husband and daughter. He is very supportive, but I think he's v afraid of me doing something and feels a bit helpless.

 

Speak to your husband and tell him all you said here including the self harming.

Together you can get out of this.

Again, what you see as a catastrophe is not worth destroying your life.

Your husband can possibly get you to see the bigger picture and put things in prospective.

Call the Samaritans, they will offer invaluable support.

[angel1987]

its been a long week.i went to my gp yesterday and she has started me on antidepressants though she said it will take 2-3 weeks for them to kick in at least.

She asked me whether I had considered just leaving my job and working elsewhere.....if only it was that easy!

She has signed me off for a further two weeks, and will review at that stage but did say it isn't an easy road and tablets r half the battle, the other half being therapt is something I could be waiting a long time for.

 

I rang my manager afterwards to update of the situation, and she mentioned how I will probs only get half pay whilst off as per contract now this has put more pressure on me to return...I have a mortgage no child we barely get by as it is . She also mentioned speaking to hr and possibly arranging for a home visit by their own dr's...

 

I,m afraid of going back and don't trust them and I don't feel as though they have my best interest at heart.