fit notes

[shaz68]

Had employee return to work 4 weeks ago with a fit note.
Duties could remain the same but hours reduced from 34 to 16.
The fit note finished on Friday and not been given anything else.
Asked her what was happening and she said she wants to keep on 16 hours but doesn't see the doctor again until 2 weeks tomorrow.
For an employer this is useless.
Where do i stand?
Sharon

[shaz68]

Should i repost this in medical?

[bednobs]

as far as i know the fit notes should be continuous -you must insist the employee sees the gp

[dothawkes31]

Is this a large company or are there only a few employees?

[shaz68]

Have 2 shops open 16 hours a day.
Working 60+ hours myself just now.
Have 8 staff but with this one on reduced hours and someone usually on holidays i'm at my wits ends

[factor-fiction]

How long has she worked there?
When her hours were reduced was her pay reduced too?

[shaz68]

She went off sick after being with us 1yr and 1 day.
Her rate of pay is being maintained

[dothawkes31]

you can take on someone on a zero hour temporary contract to help out, i assume you are saving on the other persons wages, negotiate a return to full hours in say 6 months and have regular conversations about it, take on a zero hours person to cover and give them a 6 month temporary contract, then if your employee feels they can return to full time you can adjust the temp person's hours. Don't aggravate or alienate your employee at this stage it is too early in her rehabilition process.

[dothawkes31]

Do you mean she is on the same hourly rate but being paid for the 16 not the 34?

[shaz68]

Yes only being pd for hours worked.
Couldn't afford to pay her 34 hours even if i wanted to

[shaz68]

Have agreed to the 16 hours until she's back to the doctors.
But I'll now be working 7 days a wk.
And no point me going to doctors with stress.
Really don't know why i bother, it's so not worth it

[TCL-MUMPING]

What did the fit note say about having to see the doctor again at the end of the four weeks? If she was seen again at the end of the four weeks and the doctor was of the opinion she was fit for work, the doctor is not obliged to issue a new fit note. It does not make sense that the fit note was four weeks yet she was to be seen again six weeks after it was issued.

[chelle7272]

Not sure why you agreed to the 16 without her seeing the doctor. If she wants the reduced hours to continue she should get the fit note.
As diot suggested, couldn't you employ temporary staff to cover some of the lost hours, as it won't help with you running yourself ragged, and you don't know yet how long this may continue.

[shaz68]

Fit note was only dated for 4 weeks. I assumed either a new one or resumption of previous hours.
I agreed to the 16 hours because if i didn't i believe she'll end up being signed off long term again.
TCL thats my whole point,makes no sense to me either
It will continue as long as she wants it to

[welshlibranr]

Personally, I would employ a temp worker to make up the hours for now, and see what transpires!................no point in knocking yourself out, what good will you be to your business if you do?..............

[TCL-MUMPING]

The fit note should say whether the doctor needs to see the employee or no at the end of the four weeks so what did it say?

[ummmm]

1 year and 1 day....!!!

Surely that is soooooo wrong?

[shaz68]

As a small business i've been used to things working against me,but if this is progress i've had enough.
Can't afford to take anyone else.
Everyone better off only working 16 hours a wk. Useless for me

[welshlibranr]

but shaz, if you were employing her for 34 hours, can you not take on someone on a temp basis to make up the 18 hours that she is not working or being paid for?.............it may be a help to you..................

[shaz68]

TCL
Apart from being for 4 wks it said nothing. These are new to me and i assumed either a new 1 or return to past hours.
As it was for "stress and anxiety" don't see how i can push it without leaving myself open to god knows what