Occupational Health report

[goldengirl11]

I had an Occupational Health follow up on Monday, as requested by HR at my last review recently, due to increased absences (sicknesses) end last year and earlier this year. However, over the past month or so, my attendance has greatly improved.

I felt that the telephone chat had gone reasonably well, so I was rather surprised when I got a copy of the report through, which gave more information than I expected. Especially in the bullet points, which said was in reply to my manager's questions. Namely, that I have a chronic underlying condition.

Yes, I have been receiving medication for depression & anxiety for some time, but I don't recall that the word chronic has been used before and that the word fluctuating had been used by my OH Dr before instead. I later googled chronic underlying condition, when fluctuating was given as an example, but surely the term chronic means constant i.e not necessarily which fluctuates?

It also stated in other bullet points, that although there is an underlying condition, that there aren't any work triggers at present.

I feel embarrassed since the report was emailed out today. Especially as I was emailed the report first for consent, when I should have questioned first what was concerning me.

I plan to e-mail my OH Dr with my thoughts, to see if he can make any amendments, that's if he agrees. I would appreciate any advice please.

 

 

[basil67]

Hi goldengirl11, I don't quite understand your concern with the use of chronic and/or fluctuating.   Do you feel they used the wrong word?  Or were they used together and this is confusing you?   

Also, what are you embarrassed about and what would you like changed on the report?   Were your absences due to your mental health or were you ill with something else?

   

Edited April 13, 2021 by basil67

[Wiseman2]

Do you have a private doctor? Ask your doctor to look at the report and explain it.

Are they trying to fire you? As you know, you employer can not fire you based on a disability. However they can fire you for unexplained absences.

It seems like the frequent absences are the issue. Was this OH evaluation requested by your employer?

[spiderowl]

Dear OP, I so sympathise with you.  Ending up with OH reports is a stressful nightmare, supposed to be 'helpful'.  

Not sure where you are based as I am in the middle of a post and can't look without losing this message.  However, there is an important distinction between a fluctuating, occasional condition and a chronic one.  A chronic one could be classed as a disability in some countries, UK for example.  This means that under UK law, you would acquire 'protected characteristics' and your employer has certain duties to support you.  This can be a good thing.  It means they cannot sack you without having given you every support they are supposed to and they must make 'reasonable adjustments' to support you.

Depression can indeed be classed as a disability if it goes on and keeps recurring.

One the whole, I think the report is probably a good thing, but you could look into what is counted as a disability in your region and what the disability/employment laws are.  It sounds like the doctor is in fact trying to support you by saying that you are not just taking time off for the fun of it but are indeed suffering an ongoing illness which should be treated as a disability.

Edited April 15, 2021 by spiderowl

[introverted1]

"Chronic" means that a condition is ongoing and cannot be permanently cured, although it can possibly be managed, as opposed to a condition that is "acute," which implies that it is temporary/curable.  "Fluctuating" simply means that, within the chronic condition, symptoms ebb and wane, i.e., are not necessarily the same each day or can go into remission for periods of time. For example, Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic condition with fluctuating symptoms. 

Of course, you should ask your doctor what the implications are of these terms for your specific case.