h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Whilst on holiday three weeks ago, I did some substantial damage to my knee ligaments. Despite doctor's advice, I took a grand total of one day off and went back into work instead of resting it.

Days of trudging to the tram stop, squashing my ridiculously long legs into a tram seat, trudging to work, folding said legs under a desk, trudging back to the tram stop, tiny seats, trudging home has meant that my leg hasn't actually healed. In fact, it's still giving me considerable amounts of pain.

After a quick chat with my friend's cricket Physio, we decided that a few days off it with plenty of ice packed around the joint will help the healing process. A week should put me on track, all I need to do is self-certify and take the time off sick.

I squared this with my manager on Friday and called in to certify this morning. My manager's on holiday. Head of Department doesn't understand employment law relating to sickness. Admin harpy has decided I'm not allowed to self-certify and either require a doctor's note, have to come in this afternoon, or face a disciplinary.

I've got a doctor's appointment, the ice is back in the freezer and another day of trams and trudging beckons. I can't actually put into words how irritated I am by this. I exacerbated an injury to go back to work, and now I can't do that anymore, they're punishing me.

Hopefully my doctor will sort something out.

Do you have a union? when is the doctor's appointment? These are questions that jump to my mind. I too am in a job where they are reluctant for their staff to take days off for illness and the like and when I went to the hospital after hot water went on my arm they tried to out me. In fact I've noticed that there are a number of ways people try to get rid of their workers once they join the company. The bottom line is you are not alone.

Appointment's in an hour. Funnily enough, we're not in a union.

I hope things work out well for you

That's ridiculous that they're making you come into work in that condition. Do you have anything like the immediate care centers we have over here- sort of a mid-point between ER and GP's office, where you don't need an appointment?

I've never heard of an employer requiring a doctor's note in advance rather than after an extended absence. Good luck sorting it out, and I hope you don't exascerbate the injury further if you drag yourself in to work.

Hope that once you see a doctor, your knee will heal quickly and completely.

Got the doctor's note. I've been with the same GP all my life. She sorted me the note and offered to call my employer for a chat.

She's also sorted me some stronger tablets and ordered me to get some rest. Physiotherapy's a possibility.

You know oyu can still join a union even if they are not recognised right?

I love going to represent people in unrecognised industries, they just don't know how to deal with us. Great fun!

Try the GMB, or if you are a copywriter maybe the NUJ (possibly) but the GMB for sure would probably have you....

FB

Cheers FB, I'll be sure to have a look.

Great

The NUJ is the main union that represent copywriters it seems.... give them a buzz. You might be able to join the local chapel.

FB

Lovely work have just given me a lovely payslip.

Additions
Sick pay - £31.66

Deductions
Unpaid Leave - £384.60

Now I don't know how much you'd need to earn to have a weekly wage of 384.60 (after tax), but that's not what I'm being paid.

What's confusing me though is an addition of £61.09 marked as "make up Add. Pay" - is this statuatory sick pay?

Also, should "Unpaid Leave" be marked as unpaid leave when in actuality I was "declared unfit to work by a doctor"?