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

In my workplaces, we are awash with policies. Whilst in many respects these are useful to determine protocol, protect staff & management etc, there are always those instances where the policy just does not suit the circumstance.

During my sick leave I have duly submitted self-certification, medical certificates & kept my manager well informed. This week I went in to visit, to see how I withstood the journey & to discuss phased return to work. I was happy, my manager was happy. But, he was obliged to make a referral to Occupational Health under the terms of the sickness policy. He clearly stated that I was happy not to see them & set out our proposals for return to work.

Late on Friday pm I get a phone call - caller does not announce who they are, I have to ask. It's OH, asking me to come on Mon for a half hour interview with the nurse. I point out that my journey time is one & a half hours, this is rather a long way to come just for that. They won't do it over the phone, they're not there on my usual working days. The implication is that I can't start until I've seen them - impasse.

So now I have to wait until Mon for response from my manager, call someone higher up in OH for clarification (& give them feedback on their poor telephone manner), before knowing what's happening next week. And I thought being a patient waiting for appts was bad!!

People who can't see life for 'the rules' you don''t matter - the rules do, because they might have to make a decision if they step outside the rules - I am just so crap at this work-place politics - Which explains why I'm here at work at 21:00 on a Saturday night I suppose.

bum-wipes the lot of them

A lot of it is to do with avoiding litigation of course. I know from experience how difficult it is to write a policy to take account of every possible circumstance. You always need those get out clauses like 'as far as is practicable'.

Hope I can find someone with more clout to speak to tomorrow.

A step forward. My manager says it's fine for me to come to work as arranged & that I certainly shouldn't be expected to see OH on a non work day. I think OH will be happy if he says he doesn't require a report from them.

Let's see how it goes tomorrow.

Alas jobsworths are never appeased by common-sense - you'll have to hope your manager can bully them.