Broadly speaking this is how a situation like this is managed where I work as well (Local Government) - i.e. if a phased RTW is recommended / advised by OH, then the individual returns on their normal salary, regardless of the hours they actually return on (although see my point below...) - otherwise there would be little or no incentive for a person to return - they could just remain off work (and get more through SSP). However, I don't think there's any legal obligation to do this - in some organisations for example, the individual has to use their annual leave to enable them to have a phased return.
One other point / query...There may be an entirely valid reason for why 1 hour a day was suggested, but I would say returning to just an hour a day is a tad too small (surely they will have barely had time to fire up their computer and have a cup of coffee - or is that just Local Government employees?!). Surely the idea of a phased return is to facilitate an individual's rehabilitation, and help them get back to normal hours over a period of a few weeks - if 1 hour a day is truly all she can manage then maybe it's too early for her to return? Perhaps the issue is that working so few hours a week isn't felt sufficient to warrant her normal 28 hr/wk pay (and I think they might have a point!) - so perhaps a better solution for you could be to advise she returns on more hours a day (especially as your OH doc think she can manage that), building up to her normal 28 per week over the next 2 - 3 weeks, HR/management might be more willing for her to be paid for her normal 28 hours if they can see an end in sight!
Hope you get a happy compromise.
Many Thanks,
Joanna White (nee Rice)
Occupational Health Adviser
Hampshire County Council
Rm 9, EII Court
The Castle
Winchester
Hants
SO23 8UJ
Tel: HPSN 200 6495 (01962-846495)
Fax: 01962 845002
[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Doreen S Aislabie [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 18 August 2003 15:29
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: RTW on reduced hours
Hi
I would have thought if her GP had agreed she could rtw on whatever
rehab. programme agreed and advised by Occ.Health that she should be
resuming on normal salary irrelevant of hours worked.
Anything else would be discriminatory surely under DDA.
Doreen Aislabie~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Doreen S Aislabie
Senior Occupational Health Nurse
tel 020 7882 3691
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|