----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2007 8:56
AM
Subject: Re: [OCC-HEALTH] shift changes
and cancer
Jacqui
The little evidence that is out there on stress
and cancer says that cancer cannot be caused by
stress and that it is
unlikely that it can cause a previous remission to reactivate. There
is
evidence however to say that stress does have an effect on a persons
quality of life and this may be
the driving factor here. If you take this
string further then removing this man from his family at
weekends when
there is maximum amount of family time then this would significantly affect
his
quality of life. Although I am assuming he will still get 2 days off to
spend with his family just
not at the weekend.
This is not really
his employers responsibility as they can with consultation change
his
contractual working requirements as the business evolves, as seems the
case here. The straight
forward answer here is if he does not like the new
shift pattern and his employer cannot accomodate
his wishes to remain on
his previous pattern then he may well have to seek employment elsewhere.
As
for his GP that is an opinion, which I would argue is biased in his
patients favour and I would not
waste money or time asking the GP to
clarify his opinion.
You can simply present to Human Resources/line
management your own opinion after reviewing the man
and state that you do
not agree with his GP's view, thus leaving HR and line management to do
their
jobs.
The link below shows BACUP's view on stress causing
cancer of any type.
www.cancerbackup.org.uk/QAs/597
Hope
this helps
Cheers
Pete
Pete Judge
Occupational
Health Adviser
Cardiff University
Heath Park Campus
4th Floor Denbigh
House
UHW
02920 748955
>>> Jacqui Livock <[log in to unmask]>
03/04/2007 19:32 >>>
Hi
the distribution staff are undergoing
major shift pattern changes over the
next few weeks as changes in business
processes mean the business is going
to be more efficient and stock will
be leaving the warehouses 7 days per
week.
a group of staff have always
been employed on "5 of 7" contracts which
have traditionally been mon-fri
and now the company want them to work
weekends.
as part of one young
chaps consultation he has submitted a letter from his
doctor saying he has
been previously treated for skin cancer and is in
remission and working on
a weekend will significantly increase the risk of
his cancer recurring due
to stress of not being with his family on a
weekend.
your opinions
please (i know the DDA applies!)
i am on a time frame of 1 week
too!
jacqui