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If only "stress" was as easy to quantify as asthma and allergy......:-) > Date: Wed, 6 Oct 2010 23:38:10 +0100 > From: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: [OCC-HEALTH] keeping the peace > To: [log in to unmask] > > Surly if the job is causing so much harm to her mental health then the > company HR should take action as they are putting her at risk,(according to > her), it would be unwise to continue employing her in this role if the job > profile includes working on the check out and it causes her stress, you > would not let an asthmatic who has become allergic to animals work in an > environment that would potentially cause harm to health. > > Regards > Pauline > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Belinda Fox" <[log in to unmask]> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2010 8:13 PM > Subject: [OCC-HEALTH] keeping the peace > > > Hi all > can you share your thoughts with me on the following scenario. > I had an email from a supermarket manager, who was frustrated at an employee > (22 year old female) who was refusing to train as a checkout operator as it > stressed her out. It is part of the job requirement that sales assistants in > the store are checkout trained for busy periods to help reduce queues. On > the day of her training she produced a medical certificate for 1 year > stating fit for ammended duties, suggesting this lady refrain from checkout > duties as she becomes stressed and agitated and it is affecting her mental > health. > > Trying to keep the peace and give an objective perspective, I asked the > manager to refer the lady to occupational health and I assessed her to > establish if there was any underlying medical condition which would prevent > her from doing the duties. > > I could understand the manager's frustration as he felt it set a precedence > for all other staff who didn't want to train as checkout operators to go to > the GP and ask for a medical certificate stating a reason for not doing it. > > On assessment, I found that the lady did have a skin problem affecting her > scalp, similar to psoriasis, which I know can be exacerbated by stress, but > no other medical problems. I didn't feel her condition itself would prevent > her from doing till training, however I tried to focus on what her stressors > were and suggested we tried to address these. i.e if she required additional > training and supervision until she felt confident and competent. > > The reaction I got from the lady was well if I have to do it I'll just > leave. I suggested a further management meeting between the employee and > personnel to try to see if she would buy into the suggestion of additional > training. I tried to focus on a positive outlook saying that it could be > good for her personal development. I suggested to management that I could > obtain a further medical report from the GP if required. > > I don't know the outcome from the meeting yet, but I anticipate the lady > will not be receptive to the suggestions, and I anticipate management won't > be willing to accept it as a reasonable adjustment. > > It would be great to hear your views to enable me to offer further advice. > > Many thanks > Belinda Fox. > > ******************************** > Please remove this footer before replying. > > OCC-HEALTH ARCHIVES: > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html > > CONFERENCES AND STUDY DAYS: > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/filearea.cgi?LMGT1=OCC-HEALTH > > ******************************** > Please remove this footer before replying. > > OCC-HEALTH ARCHIVES: > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html > > CONFERENCES AND STUDY DAYS: > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/filearea.cgi?LMGT1=OCC-HEALTH ******************************** Please remove this footer before replying. OCC-HEALTH ARCHIVES: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html CONFERENCES AND STUDY DAYS: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/filearea.cgi?LMGT1=OCC-HEALTH