Posted By M J Matthews
HI

Just a quickie

just had a case where an employee who suffered an injury at work, which was treated by one of our first aiders, the guy came to see me yesterday and complained that his thumb (site of injury) was bruised and swollen, I had one of our first aiders take him to local hospital.
They prescribed antibiotics which he had to pay for, Is there any thing anywhere that states we should re-emburse him for this cost, HR putting up walls (never done it before,don't want to start now syndrome.

Regards

Mick.M

Posted By Ron Hunter
Your Organisation will have to be open to operating a 'goodwill' approach.
Consider the obvious parallel of the employee suffering a loss or damage to personal property due to that accident? What does the Organisation do for that? Many organisations would reimburse without recourse to their insurers for such trifling amounts as for (e.g.) a coat or a pair of trousers, do why not for the prescription as well?
On the other hand, if personal loss was extensive (e.g. damage to private vehicle, personal belongings), then the addition of other related costs (prescription) would similarly not be unreasonable?

Posted By M J Matthews
Hi

Thanks for the responses, I will try again and use the position Goodwill as opposed to claims for costs via a insurance claim.

Once again many thanks

Regards

Mick M

Posted By DRB
I can see Dave's point but I think in such clear cut circumstances where the injury is obviously been caused at work and the costs arising out of a genuine need, as prescribed by the hospital then it would be good man management to cover these costs on a "one off basis".

You could develop a company policy on such matters. In a previous life we frequently had employees off as a result of work related RTA's or violence. Each would be dealt with on a individual basis but frequently where full salary and a bit of TLC was given no claim would follow and vice versa.

Posted By Dave Pike CMIOSH
Mick

Just to add my 'two pennorthworth', clearly different organisations will have different rules but if you start to pay prescription chrges you are opening the floodgates to 'winter ills'and the associated costs of coughs and colds that will be linked to the workplace... however tenuously that may be.

Setting such a precedent must be very carefully considered.

Consider if you were working for an employer that had offices, shops, factories etc in England and also in Wales, (of which there must be many I guess?) the welsh employees would have their prescriptions free of charge because of the decision taken by the National Assembly of Wales to make prescription 'free' for those living in Wales, so even as a 'United (sic) Kingdom' there is inequality!!!

So would those who have suggested that this should be paid for also advocate that in order to promote fairness and equality that companies with premises in both England and Wales should compensate the England based employess for prescriptions?

As for my personal circumstances, I am a welshman living and working in the Czech Republic and I, along with everyone else has to put my hand into my pocket for prescribed medication.... welcome to the European Union eh?

Dave