Fit Note and return to work on light duties.

We have an employee who has injured his thumb on his non dominant hand ( at work – we think he hit his thumb with a hammer, despite him writing something different on the accident form). The fit note has signed him off work for a further 22 days after he has self-certified for 5 days, so best part of a month off.

I know this is more of a HR thing than H&S but I’m sure some of you get involved with such.

The Gov web site seems to be encouraging people to come to work (on light duties etc before the note runs out). However, the note we have just states “you are not fit for work”

The fit note seems to exclude the possibility of him coming back on light duties. They have crossed out being fit for work taking following advice and then specifically “amended duties”.

But he has only hurt his thumb, the note states no fracture, soft tissue damage only. There are lots of things he could do for us with only using the one hand. Am I being overly unsympathetic to his plight or are doctors (apparently nurses and pharmacists can also now write them) being overzealous in giving time off.

I find it hard to believe they think someone with a bruised thumb is not fit for anything.

Sanity check anyone, I guess I’m looking at this wrong, but not sure how.

Chris

Maybe there is more to it than the hurt thumb.  Or then again, maybe not ...

I would also want an occ health opinion.

So if they struck their thumb with a hammer I am going to guess your site has a safety footwear policy - ever tried tying standard shoe/boot laces one handed?

Prescribed pain killers affecting their ability to travel/work and/or contrary to a Drugs & Alcohol policy?

As to occupational health whilst their opinion is suited to decisions of fitness for (continued) employment I think any referal in the hope they overrule the employees GP is drifting in to tribunal territory - will you discipline them if they choose to follow their doctors advice?

Hi Chris

I think you were right in your first comment - this is one for HR.

Not for you to think you know better than a medical practitioner (assuming that you are not qualified and experienced as such!)

P

Peter they were pretty much the first words out of my mouth “it’s HR”. However, we do become embroiled in the conversations, quite rightly I think, with regard what they may be able to do. I would be the one doing a special risk assessment for him.

No don’t know better than a medical practitioner, who wrote no fracture, soft tissue damage only. Nothing about tendon or ligament damage etc just soft tissue. I guess I’m just old as when I was an apprentice, I broke my arm in work, doing something I didn’t want to do (apprentice sport – and we were playing murder ball – ie get the one with the ball!). I was expected to come into work, and they made me sit at and old-fashioned A0 size drawing board and do engineering drawings with my wrong hand for 8 weeks.

As he has already had 2 weeks off, no point in throwing more good money away on Occ Health people. Just better now to pay him to sit at home playing on his play station / Xbox and text on his phone with his injured thumb. I think I have mentioned on other threads I’m cynical.

Yes, everyone thinks he is taking the P as you put it Steve, and yes more going on, he has had a warning this year for taking so much time off on the sick on so many occasions. I have suggested we ignore this absence as it is not truly sick it is an industrial accident. It does not sound as if we will have to wait long before another sickness and our policies kick in anyway.

Will see if I can find some more sympathy for snowflakes going forward. I believe in ”what’s right” ie those that have genuine injuries and issues get support and help as much as is needed and those that take the P, get what they deserve. I’m just struggling in this particular case.

Cheers all

Chris