Occupational health - Advice needed

HappyChick247

Hi all,

I’m looking for some advice from anyone with experience of reasonable adjustments and Occupational Health. I’m currently experiencing significant work-related anxiety and have found telephone, video and face-to-face communication extremely difficult.

Written communication allows me to process questions properly and give accurate responses, whereas live communication can cause a severe physical anxiety response. I have previously experienced an episode of loss of consciousness during a period of severe anxiety, so I’m particularly concerned about being required to attend a live OH assessment by phone or video.

I am willing to engage fully with Occupational Health and with my employer’s process; I’m simply asking for communication to be adapted, for example through written correspondence, a written questionnaire, or potentially a video platform where my camera and microphone are off and I communicate through typed chat.

has anyone experienced something similar, particularly where an employer or OH provider initially wanted a telephone/video assessment? What adjustments were offered, and how did you approach the situation?

I’d really appreciate hearing about others’ experiences.

Thank you

Santaslove

Hi there,

This sounds like a tricky situation to be in because I think there are professional standards for the OH service that require the physician to see or hear a patient who they’re assessing. The issue here wouldn’t necessarily come under your workplace’s responsibility for reasonable adjustments if the OH service is an external provider. I would suggest emailing ACAS for advice on this one.

HappyChick247

Thank you for replying. I've replied saying I will do the phone call. But I will make it clear I might need to leave the call and will do so if my anxiety becomes too much.

The actual reason for the call is for them to assess whether I am fit to participate in an investigation. I think it will help attending it tbh as I can say I am, if they make the necessary reasonable adjustments of allowing me to have written only communication.

Mary_Scope

Hi @HappyChick247 and a warm welcome to the community from me!

How are you feeling about the phone call? Do you have to wait long for it or is it coming up soon? I know these things can be really stressful so please remember to be gentle with yourself while you wait 😊

Lovely to have you here and I look forward to seeing you around the community!

HappyChick247

Hello, thank you for such a lovely welcome!

Very anxious about the call. They booked it for a Saturday but asked them to rearrange.

I will say at the beginning this call will add to my anxiety and if at any point it becomes too much, I will end it so that should give me some control.

Rachel_Scope

I think that's a great idea to be clear at the start of the call. They might offer you breaks every so often. Would that be helpful or would you feel better leaving the call?

Fingers crossed it isn't too far away.