Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Occupational HealthWellbeingOpinion

Ockey elf: OH and HR – a match made in hell

by Personnel Today 4 Dec 2009
by Personnel Today 4 Dec 2009

When I started working in occupational health (OH), a long time ago admittedly, we were constantly told not to police sickness absence. But things change over time, and now we’re supposed to work closely with HR to do just that – in fact, it seems that’s all we do.


I don’t know what conversations take place at the point of referral, but I spend most of these consultations trying to calm people down, dry their eyes and generally convince them that they haven’t been sent to me to be given their P45 or the directions to the Jobcentre – sooner or later, someone will sue for work-related stress due to being sent too frequently to OH.


At the other end of the spectrum, I have a few people who are too ill to work, but no-one has the bottle to get rid of them. One client has been off sick for three years and has letters from half the medical profession stating that he’s unfit to work, but still he’s left hanging in limbo and gets sent back to see me twice yearly just in case he’s made a miraculous recovery. I’m waiting for the day when I have to write ‘RIP’ on my management report. Maybe then I can add a PS: ‘I told you he was ill’.


In case the penny hasn’t dropped, I haven’t got much time for HR and still can’t figure out what useful purpose they serve. They’re really good at making workers’ lives a misery, and if you upset them or they just don’t like your accent, then you’re subject to a performance review, which of course will be unfavourable and will require ongoing subtle intimidation tactics, scrutiny and persecution dressed up nicely in an M&S twinset and pearls. Then with a wry smile they will send you on your way, with a stab in the back and an appointment for OH of course – just to establish why exactly you’re so stressed.

Avatar
Personnel Today

previous post
Employment minister believes Jobcentre Plus shake-up will aid employers
next post
Male over-50s made redundant in recession find it hardest to get another job

You may also like

Monkeypox advice for employers: working from home and...

26 May 2022

CPD: Understanding occupational health career pathways (on-demand webinar)

26 May 2022

Burnout afflicts finance sector despite hybrid working

26 May 2022

Record prostate cancer screenings post-pandemic

24 May 2022

Signs of severe eating disorders often missed, warns...

23 May 2022

GPs call for new OH service to relieve...

23 May 2022

Occupational health key to helping employers manage long...

23 May 2022

Three in 10 say physical health has worsened...

20 May 2022

Obesity prevalence projections show 36% will be obese...

20 May 2022

Nurses leaving due to pressure and workplace culture

18 May 2022

  • The importance of being an ethical leader and how to become one PROMOTED | What is ethical leadership?...Read more
  • RPO Report: 2022, The Year to Outsource PROMOTED | Employers should be overwhelmed with choice...Read more
  • Report: Enabling organisational agility through talent & people success PROMOTED | Work has been challenged...Read more
  • Employee Trends 2022 report PROMOTED | Edenred research on employees analysed the key employees’ trends for 2022...Read more
  • How finance apprenticeships can boost business PROMOTED | As the world’s most forward-thinking professional accountancy body...Read more
  • Paul Devoy: Showing appreciation to the Investors in People community PROMOTED | Ask most people what comes to mind when you mention Investors in People...Read more
  • White paper: How digitalisation can support evolving occupational health PROMOTED | Download this free white paper to discover how digitalisation can help occupational health meet emerging challenges...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today