Does a phased return affect my Bradford Factor?

SoupyTwist

Free Member
Apr 26, 2017
2
0
Hi all, some advice much appreciated!

Currently working in a school as support staff. Since starting my job in September, I have had 4.5 days off due to illness. In February, I had a meeting with my line manager to inform me that my probationary period was to be extended to May due to these absences (which is fair enough, I had no complaints with this).

Unfortunately I had a knee operation on April 7th which was given to me as a personal day, thus not further affecting my absence record. I was also fortunate enough that this fell on the last day of term, so I was able to use the 16 days of for Easter holidays to aid my recovery which of course didn't affect my absence record either.

I was supposed to have a third week off, however as I was worried about taking further time off, I went to see my GP at the end of the second week and asked them if they could sign me back to work on a phased return with altered hours. I returned back to work on Monday.

Yesterday I was called into a meeting to discuss my phased return, where I was also informed that a final probationary hearing would be held next Tuesday, an outcome of which could be the termination of my employment. The reason for concern was my "unacceptable levels of absence".

Since my probation period was extended in February, I have had 0 days of sick. So my question is - is my phased return affecting my Bradford Score further? I was under the impression that as I was still coming into work (albeit on shortened hours) then it wouldn't be classed as sick time. I could well be wrong though.

Thanks for the help!
 

SoupyTwist

Free Member
Apr 26, 2017
2
0
It depends entirely on your employer. There are no hard and fast rules. Are you in a union?

Thanks for your reply!

I am in a union, yes. I have been told that I can bring a union rep with me to the meeting and sent a very detailed email to my local branch yesterday evening. Not heard back from them yet but I'm planning to follow up with a call tomorrow morning.

If there aren't any hard and fast rules, can I ask employers/employees on here if a phased return affects Bradford factor in their workplace? Just trying to gauge whether this is typically the case or not.
 
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