Mum struggling at work

JBF86

Hi all,

I'm just wondering from an employment perspective where my mother would stand. She's a factory worker and has worked at the company for 35 years.

She likes it there and has friends but has been working a job in the factory for the past 15 years that no one else would work. Others had started and quit after a week or month because it is quite a tough job physically.

Her body is now really struggling with it, pains every morning and really struggling mentally because of this. She has asked if she can move to another area, she is trained in 2 other areas and is willing to train in any area but has said she's struggling with her other job from a physical point of view. The answer has been that there is no one else that can work the job so she has to stay there.

I'm wondering is there any way around this, the union has been of no help when she asked them they just said well they can't put you anywhere else.

She's now at the point of quitting, even though she likes the company she's completely drained. She's also been put on medication to help with the stress from it all.

As her son, I'm obviously concerned. She doesn't want to stop working and she's walking away from a company she's been with for 35 years. Is there anything she can do as she's not physcially able to do that particular job anymore?

1hnr79jr65

First thing to do would be to go to doctor and explain everything with documentation and take leave due to stress. Then once informing work of the stress leave, tell them your mother requires a documented workplace safety and risk assessment from a competent person and take it from there.

https://www.hsa.ie/eng/Topics/Managing_Health_and_Safety/Safety_Statement_and_Risk_Assessment/#Whatisacompetentperson

elfy4eva

Having worked in factory roles before myself my advice would be to persist in highlighting the issue with HR. The factory I was in was full of management who wouldn't be inconvenienced to save their granny unless the issue was a proper thorn in their side.

JBF86

Sour Lemonz wrote: »

First thing to do would be to go to doctor and explain everything with documentation and take leave due to stress. Then once informing work of the stress leave, tell them your mother requires a documented workplace safety and risk assessment from a competent person and take it from there.

https://www.hsa.ie/eng/Topics/Managing_Health_and_Safety/Safety_Statement_and_Risk_Assessment/#Whatisacompetentperson

She has taken leave because of the pain, she's taken probably a month in total in the past year. I think the doctor has documented it as stress, and that is part of it but the underlying issue is the pain due to the work. She hates taking time off but when it reaches braking point she goes to the doctor in the hope of a 'miracle fix' and he usually advises taking a rest.

What happens if the deem she can't work that job, are the obliged to find room for her elsewhere or will she be let go?

thegills

JBF86 wrote:

She has taken leave because of the pain, she's taken probably a month in total in the past year. I think the doctor has documented it as stress, and that is part of it but the underlying issue is the pain due to the work. She hates taking time off but when it reaches braking point she goes to the doctor in the hope of a 'miracle fix' and he usually advises taking a rest.

JBF86 wrote:

What happens if the deem she can't work that job, are the obliged to find room for her elsewhere or will she be let go?

JBF86 wrote:

What happens if the deem she can't work that job, are the obliged to find room for her elsewhere or will she be let go?

I would really hope so assuming they have other roles that she is qualified for.?

JBF86

thegills wrote: »

I would really hope so assuming they have other roles that she is qualified for.?

That was my thoughts also, I asked her this and she said no one will work the role she's doing. That any time someone is hired for it they leave within a few weeks.

So the company can't really replace her and there's no other role on the floor open. She's sort of caught and feeling like if she says she can't do it anymore she'll be shown the door.

Diziet

I would push back on the 'no one will work that role'. If it is so bad then the role needs adjusting.

She needs to puts this request in formally, with backing from her doctor. Do not take holiday, take sick leave and ask for a risk assessment. If her union rep is not helpful, ask them to get her access to an employment specialist.

Tell me how

It could be that the company has not done everything reasonable to redesign the process to make is as safe as it should be (unverified link).

Repetitive strain injuries are classified as industrial diseases when initiated by the work environment, the task design or the equipment available to perform the task. Under regulations within the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act (2007), employers have a legal obligation to perform a risk assessment of any job within the workplace and the capability of the employee to perform that task without risk of injury, or with adequate training and protection to ensure the task is performed safely.

I know it refers to repetitive strain injuries which you have not suggested is the issue but if you consider this text and also typical manual handling practices where lifting aids are given if the task is likely to be excessively difficult.

I would give the same advice as others and make sure your mother focuses on her health and consistently gets her Dr to advise her in this respect.
It is a bit confusing to me that the union have not helped because this sounds like it should be a straightforward case. Ask your mother to document all interactions she has had with the union and the company in this respect. Save emails if they exist relating to the conversations or if not, make a chronological list on a spreadsheet or a notebook listing the dates, the people involved and conversations which happened in respect to this.

You will find a lot of information at the following locations, specifically the second one.
https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/employment_rights_and_conditions/health_and_safety/health_safety_work.html
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2007/si/299/made/en/print


I wouldn't go in quoting legislation just yet but try to get to a place where the company is thinking of a way to resolve your mums issues, not just shrugging their shoulders. Maybe she can officially tell her line manager that her duties are making her unwell and that she wants to hear what the company thinks they can do to help with this situation.

1hnr79jr65

JBF86 wrote: »

She hates taking time off but when it reaches braking point she goes to the doctor in the hope of a 'miracle fix' and he usually advises taking a rest.

What happens if the deem she can't work that job, are the obliged to find room for her elsewhere or will she be let go?

The fix is the company fixes the process and/or getting new people to do the role as it is clear it is not suitable in current format.

As for if is deemed that your mother can no longer do the role, well she is trained in other areas and the company are obligated to make a reasonable effort to reassign her. Based on her training this would put your mother is a very favorable position plus length of service.

It could be used in defense of taking further leave and fixing the role, that your mother had to take leave before due to same issue. If your mother needs to take the time off then do so, she is not obligated to work herself to an early death just to satisfy the company's lack of ability to retain staff to do the same role.

Mrs OBumble

JBF86 wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm just wondering from an employment perspective where my mother would stand. She's a factory worker and has worked at the company for 35 years.

She likes it there and has friends but has been working a job in the factory for the past 15 years that no one else would work. Others had started and quit after a week or month because it is quite a tough job physically.

Her body is now really struggling with it, pains every morning and really struggling mentally because of this. She has asked if she can move to another area, she is trained in 2 other areas and is willing to train in any area but has said she's struggling with her other job from a physical point of view. The answer has been that there is no one else that can work the job so she has to stay there.

I'm wondering is there any way around this, the union has been of no help when she asked them they just said well they can't put you anywhere else.

That's a union delegate who needs a swift wakeup call. Totally inadequate answer. Speak to whoever in the union s/he reports to.

Frankly if yhe job is that bad, it needs to be changed to share the load. Your mother may like her colleagues, but it sounds like they are all treating her very badly by allowing this to continue.

blindsider

Agree with all the above.

The company needs to ask itself if it wants a seamless job re-design, or a gaping hole in productivity and disruption when a long serving and loyal employee leaves?

The Union rep needs a shake and HR need more than a shake - they are not fulfilling legal obligations, and they're not protecting the company against a case in the WRC.

JBF86

Thank you for all the responses guys. They're very much appreciated.

I will tell her to push back on her line manager again, and if they won't adjust the role then she may have to get the union involved again or go further up the chain. I know she will be reluctant to do this but as said, she can't work her way into an early grave.

I would like to get involved myself but I feel it would change the dynamics for her in a bad way. She's a quiet woman and doesn't like to upset the apple cart and I feel this is why they haven't taken her off the job, not out of badness but that she's less of a problem than someone else might be in the role.

dublin49

JBF86 wrote: »

Thank you for all the responses guys. They're very much appreciated.

I will tell her to push back on her line manager again, and if they won't adjust the role then she may have to get the union involved again or go further up the chain. I know she will be reluctant to do this but as said, she can't work her way into an early grave.

I would like to get involved myself but I feel it would change the dynamics for her in a bad way. She's a quiet woman and doesn't like to upset the apple cart and I feel this is why they haven't taken her off the job, not out of badness but that she's less of a problem than someone else might be in the role.

I think she needs to go sick,they will have to make arrangements to replace your mother then and if she stays out long enough they will realise she is serious and once they have someone else in situ for the medium term they will be more amenable to change.I would imagine your mother will be reluctant to do this but tell her she will be empowered when she does and isnt it better to try this before she hits the nuclear button and resigns.