chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

ive just found out today that the injury in my wrist ive had for about a year (the repetitive strain injury), isnt ever gonna go away.

ive just got back from an arranged appointment with a rheumatologist, and from everything that was discussed, and all the history involved in my wrist...

well he basically said if i dont change my job within a year im gonna be crippled with arthritis in my wrist for life

this has really upset me, as me and nat dont have an excellent quality of life as it is - we get by and pay the bills. the situation is most other jobs round here are lesser payed than mine. nat only earns above minimum wage, and me around £10 p/h. im not ashamed to admit this compared to others on here earnings.

so im really mad with my employers as its basically been said by three professionals i have a serious r.s.i. now and they have done nothing to help me, apart from recently threaten to dismiss me if i dont start doing upto 60 hours a week instead of 40

luckily im in a very good trade union (as i think this is gonna drag out), and im waiting for the report from the rheumatologists to reach me and my g.p.

hopefully il have enough scope to put in a claim against these ***** for everything thats gone on.

has anyone any constructive advice for me? i do get free leagal/solicitors advice via my union so thats covered at least.

appreciate others view on this, im really upset/mad/angry, whole mixture of emotion.

andy

Clarebabes

Sorry to hear that. What sort of job is it?

stilover

What job to you do?

Was the injury caused carrying out your job?

Were you following company policy in how you do your job? i.e. were you lifting something without the correct equipment?

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

i work in a warehouse, where i drive machinery around to order pick food and drink orders.

ive always followed company procedures, and done what they ask.

from what i can see and have been told, this isnt my fault or down to my negligence. i obviously expect my employers to accuse me otherwise however.

im a simple guy, and just want to go to work, and earn my keep. but doing the job i do, under the intense pressure were under to hit targets, its affected my body to this extent. im really mad at them, but naturally im looking at myself first. i just dont know what to do.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Andy: thought of college during the day and a better job?

What does Nat do: Could she earn more in the meantime?

Alcazar

Torquemada

Not good mate, sorry to hear of this.
I work for a trade union now and see these types of things all the time, as long as you have followed procedure then I'd imagine that you'll win the case but obviously can't guarantee it as I don't know all the details (plus I ain't a negotiator) I'll have my fingers crossed for you though, although that could be some time as you've said, I may have to uncross them to drive the scoob or have a w@nk though

All the best!

Tom

Snazy

Claiming for an RSI alone is an awkward one that less and less solicitors seem interested in.
Im currently speaking with legal professionals about my own circumstances. If you feel its worth talking over with a solicitor, call one of the freebie ones and see if they think there is a case.

Main thing though.. Your health. Before anything else, get yourself sorted out, then think about punishing your employer, getting compensation etc.
I have gone through hell with my issues, and it could drag on for years to come yet.

Best of luck mate, hope you get all aspects sorted.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

ive thought about it, but i have to sleep sometime. its ok going back to college and doing a course, but everywhere ive enquired requests experience in the chosen field and not a bit of paper from college.

id like to think im quite bright and could handle different situations and a career change, but as you know scunny is very industrialised and there arent many "suit" jobs round here.

nat works in a factory. shes had expericne working in an administrative role, but the money is the same for that kind of job as it is factory work.

i genuinely feel im in a rut. il keep scoping the papers for jobs etc, even considered applying for one with the council to help mental health affected people. again experience preferred.

i could possible sustain a small drop in wages. think i take home around £320-330 a week in my warehouse job, and nat about £185. we dont, after bills, mortgage etc, have agreat deal left.

i have considered selling the car, but i wouldnt command a high price for her, and insurance on anything else wouldny be a huge difference due to my lack of driving expereince.

so in all fairness ive explored just about every avenue regards saving money. ive debated for hour upon hour about options available to me, and its pretty grim.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

cheers micheal.

re. the solicitors thing, i have free advice on my union fees i pay monthly. so they will be specialised in this field and deal with it day in day out. probably the best people to have in this situation, which is a glimmer of hope.

simply, im not looking for free money, but possible recompensence for possible future losses etc. its all wide open at the moment, and im gonna see what the future brings, but im gonna have to act soon, because im right handed and my drawing, djing etc means the world to me and i dont wanna lose that ability.

SwissTony

iTrader: (19)

******

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

DCI Gene Hunt

Not great news, your company will drop you like a hot potato when they get wind of this... you should be (with Union support and a good lawyer) able to seek compensation, however as others have eluded this is a long winded and drawn out process....

Your company should have policy's and assessments on the safe use and operation of all counter balance/electric reach work equipment, to which you should have been instructed in the safe use and operation of.

You will be grilled and as typical dirty tricks campaign will be waged against you, so for once you need to stop the whole "I'm just an honest bloke looking for ....." line and stop being so 'open' with them, all company requested 1:1 discussions should (from now on) involve a union rep and think of it more like a police interview where there trying to lead you into 'confessing' to a crime you didn't commit.

and for **** sake DON'T mention that you spend all your spare time drawing.... as that's what they'll say caused the RSI....

Anyhoo... keep stum, say only what you need to, seek legal advice straight away and good luck... it also goes without saying that you need to stop 'chatting' on an open forum about the whole thing... as some saddo may pass information on to your employer!

Good luck, DCI

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

appreciate the advice.

im saying on here what i know i can say, ie no company names etc.

my problem steps with the repetitive side of actual handling cases of goods. not the driving of the machinery.

its very complicated to explain, but ive basically been forced into this spot by the company because they refuse to revise things like order times (were on a stopwatch and expected to hit certain percentages), pallet volumes, pallet wieghts, the warehouse layout etc.

theres too many factors to explain it on an open forum, but with others complaints of similar injuries taking place, genuine complainys and not gravy trainers, i believe this may help my case.

thanks for the advice fella. appreciate it and taken on board

Brendan Hughes

Andy, I don't think you've ever spoken about your employers in a good light on here, apart from the salaries. And, as you can see from others on here , the salary is not enough to justify losing your hand.

Fact is, there is no way you are going to win a settlement, stay at your job, get all the bosses sacked and replaced with nicer ones, and live happily ever after.

The starting point is, look for a new job and restructure your life around it and whatever salary it brings. If you can sue this lot and get a payout, great. But from all you've described so far, that's what I see.

Go on, look at that paramedic etc stuff

Scoobychick

iTrader: (1)

I've already told him to go for the paramedic stuff but it would mean a long period of training on a lower wage. Still, there are always ways and means when you're young enough. What Brendan says is very good advice Andy, you would do well to take it IMHO.

Look at re-training now before you start a family and get even more financial commitments, a couple of years of sacrifices now will paid dividends in few years time when you need it more.

If you are determined you WILL find a way

Maz

iTrader: (34)

That is also very good advice.

Odds on

Andy, from what I've heard you'll be on a right struggle. Court case's built on 'It's not fair' will be difficult to win.

Going on previous post's of yours, you obviously don't like where you work. Have a think about what sort of work would interest you, drawing based perhaps, then go for it.

T5OLF

iTrader: (4)

Not good mate, I worked in a quarry as a fitter for many years, long hours, dusty, and very dangerous. I now work for a large IT company so it can be done you just have to have the confidence to go out and do it.

What about a job with BT openreach?? they train you up and the money is ok.

Have look at these sites, they may be of help. Chin up mate

IT Jobs at CWJobs, the specialist for contract and permanent IT positions

Find Jobs. Build a Better Career. Find Your Calling. | Monster.co.uk

SVVG

iTrader: (1)

I'm pretty sure that you can't be forced to work more than 40 hours a week - EU work time directive...

You can opt out of this at your discretion - but don't think you can be made redundant/fired for not doing so....

What about options for an alternate career - graphic design or something similar?

Definitely get some proper legal advice - employment lawyer and Personal injury lawyer should be spoken to IMO.

My firm go mad to ensure that we have a work station assesment, and have all required work aids at our disposal so we can't litigate if we sustain this sort of injury - definitely speak to a specialist lawyer.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

well apparantley this is what my employers think...

they can make you do a maximum of 48 hours per week (average) over a 17 week period. they is an option when everyone starts to either opt in/out of this rule. by opting in, you cant work more than 48 hours in any week. by opting out you can work more - upto anything.

basically my and other employees understanding is by opting out, you can do more than 48 hrs if you want too. however the companies stance is that if you opt out, they can make you do upto 60 hrs a week.

now bearing in mind its a very physical job we do (most orders over two pallets weigh upto 1600kg), can you imagine having to do that. oh and at (as the t's and c's state) 4 hours notice.

so imagine i go into work at 10pm and i get told at 2am, i will be staying until 10am rather than 6am, because the company want me too. i refuse stating i have to take my gf to work.... andy gets disciplined. seriously, no bias etc, thats how it works.

the other week, 40 polish gentlemen off the weekend shift just didnt turn up, because even they have had enough. so these 40 people who may have picked 80,000 cases between them in 12 hours maybe more, had to be covered.

the company was giving 4 hrs notice to all shifts stating they would be forced into working upto 60 hrs week each if they didnt volunteer.

its all in the new t's and c's which were all refusing to sign (unless under duress).

so anyways, they were that desperate, they were ringing people at home several times a day, even rung a workmate of mines father to pass the message on he HAD to come in either 4 hrs early or stay over 4 hrs.

again, the above is not bias in any direction, it is fact. this is why im taking it legally now.

as ive said im going through a mixed set of emotions right now. yesterday was "feel sorry for oneself" day, where as today is "militant fight back" day.

the best option for me is to scour whatever work i can and go for it, while taking these men to the cleaners for causing this to me.

aaand before people pick out this statement and ask why i havent left earlier??? well why should i? i have the right to work in a safe, unharming enviroment, and have been told by a time served hospital consultant yesterday, this job and not my wrong doing has caused all this damage to a 23 year old mans wrist.

sorry for the "lewis-esque" rant

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

I take it you have a fork-lift license? There are places that would employ you, surely, better than where you are now?

Even places like Wickes, if you have f/l.

Alcazar

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

havent got forklift/reach or counter balance.

the company stipulate if you take their training for reach truck, you must stay at the company for at least two years afterwards, otherwise pay them back £1000 for the training costs. this is if you want your licence, which you would need as proof.

the company offered me this training about 6 months ago, and i refused, as then it was starting to get nasty about my wrist.

all they want is for me to be doing my full duties, ie overtime/flex at short notice and do the same repetitive job for upto 60 hrs a week. my wrist simply cant take this any more, and im generally quite a stocky fit young man.

others have started complaining/taking time off for similar injuries too, but the management and h.r. dept. arent interested.

for the last 2/3 years, employees have been going to their g.p.'s to be signed off from overtime for reasons as above, and stress.

the company employes around 450 staff in the warehouse over 4 shifts.

i started exactly 4 years ago today. my clock number is 2440. they have just passed clock number 3800. thats nearly 1400 people in 4 years that have started or left. dont forget what about the other 2339 before me

the sheer turn around in staff is so immence, they cant actually fill the places being vacated now. nobody from poland wants to work there either now, and there are websites in poland trying to distance people from working here

seriously, you could not make it up. obviously i cant give out the companys name, and wont, but from all this you can hopefully see my point. im a pretty tolerant person (you have to be living with someone like natalie ), but even my high patience threashold is dimeaning now.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Andy, I'm CERTAIN you can get a f/l license for a LOT less than that. When my lad was made redundant, I looked into it for him with a view to giving him another possible career direction, or another string to his bow in his chosen one, (welding/plating). It was MUCH less than what you're quoting. In the end he got another job and is now qualified.

I'd be inclined to go on Yell.com the UK's local search engine - search for UK businesses and find some prices mate, get your license and tell the company to fek off.

Is the company the nicer one up on fxhlls, or BB?

Alcazar

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

the thing is the jeff geoff geff (sorry not sure?), is ive been warned its this type of work which is doing me in.

i need a totally different type of employment, otherwise by the time im 30/35/40 il be totally crippled

i have to get a less physical job, not in a warehouse/factory and not driving hard sudden metal machinery if you follow.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Ah.

Then a career change HAS to be the only way, Andy, if you aren't to be crippled for life

Be prepared for some hard times. Been there, done that: My Mrs was a nursery nurse, and decided she wanted to be a teacher. She took a year out, unpaid, and went to college, which we also had to pay for, and travelled to Hull, daily, return which we also paid for. We had to buy a second car for her to use, and THEN she fell pregnant, giving birth 4 months before she was due to start at college. So we had child-minding on top of that lot

Alls I can say is, it was VERY hard, we only narrowly kept our heads above water, (and that was with me doing a full-time job and mini-cabbing every night, PLUS working with the students labouring on the works in the summers), and the pain went on a good two years after she was qualified and had a good job. Hard times indeed, but worth it now.

Alcazar

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

thanks for the advice. the thing which worries me is that if a get a lower paid job will it have any prospects of prmotion, or am i doomed to be on naff wages for the rest of my working days?

its sounds selfish, but i dont want to have to make too many more sacrifices. im scared nat would leave me, as she could quite easily go back to her parents in broughton, pay £30 a week lodge and have circa £160 a week to herself. shes only 21 and i feel bad that this problem of mine will then restrict her further than it does.

Leslie

Sorry about that problem Chocolate. I have got a similar problem in my wrist too but it won't have the same sort of effect as you might have to cope with.

I can't give any advice except that what DCI said sounded like good sense to me. They will have go at you for sure.

Les

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

it started getting really nasty with them at the end of january.

have been seeing the occ. nurse at work every two weeks. but they stopped inviting me to meetings, then had the edge to blame me because my nhs app. with a rheumatologist hadnt come through quick enough. they expected me to go private (and pay) too speed things up.

in one letter they have blatantly said i will be dismissed if i dont eventually furfil contractual requirements, ie overtime - even though its there fault i have this injury in the first place.

so i have a formal grievance in which my full time union rep is dealing with, with me. then im taking it further, regardless of the outcome.

im having all their heads on a f***ing platter if it kills me

Brendan Hughes

I didn't realise you'd been there 4 yrs already. Document everything, then it's constructive dismissal time

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

oh yeah brendan. ive kept tabs and refuse to speak over the phone with them now. ive now started communicating with h.r. via written post. makes things difficult for me, but a hell of a lot more difficult with them.

as i said in an earlier post, i wanna be able to go to work and do my job to the best of my abilities. i left college just under 6 years ago with the equivalent art and design course bouble b-grade, and since then, i have had 2 jobs, the first i was made redundant from.

in my 5 1/2 years working life, ive had 2 months on the dole, actively seeking employment in that time.

i have no issue with working and earning the nice things in life (like me house and car), but working here just isnt anywhere near fair anymore, regardless of the pay in comparison to similar work.