Thanks assisted Can you please explain the difference between sickness absence and disability leave? It's about as clear as mud, my manager has verified I was signed off on disability leave. People have suggested to me that a compromise agreement could be reached, as it would be difficult to dismiss due to disability. Is this an option or not, and if you don't mind my asking what experience do you have in these matters?

If i answer a bit of both does that help? The homeworking application was submitted under a flexible working request, where i need to ask for the reasonable adjustment to be considered. This was achieved using internal forms.

I forgot to mention under the available options.... 1. This does not take into consideration the office as the trigger for the condition, and the intensity of my headaches at the moment means this is not possible. 2. Again no consideration for the office environment as the trigger.

Hi All I am a 34yo male who suffers from daily debilitating headaches, this i have suffered from for some 8 years now. My condition is covered under the scope of the equality act. The employer referred me to an occupational health who suggested home working, as the office environment is a likely trigger factor. His recommendation was a 50/50 split between the office and home office extension. If this were put into place the o/h doctor expected that i could resume my role in its entirety. I subsequently submitted a flexible working application, stating the o/h report, they sanctioned, as the basis for this. This was reviewed and subsequently declined two weeks later. I appealed the decision, and the appeal has subsequently been declined. The reasons stated are listed within the regulation guidelines, detriment to customer service, lack of work, and i would have to work unsupported. Having worked in the business for some 5 years i found these reasons disappointing and not a true reflection of what would happen. I've been left with two options: 1. Work condensed hours, with a period of phased return. I.e. work 8 - 6 Mon - Thursday with Friday off of work. This was trialed previously and had a negative impact on customer service. 2. Part-time hours. This i know would cause a problem for the business due to the numbers of colleagues working job share or part-time hours already. I feel I have been left with no option but to return to work and 'put up with' the side effects the office causes me. This is achievable to a certain extent, but what happens when i suffer repeat attacks and need to take subsequent time off of work? Back to square one.... I've also been told that i have no sickness benefit remaining, however i do not class this as sickness absence as it is a disability/condition I suffer from. I'm waiting to hear back from my union to discuss what to do next. The letter ended with a statement that the appeal has finished and that the decision is final :/ My employer is large with >15,000 employees. Kind regards Gary