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Does work have the authority to tell you that you are not fit to work?

Navigating work can be tricky with a mental health condition. Questions such as "do I disclose my condition" often are asked of ourselves and there are pros and cons on doing so. You are entitled to reasonable adjustments and there is external support available that you can utilise. Discuss this and more in this forum,
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Jacob The Third
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Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:52 pm

Does work have the authority to tell you that you are not fit to work?

Post by Jacob The Third »

As the title says - does the employer have the right to tell you that you are not fit for work, when you believe you indeed are?
Jacob the first - nope
Jacob the second - nope
Jacob the third - yep

:arrow: and that's my family history in a nutshell
Pikachu
Posting Level - 45 Posts
Posting Level - 45 Posts
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Joined: Tue Jan 20, 2026 7:38 pm

Re: Does work have the authority to tell you that you are not fit to work?

Post by Pikachu »

Hello.......having been of work for a number of weeks due to anxiety and this has happened a number of times, work can not define when you should return to work. Instead what they should do is invoke occupational health so that they can conduct a risk assessment by understanding your challenges, the demands of the role and associated recommendations to try and get you back into work (if at all possible). I have had occasions where it is no - I can not work - and the employer has to go by that.....hope that helps
:arrow: I love Pikachu! :!:
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SecretBipolar
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Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2026 7:06 pm

Re: Does work have the authority to tell you that you are not fit to work?

Post by SecretBipolar »

Pikachu wrote: Sat Feb 21, 2026 9:18 pm Hello.......having been of work for a number of weeks due to anxiety and this has happened a number of times, work can not define when you should return to work. Instead what they should dob is invoke occupational health so that they can conduct a risk assessment by understanding your challenges, the demands of the role and associated recommendations to try and get you back into work (if at all possible). I have had occasions where it is no - I can not work - and the employer has to go by that.....hope that helps
Have been through and got LCWRA myself - it makes the conversation more easier.
Very best regards,
SecretBipolar

Diagnosis: Bipolar Type 2, Borderline Personality Disorder, Adjustment Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder Suspected
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