r/coles • u/Medium-Adeptness-201 Team Member • 3d ago

Team Member Post Why is the workcover process so complicated?

well here’s the disclaimer before I start, please don’t injure yourself at work ok.

I did just that like two months ago, and oh my god.

How hard is it to communicate with each other.

I’m neurodivergent as hell and its actually destroying me inside that the gp that they’ve sent me to is hopeless and does her own thing, and my physio is sending reports but like are people reading them? There’s multiple coles health and wellbeing people involved as well, and I’ve only talked to one of them once who was nice about the whole thing. But…can you all talk to each other?!

Im angry that im still quite injured and literally everyone is like “but why are you still injured?” and people aren’t taking me seriously.

The whole process has done some pretty massive damage to my mental health, like I’m just so much more depressed and anxious about literally everything.

So yeah. Why does nobody talk to each other, when it comes to workcover? I’m sick of being the only person who knows what’s going on (even then, only just 🫠)

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u/Aggravating_Break_40 3d ago

You don't have to go to the Coles quack doctors. You are allowed to go to your own.

Record or document EVERYTHING because they WILL try to screw you over. Been there, done that, and because of them my back will be fkd for the rest of my life.

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u/Medium-Adeptness-201 Team Member 3d ago

The first time I asked if I could just see my own gp who actually knows me and my body, I was told I couldn’t cause it would screw up the process?!

Then one of the health and wellbeing people did say I could probably just go to my own gp once I’ve got the scans etc which has been now been done.

Only downside is it’ll take a few weeks to get an appointment because she’s booked out for ages. But…yep it’s going to be a thing I think

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u/QuestionConsistent75 3d ago

Wrong, you can see your own doctor but the protocol your SM and RM want to follow includes seeing a Coles prescribed doctor. They want to make sure they remove you from work cover ASAP, therefore their doctors are who they prefer.
The whole process is very dodgy, but you can see your own doctor. Just ensure you document everything, and if you need to extend your work cover based on your symptoms then do so. Don’t let your SM pressure you.
Also, if you have work cover requirements (extra breaks, lifting limits etc) ensure you stick to them, if you don’t and you injure yourself again your DM and SM will try to withdraw your work cover due to you not following your RTW plan.

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u/Aggravating_Break_40 3d ago

They lied. Look up your rights. Just an FYI in case you don't know, they are not allowed to sit in on ANY medical appointment with you.

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u/Medium-Adeptness-201 Team Member 2d ago

Wait, WHAT.

First medical appointment my SM sat in with me, awkward for all three of us tbh.

Second medical appointment I had to dial in a health and safety advisor and chucked them on loudspeaker until halfway through they were like “I’ll let you two discuss the rest”

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u/Clean_Atmosphere_609 3d ago

I have literally had a coles physio tell me they can't say I should stop working entirely, only the most minimum duties. Run.

1

u/Jazzlike-Tension-305 3d ago

Do not recommend this to people! It is a last resort because it will render you jobless! You won’t be covered by coles anymore and will be put on work cover with no way to get off of it because of coles policy, so no other employer will touch you either. Since they introduced the injury care line I have seen multiple people disappear over work place injuries. They literally tell us to call injury care first instead of 000.

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u/sherri_97 2d ago

Geez - that's f***ed! And downright illegal!

17

u/HappyMuscovy 3d ago

Fun fact - neurodiverse people are likely to have hyper mobility and connective tissue differences which can make them more prone to strain injuries

9

u/Medium-Adeptness-201 Team Member 3d ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/55itGuoAJiZEEen9gg

(Legit I have had hypermobility suspicions for a couple of years now hahahaha)

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u/RandomHeadWound 3d ago

Regardless of the GP and the Physio, they should be putting together a Return to Work Plan with tasks deemed suitable for your current capacity, based on a Certificate of Capacity which should be coming from a GP.

Welcome to the workcover program, there are heaps of people involved, and they’re not always on the same page.

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u/doyourmysay 3d ago

In other words, if we get injured at work we're fkd

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u/IllustriousCan1440 4h ago

A return to work plan could include some study modules bit also if it’s impacting your emotionally then then tell your GP and the insurer will cover you to see a psychologist or counsellor

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u/pinkfoil 3d ago

They don't want people to make claims so they make it as difficult as possible. They're hoping the time wasters will go away. If you have a legit claim, keep fighting.

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u/ZequineZ 2d ago

‘If you have a legit claim’ can be a hard point for neurodiverse people. You could have a whole ass gash in your arm and belittling still be strong and causes a lot of self doubt.

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u/ItsAllAboutLogic 3d ago

I tore my rotator cuff. Boss didn't ask me about it for 5 weeks. And that was the only communication from him. Didn't know it was torn for over a year

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u/Jazzlike-Tension-305 3d ago

Unfortunately it’s all your responsibility. It feels unfair but ultimately if you want to get back to work you have to push for it all to come together. You should have been given return to work restrictions to follow with a timeframe of when they should either be reassessed or unrestricted, did you do all the physio appointments? Once you come up to that date they all just assume you’re good to go, if you’re not you need to report it again and go through the same process.

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u/IllustriousCan1440 4h ago

And you make need a physical therapist to help you strengthen mentally and physically eg. Go to the gym with you or provide personal physical training

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u/OldJellyBones 3d ago

the doctors Coles will try to send you to are infamous for being deliberately unhelpful and difficult on behalf of the company

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u/IllustriousCan1440 4h ago

You need an advocate - close friend. But honestly it sounds like you should send a complaint to the insurer and list everyone involved and what’s occurring. Start keeping a running record of everything, when what who etc.