So short version I've had an arm/elbow issue for 12 yrs now. Went workman's comp route eventually was revealed by a DR associated with said company no bought by new company that my elbow issue was from checking and dealt with nerves. I went from Checking every day to at least every other day. Eventually in PA we were allowed to sell alcohol in Food stores and passed the RAMP training. We had 2 express lanes for alcohol that became you could buy other things if you had an express order with alcohol. Then my Store Director/Store Manager decided to make it an everybody goes in there lane do to some customers complaining despite having alcohol consumer customers complain about those people.
I went for a my yearly check up last year after missing the year before do to Covid Pandemic. I had an original DRs note from my old company stating my checking limitations and my book keeper Front end manager etc were all aware of this. I asked my bookkeeper who does employee following if I needed to update my note and she said I was good. Fast forward to Holiday season. I'm doing produce now with beer and wine but now I'm checking almost everyday in Beer/Wine lane like a glorified cashier. Christmas goes by and now New Yrs Eve my arm is shot. I'm in pain tingling pins and needle in elbow down to fingers including half my ring finger. Last hour of my shift we had enough people over there I just ended up working the isle. They tried scheduling me for a main cashier shift a few weeks later. My produce manager is pissed as he was told I wasn't allowed to be scheduled that day goes up to the Front end head who just laughs at him. I decided then to get an appointment with my dr literally at the start of my Cashier shift that Tues. I inform my Store Manager plus that department head I had “forgotten” about a scheduled drs appointment involving my arm. Come in that day DR told me not to check till further notice. FE is pissed. All goes well but then my bookkeeper keeps demanding a note every week. Eventually says she isn't playing games with me and if she doesn't see a note soon I'm just checking. I went to 4 different specialists. Last one is a guy well known in my city for his expertise. No one knows where my actual issue is. I already told them PT years ago didn't work and I've lost 5% grip strength maybe more now in my left hand/arm.
Eventually I went back to checking to get breaks out in Beer and wine which was OK. I then started checking Beer and Win only because of Vacations since no one had an answer for me. I called the Union about them threatening my hours. My Union rep was there for a few weeks ago and I explained to him after he told me they wanted me back to “full duty” the problem is I don't know if I can ever go back to that. He told me to just keep updating them and try and play nice with them. I've done my best. I was an idiot and took a meeting with my Store Manager and Bookkeeper without Union Representation. We did decided I'd go do checking in Beer and wine for now see how I do. I'm trying to work with them but compromising seems more like a 1 way street and them getting what they want. My Assisted Manager has been helpful. We recently got okayed to use big lanes for Beer and wine and I got stuck in 1 yesterday. He asked if I was ok in the express lane. I told him I might be and it was worth trying but I told him “you know they probably won't go for it since it's an inconvenience for them” which he agreed on.
I'm thinking of doing my 2 days over there next week Tues and Fri as I got 6 days which gives me OT Time and a half on my Saturday Produce shift. Either way I think if they can't compromise my next bet is my dr who is very willing and helpful to write a note saying I can't check anymore perminately do to my injury. Should add to this I have told them I can do carts and any other thing they want me too as well. My issue only relies on checking.
Should I try to compromise to have that in my back pocket as a defense they didn't compromise or just say screw it and get the note? Honestly I want to get out of checking perminately and love my position in Produce. Always plenty of hrs so my hrs aren't an issue. Also out of the register I'm away from the bullshit and drama up front which I'd rather not be involved in. Their defense is not having enough people over there but that's not my issue. You know not my Monkeys not my circus or whatever that saying is. My priority is my health and working in produce.