Backstory and apologize for this being long. I work in a mainstream Grocery store where I use to exclusively cashier and check. Our Store went bankrupt and was bought by another company who kept most of us employed. I know work as a stocker and work the beer and wine section. PA has different rules on alcohol in grocery store on how to buy and such. Anyway back in 2O12 I started to get tingling and numbness in my left arm and finger area with my elbow hurting. Felt like someone pulling at the my with a bunch of tightness. My Union rep told me to go through workman's comp as my company didn't accept drs notes unless it was through a company approved dr. I went to the urgent care next door where I got an EMG and other testing where my results came back normal. I was diagnosed with Ulnar nerve entrapment as my Ulnar doesn't sit deep in my elbow so it rubs against bone if I do repetitive motion like checking. DR at the time ruled out surgery since I wasn't in 24/7 pain. Did some rehab which kind of helped. I was also restricted from back to back days checking and no more then 6HR shifts. That didn't last long shift wise but it hadn't been bother my arm either and I wasn't checking as often as I had previously. I also lost 5% permeated strength in my left hand grip wise.
Go to this past DEC '21 I'm working my alcohol section during the Holiday and do to some rule changes I essentially just became an express lane for the entire store. I checked about 1O of 12 days straight with XMass and New Yrs Day as the only days off. NYE my arm is killing me. Hand completely numb. I mentioned something to my backup department manager and had mentioned in the past 2 or so months my arm had started to hurt more again even after an hour of being up there. Anyway my front end scheduled me to check on a day my Produce manager didn't have me on the schedule as he thought we couldn't have OT. When he found out he was pissed as he could have really used me. He's also my union shop steward.
Anyway was pissed and decided to schedule a DR appointment with my primary for my arm issue. I informed my Front End team manager and others I would be late as I had a DRs appointment scheduled and maybe be an hr late as my DR was only like 15Mins from work. My dr checked me out and said my elbow by the nerve was inflamed. wrote me a note that I couldn't check until further evaluation and see an orthopedic. As you can guess I bring in my note and my FE team is pissed. My Store Director was actually cool about it and sent me to another department to work as I had told my DR the only time my arm issue happens is checking from the repetitive motion. I went to and orthopedic who gave me a new note similar To my primary. I had my EMG done again which came back normal. Orthopedic said it means my irritation is from checking and suggested PT. If the issue comes back to see a hand and elbow specialist who deals with the nerves which I already have a family friend for.
My bookkeeper who keeps track of this wanted me to get the break out of the alocohol section as you have to be certified to work there and they don't have much help. I informed her my note meant I couldn't get a break out and she kind of argued that my note “didn't say that and if I can lift I can check.” Fast forward to yesterday and she tells me again she needs a new note in detail what I can or can't do and threatens if I don't get a new one I at least have to get the alocohol break out. She then accuses me of playing games which is pretty rude.
I had already informed my shop steward they were mad at me for this from the beginning and informed my Union rep about a week after the first appointment when he came in. I spoke to my ASD as he's been cool with helping me through this process. He asked if he could see the DRs note which I told him sure its in the office. After reading it he did say that yes they did need a more detailed note and explained I need to put exactly any limitations and what I can do. He was nice and explained things pretty well without yelling or making threats. My mom even though I should get my primary to write a more detailed note I should call my Union rep to tell him about my bookkeepers accusations against me which I've thought about doing already. Speaking to another coworker in confidence who tells me stuff that happens around the store told me she's talked to others in the past like this. Also we have a girl in our store who cheats the system constantly and they don't say shit even though we all know she's gaining the system. All because she kisses ass and her mom is a lawyer and has threatened lawsuits on us as a company if we don't follow her drs notes. So I feel like I am being targeted here.
Should I just give my bookkeeper the fuck you not have the note and just report her to HR?
Should I have the note and Call HR
or Just write and note and see if she doesn't anything else that breaks my union contract that way I have more evidence of possible targeting moving forward?
Again apologies for the long post but I wanted to to make this as clear as possible.