A CARE worker whose pay was docked after injuries she sustained during the Ice Bucket Challenge charity phenomena has forced her bosses into a climb down.
The female member of Glasgow City Council's social work department had sustained 'Cold Water Shock' during the charity stunt several months ago and was rushed to hospital, forcing her from her work for several days.
However she had been told as her injuries were self-inflicted she would only receive statutory sick pay, cutting her salary in her absence by around two thirds.
After several weeks of wrangling the employee, who has asked not to be named, had her union lodge a formal grievance against the social work department.
Within days of the grievance, her pay had been re-instated, the council admitting it had applied the rules "too strictly".
In correspondence sent to HR chiefs, Unison officials explained: "This member took part in an 'ice-bucket challenge' during her lunch break along with two other staff members for charity during the summer. Along with many others, Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon, etc etc.
"Immediately following the ice being tipped over her, she was rushed to hospital with, what was later diagnosed as, 'Cold Water Shock'.
"She was absent from work on the Thursday and Friday as a result of the Cold Water Shock and returned to work on the Monday.
"She has now been informed that two days occupational sick pay will be deducted as the absence is being considered as 'self inflicted'."
Unison also said the care worker had been told by departmental HR managers that her participation was considered "sport for payment" and would exclude her from absence procedures, potentially "affecting all staff who participate in charity fund raising events".
The Ice Bucket Challenge started in the US during 2013 and went viral on social media in the UK across July and August. Participants were encouraged to be filmed having iced water thrown over them and then nominate others to do the same, within 24 hours.
But there were health warnings in the summer, with some medics claiming it could induce unconsciousness in people taking blood pressure medications, with numerous injuries said to be have been recorded.
Brian Smith, Unison's Glasgow secretary, said: "The reason given for docking this employee's sick pay was she was engaging in a sporting activity and thus it was her fault.
"Such an approach will really bugger up all those senior council managers who go skiing in the Alps and get injured or the mere mortals who still try to play five-a-sides or go for a run in an effort to embrace the sporting and health legacy of Glasgow 2014."
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