Our payroll won't speak directly to us, all communication goes through line managers. You can email them, but it is quite a complex process, and they don't make it easy. But yes you are right, I should have firstly had it in writing from my GM, and had evidence that he contacted HR. lesson learnt there.

In regard to the injury, it is no way work related, and as I had a return date for them weeks in advance, they had plenty of time to ensure the meeting could occur the day I was due to return. They called me the morning I was going back to tell me that I had to have a meeting. They never told me this before I went on leave, and therefore said I could not come back.