I am a teacher and due to return to work in a few weeks after 5 months off (lumpectomy + radiotherapy ), I will be on a phased return until the end of term so am not worried about that as I will only be doing 2 days a week max.But I am worried about September when I will be back full-time ( I am also Head of Dept )and I do wonder whether I will cope again as the job is very demanding and stressful .
So I would love to hear from any fellow teachers who have either got success stories to tell about going back etc…because that would encourage me .But I would also like to hear from anybody who could explain to me if we do come under the Disability act and what does that mean exactly if we do ; can you insist on a reduction in hours and do you have to ask for that within a set time after your return ?
Hope someone can give me some answers!
many thanks in anticipation
froggy
Hi froggy
I have just recently returned to work, phased return, after bc diagnosis last August, suregery, chemo, rads and remain on Letrozole and Herceptin. I have coped quite well, I think, with my return to work as a nurse manager with a phased return over 4 weeks. I have been well supported by my team and the other managers in the service. I do not feel that I am 100% fit (whatever that is!) but do feel much better getting normality and routine back to my life. I understand we do come under the DDA and your Occupational Health should be able to assist you with any help or adjustments you might need. There was another thread on here about return to work which was very helpful but can’t recall the title. Hopefully someone else will be able to help you with this. Good luck on your return to work. J.
I am a primary school teacher and I returned to work in November 10 after being of for 8 months ( had mx, chemo and rads). I had a phased return that lasted until xmas, mornings only. This was great as I wasn’t given a class, just a supporting role.
I found it tiring though and asked and got a reduction in my hours. I now work 4 days a week. I did discuss this with my union first. They said I wasn’t automatically entitled to a reduction in my hours, but the school would have to have a very good reason for turning me down considering my circumstances. There was already 2 teachers working 4 days a week at my school for different reasons, so I knew the head would not be able to refuse me! The union also advised me to ask for the reduction on a temporary basis and review it each year as I might for finantial reasons want to go back full time at some stage.
I am currently off work again following a risk reducing mx on the other side (found out I was BRCA 2). I will go back to work in July and am looking forward to being back at work in september.
cat
Froggy,
Im an Assistant Head in a High School which is pretty full on. i had the same treatment as you and took off 5 months to the day. This was in 07/08. I did a phased renty over a 1/2 term and then did full time to summer then…Autumn term was like I hadnt been away.
My Boss at my return to work interview asked me is I was fit to work… I said I didnt honestly know but would give it my best (Head was very cabbaged at this stage, she informed me if I wasnt up to my job she didnt have to give me another, reduced hours was not an option (great caring attitude in a Catholic School)… I dug in, it was hard but by Autumn the full on nature of the job did alot to get my head straight and stopped giving my cancer 100% of my focus and thought. It also provides advantages… cant see me doing the race for life… but I now send out 750 kids each year on a sponcored run (plus staff) and we raise about £2000 annually!! All for the cause. Sarah