I only moved to my current role 12 months ago and I don’t have the full sick pay package yet which is 6 months full and 6 months half. I get 13 weeks full and 13 weeks half.
I work for a University, where every department is different, and there is a vast divide between what happens with academic staff and professional services (like me). I’ve been told some people have had full sick pay over the allowance, based on their managers discretion, but it looks like I am going to be bound to the 13:13 but it is what it is. Unfair: yes, within my control: no. And 13 weeks full pay isn’t bad by any means. I just think for a condition which is going to take a year of treatment, I would love a bit of flexibility. I dont think my manager is being particularly mean, but she is inexperienced and not used to’ managing a non-academic member of staff
HR aren’t being very helpful. They suggested I take holiday for my chemo. That made me a bit wobbly. For context - I am still in my very early stages of diagnosis, I haven’t even had a treatment plan yet, I am trying to get my ducks in a row and control what I can control.
Can anyone offer any sage advise, or hints on how to negotiate a massive, slightly confusing public institution that can be a bit disparate and sometimes hostile?
My understanding is that conditions that are likely to last over a year or cause lifelong problems should be treated differently to other conditions and cancer and cancer treatments come under the Disabilities Act and you are entitled to reasonable adjustments . I can’t believe that your HR wants you to take annual leave for chemo . I would suggest ringing the MacMillan helpline as they know a lot about employment law . I would also scrutinise your employment contract xx
Thanks @JoanneN - it was the flippant way she said it “well, there is always your annual leave you can use if you need to”
I was wanting to bank that and have some time off after all this is over.
It’s quite a funny sector I work in, everything very much comes down to who you are managed by, and in this particular place, the department you work in.
Hi, obviously I’m not familiar with your treatment plan but I’m have 8 dose dense (fortnightly) EC then paclitaxel. I work in the private sector so the sick pay is not as generous as it would be elsewhere I guess? I work at home, which I appreciate is a significant factor but have managed to work in between treatments. I appreciate that’s not for everyone but it’s definitely been an option for me.
@kawan this is helpful. I will be able to work from home, and my LM is flexible and I really hope to be able to work between treatments.
I am at early diagnosis stage and keep going into flap mode. Just trying to control all the stuff I can, or get control of it. I am a planner by nature and like to know how things will run. This is going to be a challenge!
I hope your treatment is going smoothly and thank you for the kind help and advice x
Totally understandable, and that lack of control and planning has been a huge challenge for me also.
It’s been important for me to have as much normality as I can, as much for my family as me. I’ve been fortunate that so far I’ve tolerated EC pretty well so working in between treatments has been very doable. I have my treatment on a Thursday and generally by Monday or Tuesday I’ve felt well enough to work. I do appreciate it would be completely different if I had to go into an office or was people facing, but as I mentioned working from home has made it possible. That said I’ve taken every round as it comes and had the flexibility in my role that I will only log on if I feel well enough.
I have radiotherapy after chemo so may need time off for that, again I’m trying just to see how I feel and decide from there.
it’s really tough and I’m not sure there’s a right or wrong way to do it, just whatever works best for you.
Unfortunately in terms of sick pay your employer is only duty bound to pay you your contractual and statutory entitlement regardless of the length of absence or the medical condition and anything else would be purely discretional. I’m not sure there is much else you can do there I’m afraid if they’re not wanting to go above that entitlement. Could the suggestion of potentially using your annual leave have been intended to be helpful? I’ve certainly used mine for appointments in order to lose as little pay as possible as I was not entitled to be paid for the time off. I’m currently on SSP whilst on sick leave during chemo, hoping my income protection claim comes through. I was diagnosed between accepting the job offer and my start date so we’re not sure how that’s going to play out!
As mentioned, your employer does have to consider reasonable adjustments with a cancer diagnosis. You mentioned working from home as a possibility so that may be a way to keep your pay up if you’re able to and want to do that.
I also second contacting Macmillan for an in depth chat. Best of luck. x
I work in the private sector and I have FIVE days of sick pay at full-pay!!! That’s it … I have worked at the same company for 14-years and they have not even considered paying me at their discretion … for the first five chemo / treatment days (of 12 weekly), I had a sick pay day and then it was put to me that my choice was using my holiday entitlement for the remainder or have it as unpaid leave! So, I am using my holiday entitlement … finished 12 weekly sessions, now on to 4 sessions of 3-weekly then I’ll have surgery of which the time I take off will be unpaid …. so, hats-off to those of you that get a decent sick pay allowance
You should also contact the Macmillan helpline and check out this about Statutory Sick Pay which isn’t the same as your employer’s payments Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) : Overview - GOV.UK
So sorry to hear this @big. That’s pretty poor considering your length of service. I was in my previous job for 14 years and I’ve no doubt the manager I worked for all that time would have paid me full pay for the whole thing.
My current company did recently pay me four weeks company sick pay at the rate of full pay less SSP which I became contractually eligible for at 6 months service so I’ve not done too bad there considering I was diagnosed prior to my start date, have to date been employed by them for only 7 months and have basically done barely any work for them during that time!
Completely understandable @sisters_of_percy. It’s a scary and uncertain time and can affect so many different aspects of your life. Your work and finances are a major consideration during this so you do right to check into everything.
I would ask your university if there are other policies in place as well as the sick leave one. I work for a Local Authority and had become permanent a few months before so still in probation and was only entitled to four weeks full pay and four weeks at half. My manager (with the support of their manager and HR etc), were “creative” with the policies. Following diagnosis up to surgery when I was struggling due to changes and delays I had about five or six weeks off and they gave me paid compassionate leave. I took sick leave for a couple of weeks following surgery and then there is a policy in place for time off specifically for cancer treatments and screenings so had a week off for radiotherapy under that policy (even though I could have worked around appointments my boss insisted). I know I was fortunate, my employer was incredible to be fair.
