Hi
I need to let off steam (I have posted before about work). Since going back to work last April I have had 13 1/2 days off sick with various things, colds, migraine another cancer scare! well last week employer did a return to work interview after I had 3 days off with tummy bug and it is now going to an absence meeting which could result in disciplinary… well at the advice of the brilliant human rights and disability helpline i was advised to send them a letter detailing my diagnosis treatment etc and advising them that under the Equality Act an employer has to make reasonable adjustments and i feel it would be a reasonable adjustment for them to be more flexible with their absence policy, also said a lot more but I won’t bore you… so they should get the letter tomorrow and we will see if i still have this meeting on Tuesday…
So the point of all this is I am terrified of going in tomorrow, feeling so sick and it is just crazy, part of me just wants to tell them to stick their job but why should I, then equally I am so stressed. My GP is appalled with it all.
So any advice anyone, other than to grow a thicker skin,ha ha!!!
Thanks for reading xxxx
so nice when there’s a little bit of understanding from work isn’t it? Don’t let them make you give up your job. What happened to you was not your fault. Just make a mental note that when the economy picks up and there are other jobs you might want, then they won’t see you for dust.
Are you in a Union? If so I would definetly speak to them before you have this meeting and also see if they would accompany you to the meeting. Best of luck.
Hi Fluffychick,
To help you with this I have put for you below the link to BCC’s publication for employers - The Employ Charter, if you can print it off it might be worth taking with you, if not order a copy on line to be posted out to you (free of charge)
Also for yourself:
www2.breastcancercare.org.uk/publications/financial-practical-support/employ-charter-bcc167
The helpline will be open tomorrow from 9am - 5pm if you need some more information. I hope this helps. Take care,
Jo, Facilitator
Thanks ladies - Jo I do have that leaflet and was saving it in case they carry on with the meeting of Tuesday - sort of throw it across the table!! Yes once I feel stronger mentally I will look for another job…
xxxx
Nasty bullies, I hope they get your tummy bug and serve them right.
Don’t let them drive you out before you choose to go.
I hope all went OK today. I am in a similar situation. The pressure I got from work to return after my father died recently has made me ill and I am now signed off. I am dreading returning as I face an HR interview too. I have suffered from depression/anxiety since my BC diagnosis and this too can be covered by disability, so I may have to do a letter similar to yours. Occ Health did write to my boss mentioning the points you made re flexible attitude to sick leave.
Fingers crossed for you today
x
Fluffy chick don’t hand in your notice! I’ve been where you are now but at that stage didn’t recognise I was depressed, stupidly I cut my hours and tried to carry on, when finally I did “breakdown” it affected my pay albeit by a small degree. Sickness absence policies are a pain and unfortunately there are some managers who relish putting them into action. Hope you rang the helpline and are feeling a little better. Take care.
Wendy
Just to update you had my meeting today and the outcome is they want my permission to contact my GP to confirm that my absences are linked to recovery from treatment and that I am not hiding behind it… need a prognosis going forward etc… so that is what i will do just to appease them…
think the letter sent them into a bit of a tailspin though!!
just get p****d off that you go all through the crap of this just for it to carry on at work, aarrgh!!
thanks for all your comments and support xxxx
Hi Fluffy Chick
It sounds like you work for a large company which believe it or not is a good thing as they are bound by their own policies. I work for the NHS as a senior manager and am recovering from surgery also awaiting chemo so am well versed in HR policies around sickness. You have nothing to hide as you have a geniune condition which is recognised by most companies or public services as a long term condition which will take at least a year for you to recover from. There is no employment tribunal in the land that would go against you so please dont leave your job, stick with it.
Yes give them all the info they need and if the have an occupational health dept ask them for a referral.
Its tough enough having cancer without this hassle but stick with it.
With very best wishes and good luck xx
Thanks peanut, amazingly I work for a small family company!!! Yeah I will stick with it… Good luck to you and thanks again xxx
Fluffy Chick good that you are getting some relief at lastOnly just saw your post this all makes one’s recovery so much harder doesn’t it?Good Luck.
Peanut I too work in the NHS and have had the most horrific time with HR, my manager and don’t even mention Occ Health ( ATOS)After more than 30 odd years of virtually no sickness absence I really feel I would have been treated better had I been throwing sicckies every month AND… no can’t even go on am moving on from how awful it all was.
Libby
I am so sorry to hear that. How on earth has it reached that point? HR sound a pretty poor dept. I know you probably have done this already but have you got a copy of sickness policy? Where are your union reps? Please pm me if you think I can help in any way.I would be happy to help.
With best wishes xx
hi. I was in excactly the same situation, am now 4 yrs dx but i was finding 12 hours shifts very difficult and requested part time. my line manager was horrified, and i was told he was going to ask for my employment to be terminated due to " incapability " i was doing my job fully no exceptions but found hours difficult. so i took him on ( it was very stressful)but with the help of Union and DDA info .it took approx a year, but now i am doing part time and feel much better from it. they HAVE to make reasonable adjustments. many times i felt like giving up but i am glad i didnt, if you enjoy what you do stay with it.
Good luck
Annie
PS if i can help at all Please PM.
Annie
x
Hi Peanut thank-you so much, but I got through all of last year ( phased return and accrued A/L)until March 2011 and am now a force to be reckoned with as I am physically and emotionally well enough to deal with intimidation and bullying. It was made clear that I have had my quota of sick leave in the NHS but I can now handle this. Have had no time off ( in the last 30 odd years) or last year at all despite a serious set back in May , but onwards and upwards. I did send HR a long letter ( and 2 follow up letters as I had not received a reply over 4 months) and identified a lot of areas in the Equality Act, Agenda for Change and their own policies and the BCC charter that they flew in the face of. I got a letter back but wouldn’t call it a reply/response.As I was so ill at the time could not take out a grievance but I think they will think twice about having another go as I have a good record work and absence wise but they really upset me so much esp. when I worked all the way through chemo ( and they thought I was off sick)that I ended up having a week off due to work related stress plus I had an emergency appt with Onc as ATOS decided on the basis of a 10 min telephone call that my prognosis was very poor and I had no idea that the point of the call was to decide that. Thankfully my Onc and BCN did not agree ( I had not asked for my prognosis at that point) Phew sorry an essay.
Hope all you ladies have better experiences but hey did we choose to get BC ? no I think not. Having long term sick leave would be for less serious and life threatening stuff wouldn’t it? J xx
Hi Libby
Go Girl!! Thats the sort of fighting talk we need. You have done well considering the tough time you have had.
I have worked for the NHS for nearly 40 years and have been in senior managment for last 10 years and I hope I have treated staff with the curtesy owed to them. I also have not had a day off sick for many years, cant remember last time! I am hoping to not have too many problems for when I start chemo. We really shouldnt have to fight when we are going through this difficult time.
Good luck fluffy chick, will be thinking of you xx
Annie
Meant to say well done to you also and yes all employers should make reasonable adjustments. so pleased you doing well.
Best wishes xx
What the heck has your prognosis got to do with it, are they planning a sweepstake to see who gets your locker??
You’re ill today and not fit to work, what more do they need to know, and who has a crystal ball to predict the future? They are not entitled to any advance notice of your eventual demise. Nobody gets that.
You’re not STILL off sick are you, how dare you be still alive?? Sure, you can come back to work, provided you promise to die before september, because we’re recruiting your replacement… Whaaaaat?
Sad how there are some really great bosses, colleagues, managers, HR, Occy health etc out there, and then the few who make it so hard, as if it isn’t hard enough already. And the punitive policies designed to weed out the malingerers should not be used against ppl who are geniunely seriously ill but trying nevertheless to keep working. It’s crazy.
Gosh some of you are having it tougher than me… but do you know what I am thinking now what am I fighting for? my job is ok but it’s not a career and yes I want to work but not like this… can’t sleep tonight for the anger inside and then i start to panic as I am sure that this isn’t doing me any good… how come when we are so protected can employers make is so hard for us and that’s okay…i feel totally despondant with it all…feel like going to my gp and getting signed off with work related stress!!!
well good luck to you all xxxxx
ps I am not surprised about the NHS my sister works for them and she has had her tough times with them, it seems they care but not for their employees xx