I work full time and my employer has been kind and considerate and has given me plenty of time off - all paid, despite this not being part of my contract.
I’ve had major reconstruction surgery and have probably another couple of surgeries ahead of me. I’m on endocrine therapy and targeted therapy (with another 2.5 years to go) and with all my appointments and physio and the aches and pains along with a load of stuff going on at home - tons of DIY getting ready to host my daughter’s wedding in our garden.
Trouble is, I’m still struggling - and I’m not “ill” enough not to be at work - I just can’t concentrate - past the aches and pains and various limbs feeling heavy and swollen and headaches and fatigue. I don’t want to take advantage of my excellent employer - and I’m not in a position to be able to quit work permanently - however, I think I could manage for a while without pay.
Has anyone else asked an employer for a sabbatical (unpaid) so they can concentrate on recovery?
I’ve not personally done this as I’m still on sick leave undergoing treatment, however I absolutely would. My very simple advice is to go for it! I think you outlined your needs and respect for your employer pretty well in your post so maybe just reiterate those when broaching the subject if you decide to go ahead.
I partially retired the week before chemo and targeted therapy started so I thought that when I returned to work, as it was three days, not five I would be fine. I wasn’t!
With hindsight I returned to work to soon. I needed another couple of months off to recover then I wouldn’t have felt like I was going round the twist and feeling a failure about how I was performing. It was upsetting and unsettling as I wasn’t how I used to be. I felt self-conscious and embarrassed and was exhausted. I lost my confidence
I had a phased return and then used annual leave to shorten my week but still found it really hard. Fatigue, chemo related cognitive impairment - I couldn’t remember how to turn in the computer, access the systems I use, find the keys on the keyboard I’d be typing and when I looked at the screen it was nonsense. Tried to do all my mandatory and statutory training but couldn’t recall what I’d read to answer the multiple choice questions. I also lost the language of my job. It was dreadful and upsetting as I’d prided myself on how good I was at retaining information and multitasking.
Six months on I’m so much better but fatigue remains an issue on work days, the Letrozole side-effects are impactful. Eyes are dry, vision gets blurred, hot flushes which disturb my sleep and now they’ve increased in intensity and frequency during the current heatwave.
Have you asked about reducing your hours? Are there enough staff to cover your absence if you asked for a sabbatical? You have nothing to lose by asking.
I spoke to a BCN about my work situation. She validated my feelings about returning to work too soon, then told me that I need to allow another year to recover from the chemo and targeted therapy,
If I had my time again and it had been an option then I would have taken longer off work, and had my accrued annual leave not been enough to eek it out, then I’d have asked for unpaid leave.
I would definitely have a meeting with your employer and explore all the possible options available. Sabbatical could be one of them but maybe they would be open to other ways? How easy might flexible working be in your job, working from home and doing your set hours to suit your energy levels? You sound like you have an absolutely fabulous employer, and it would be a great opportunity to convey that to them and demonstrate the value you have placed on their amazing approach so they continue to support any other colleagues going through this in the future.
I decided to apply for early retirement on the grounds of ill health. I’m nearly 62 and still have just under a year of targeted therapy to go through. I’m lucky to have that option because the combination of treatment, menopause and age are leaving me feeling that the work world is leaving me behind. Time to find a new way of being in the world.
Good luck with whatever you decide and as @mrsjelly rightly says, don’t rush back too soon. xx
@Jaygo I feared that I’d have to go through the process of dismissal on medical grounds hence my perhaps my hasty decision to return too soon. It really felt like a punishment for having HER2 and the long treatment path. I wasn’t confident I’d get ill health retirement as I knew I’d be fit to return at some point. I’ve proven that now, but it’s taken me 6 months to recover enough to feel about 85% of who I was.
I listened to the ‘Life after cancer’ podcast about returning to work this week. Wished it was broadcast last year. It was really useful. Best of luck with your plans @Jaygo
@mrsjelly It’s so sad that we have to juggle this on top of everything else. I’m just lucky that it has come at a time of life where I am not needing to rely on an employer and I feel blessed about that, our mortgage is paid off next May as well so it will be a huge relief.
Thanks for sharing the podcast and I shall have a listen to that. I’m planning on applying to be a coach for Breast Cancer Now to support other people, so staying current on things will be important. X
That’s brilliant that you are planning to give back. I’ve thought about volunteering but at present this is still too raw for me. Also think I’d want to step away from health related voluntary work as I’m a nurse. I think I’d find it hard not to be in nurse mode. It’s what I’ve done since I was a teenager. I’m now in my 38th year of public service. Was aiming to reach 40 years as I believe I’ll be rewarded with a badge . I am very fortunate to have had a profession I’ve loved met wonderful people along the way and I hope I’ve made a small difference in their lives.
. I am very fortunate to have had a profession I’ve loved met wonderful people along the way and I hope I’ve made a small difference in their lives.