Hi not too sure if anyone can help me but need some help/advise.
I have had breast cancer nearly 5 years ago and had to have time off work for the op and rads. Work was good and i only had a little time off work. The cancer returned less than two years later and this time it was chemo and then rads. I stiil did go to work (Mornings only) for part of my chemo but had to pack up due to infections.
When i did return to work there was no plan i was just thrown back in. I work in a school as a TA and worked in a year 6 class. The other T/A left part way through the year and was not replaced. The school ran me into the grouund even though i said i was having problems.
This last year i have had problems with my heath again and have had to be off work work with chest infections. I decided to go and see my boss yesterday to request that my hours be reduced to mornings only as i was aware that my heath had not been too good this year again.
The Head teacher was not really helpful but did agree to reduced my hours. She then went onto say that she was going to change my job spec/without talking with me. Unfortunatley i lost my cool and had words and yet agin i had my illnesss thrown back at me and who the school had bent over backwards to help me with my illness. She inferred that the time i had been having off work was not illness related. Needless to say i am feed up and really donot want to be working there. It is bad enough having to deal with side effects of drugs and tring to get my body to recover from treatment without dealing with this kind of attuide.
The problem is because you look well and your hair is grown back and i donot go around moaning about not feeling great i.e. feeling sick because of fatige (spelt wrong sorry) noone realise.
I have put the request for my hours being reduced into writing last night to cover myself as i donot want to loss anymore hours.
Any ideas ladies.
Please excuse spelling ladies this was done quickly before dragging myself off to get ready for work.
Hi Lupin
So sorry to hear you’re having problems at work. I have put for you below the link to BCC’s publication ‘Employ Charter’ which may help you. It may also help if you give the helpline a ring and have a chat with one of the staff here who may be able to explain more about employment following a BC diagnosis. Hope this helps.
Employ charter:
breastcancercare.org.uk/server/show/nav.716/changeTemplate/PublicationDisplay/publicationId/25
Kind regards,
Jo, Facilitator
Hi Lupin,
That sounds so unfair, I am so sorry to hear you’ve been treated like this. People just don’t think through what we are having to contend with. One of the ladies on here is always saying that we are now covered by the disability discrimination act (cancer didn’t used to be included, I think) so you do have legal protection. That’s a good idea to put your request in writing-always safest. It’s probably a good idea to write notes about everything that you and she said yesterday, just in case it has to be taken further and you want to dispute anything she says. Also, now you’ve had a bit of time to cool off/reflect on what happened, I wonder if it would be diplomatic to apologise for losing your rag (only if you feel it warrants an apology, of course)as this may ease the way for her to be more amenable to your request. I really wish you good luck in this and hope you had a better day today.
Hug…
Jacquie
Sometimes we have challenges to make us think about exactly what we want. I tried for 6 months to get back to work after redundancy and got two jobs - first time went down with ruptured appendix and second time breast cancer. It seemed like evertime I tried to get to work I either had an operation or such stress and illness that it couldnt be.
I am a month on from mastectomy and on ESA and this time getting a lot of support. After 13 wks on ESA and if you get a job they will pay you £40 per week as a credit on top of your wages. I am finally getting the message to take time to heal and recover instead of doing so much too soon. I was a teacher previously of 16 year old and loved it as it was so rewarding but now know that I couldnt go back to that job and still cope. I am taking a lesser position and less money but will be happy to work to my comfort zone.
What I am saying is sit down and think carefully about what YOU want. If you feel that you need a rest then take the time to rest, go through all correct procedures but do what you need to do. Forget small minded people who may even end up in the same place you are now and just worry about yourself and where you are. Find out about the financial side of things - under 16hrs bring more benefits and actually do something for you. Dont you think its time and dont you think you deserve it!
I wish you good luck and all the best and I dont post on all items but sometimes I get angry and feel your pain.
God bless you x
Dear Lupin
Sounds like you’re going through a really rough time with your employer and I’m sorry to hear it. It sounds to me like it’s bordering on bullying and harrassment. Do you belong to a Union at all that you could contact? If not, it may be worth a visit or two to a solicitor and possibly even a letter from them if needs be.
You may not want to go down that route now or even later so I think all you can do is cover yourself like you are doing by putting things in writing. I haven’t looked at the employment charter link but is that something you could show the head teacher?
I’m not excusing the head teacher for one single minute but sometimes people act very badly because they feel under pressure themselves. If so, then it might be worth trying to ignore as much as you can providing you get what you want eg. cut in hours etc. It depends on how often you have to see the head.
whatever you do, please do take care of yourself and don’t drag yourself into work if you’re not well. What you’re doing with asking for a cut in hours sounds entirely reasonable,thoughtful and definitely sensible and should actually be welcomed by an intelligent head rather than granted under duresse.
Good luck with everything and please try not to let it grind you down.
Elinda x
Dear Lupin
Probably because you worked your butt off and just soldiered on without making a fuss the head teacher thought she could bully you.
This behavior is terrible and you should look at the employment charter and stuff because you have a right to be treated civilly.
I am fortunate that my work colleagues and everyone is behind me but then their all mainly medical so know the problems.
Wishing you all the best.
gx
really sorry to hear about your problems lupin. As an ex teacher I know that senior management are under pressure but there really is no good excuse for this sort of behaviour.
I work for a union now and feel particular empathy with the school staff I have to support through sickness and ill health.
If you haven’t joined a union you need to think seriously about joining one. You do need to know that they won’t take on pre-existing problems though. That is, they can’t take on this existing problem at your school by representing you at meetings, however they can give you guidelines.
All the best
Hi Ladies
Thankyou for your replys. I have put the reduction of hours in writing to the Head Teacher to cover myself. The story did not stop their am sorry to say.
I forgot to tell you about my job spec changes the Head wanted me to do…remeber that she knew that i was/wanted to complete my NVQ. My job was to change to completing all the display boards in the school and back pictures. This is why i lost my cool and said it felt like They were saying that i was usless at my job and this changed inferred it. The reply that came back from the Head was " That is not what i have said." did not come back with no…you are great with your work…i am so sorry that i made you feel that way. I then informed her that i had to work with children to complete this course. Several other members of staff have already complete this course so must have known.
I asked to complete a NVQ 3 on several occassions over the years and the head had said yes to me doing one this year. I have been to meetings but they college had run into difficults and to cut a long story short the group now has a new assessor. My Head teacher had refussed to sign the forms months ago because of some wording and questioned my right to complete the course for free because of my qualifications. (This is a train to gain thing).I do not have many qualifications but had put on my CV that i had got a D in one of my subjects.( a D when i took my exams some…years ago was a fail.) As you are aware you are told to pack out your CV’s but i did not lie. To do the train to gain you have to have 4 or less O levels. The head said to the course leader that my D was a pass and therefore should have to pay for the course. In the end the college said i did not have to pay for the course.
My new assessor went in to see the Head Teacher to sign the forms to allow me to complete the course in the school…yes i then had a very odd meeting with the assessor and the Head Teacher. The Head Teacher said nothing but the assessor was doing all the talking.
The long and short of it was she said it was a really hard course and a lot of work. I explained that i knew that and had complete 4 of the knowledge units already but had stopped because of the uncertainty of being allowed to complete the course. (Noone else from the two schools had really started the course in fact only one other girl had started to complete knowledge and that was only a couple of questions for 1 unit. She then went on to talk about another member of the group who is a parent helper and is now employed to work 1 day a week. The assessor said that everone works at different levels and did i understand that. I then left the meetings.
God only knows what the head Teacher has told her, so now a have assessor that thinks what??? To say i have had a crap week would be putting it mildly.
I have decided to complete the course and then decide what i want to do. The school has got to be seen to helping me to gain this qualification so when i do get observed they will have to be supportive as they have signed the forms.
Thankyou all again and i will look into the finanical side of things. At present i do get working tax credits and am unsure what would happen if i was to reduce more or pack up work…which i really donot want to be forced to do. My husband is medical retired and does get medical pensions but i am unsure how that would effect any benifits to be honest. My job has been our finanical saving grace with working tax topping up our money. Neither my husband or i are over 50 so still very young so a lot to think about and find out. Does anyone know who i would have to get in contact with to find out this information?
Anyway feel more up beat today now i have made my mind up about the course…just want to prove them both wrong. I know that i will be able to complete the course and i need to exercise this aging brain of mine.
Thankyou again
I am an NVQ assessor and the first thing to know is that you dont always need to meet set criteria as you need to take experience in the job and I would like to see some Literacy and Maths. You need an holistic approach to NVQ and I think that they were probably quibbling about paying for something and the money side of things. There is certainly another agenda going on but dont take notice of it.
Anyhoo it doesnt matter what people say but what you can do about it. Start the NVQ (subject) and as it is work based learning it doesnt hurt anyone as the evidence you collect will be from work! Start the portfolio asap and get some evidence in there. The assessor isnt their to judge you but the work and your ability to do it according to set standards. The Assessor is there to SUPPORT you and aid you with anything bespoke or other to get you through any difficulties physically or in times of fatigue from your illness. She is not there to judge on you personally, do the dirty work of the Head or to give you a hard time - I am sure that she was just making sure that you had understood what would be involved with the level 3.
I wish you good luck in your endeavours and a qualification that will get you out of there and into a place where they support you, your cpd and your progression route.
If you need any more info please pm me
Good luck
Hi Daisy Do
Thankyou so much for your advise.
I have started and completed 4 units of knowledge and about to start unit 20. I am looking forward to completing this course mainy for myself and to prove to myself that i can complete this work.
As you say i am not looking back but forward and all that has been said etc is behind me (but not forgotten, just logged.)
If i need any help i will get back in touch.
What is pm? sorry have no idea having a blonde/senior moment.