I work in middle management at a college and we are currently going through a restructure where all staff at my level have to send an expression of interest and then go through an interview process. The expression of interest has to be in by this Friday (the day I’m going in for my operation) and my interview has provisionally been booked for the 21st Oct. (18 days after the op) I’m having a lumpectomy and they’re removing a couple of nodes. Currently had members of staff off so been spending all my time covering lessons and prepping for those so the cancers been put to the back of the queue but this weekend - the first without having to prep everything is just so overwhelming. I should be writing my EOI but seriously cannot be bothered.
Overwhelmed to say the least
Can you speak to your line manager / HR about this and ask for more time ? What would they expect if you were off sick already and temporally too unwell to engage in the process ? My head was all over the place when I was diagnosed - I worked in a stressful profession engaging with the public - I couldn’t have functioned properly . I worked from home tidying things up in between diagnosis and my op that was as much as I could cope with . Might be work speaking to your GP for a fit note specifying what are able to manage ? Time to put your health first ?
Thank you for taking the time to reply.
It was actually HR who gave me the interview date - when I received the email -I just burst out crying -it was the final straw.
I’ll try my line manager - see what he says
Thank you again 🩷
I’d be tempted to speak to your line manager and go off sick now , write to HR saying you are not well enough to engage in the process at this point in time due to cancer treatment , get your GPs support - they wrote me a fit note without seeing me - there must be some protocol for this kind of situation ?
That sounds super stressful at an already stressful time. I’m sorry HR haven’t been very supportive so far.
I agree with @Jill1998 to see if you can get signed off work by your GP ahead of surgery. That is an absolutely legitimate thing to do given how demanding and stressful and all-consuming it is dealing with a cancer diagnosis and treatment. So please don’t feel like that would be unreasonable or anything.
Also, if you have cancer you are classed as disabled by law. So your work needs to take reasonable steps to accommodate your health needs.
It might be worth contacting Macmillan for advice – they provide specific support and advice around work and your rights.
Best of luck with everything xx
I’ve just seen another thread where someone has posted lots of helpful relevant info about your rights at work and what employers need to do:
Thank you so much.
I’ll have a read of the other thread too.
I’ve been so busy with work I think this weekend it’s hit me
I’ll contact Macmillan tomorrow. I’m also at the hospital for my marker so I’ll chat with the breast nurse there too.
Thanks again xx
Keeping busy can help to get through the horrible waiting period and stop you dwelling on it all too much but at the same time if you don’t think about it ( because you don’t have a moment for example ) then it will pounce on you as soon as you have run out of reasons not to think about it - so there’s no wonder that on your first quiet moment it’s hit you. I echo all the advice you’ve been given - you’ve done your best to cover other people’s sickness and keep everything running but it’s somebody else’s turn to do all that now and your turn to put yourself and your needs first . You are entitled to reasonable adjustments and you’ve done well to continue working - I didn’t . That fact that you have been a trooper and carried on may have given them an excuse to pretend that there’s no problem and you don’t need any support .
Physically you might feel well enough to have the interview on that day but you might not and mentally you’re not likely to be at your best . Trying to prepare for a job interview whilst recovering from surgery - that’s a lot of pressure to be under .If you’re seeing your Nurse I would suggest asking when you are likely to get your pathology results / follow up as you don’t want your interview on the same day . That may also give you another reason to refuse the interview date if you don’t know if you’re going to be available .
Wishing you all the best with everything xx
Thank you - I think you are spot on I will definitely be taking your advise on board.
Thanks again xx