Got told today I've got ANOTHER hr meeting on Thursday due to my sickness.
Its ridiculous, they know I'm in the middle of loads of tests and consultant appointments so what's the point?
I wouldn't mind but even my manager has said that apart from my asthma I never have any time off for anything else like other people do.
Again, why????
I know how you feel Angelica I am going through the same thing! I have just spent 16 days in hospital and never take any time off apart from when my asthma is bad. Then I get told today that we are going to have a meeting cause they say I come back to soon. I get moaned at for taking sick leave and moaned at if I come in not well I can't win!
Madness dawn, sheer madness!
I hope you're feeling a bit better, 16 days in hospital must have driven you nuts!
X
Ummmm... Not liking the way things are happening at work.
Call me paranoid but in my meeting today they asked for permission to write to my consultant and have access to my notes.
They say its so that they can get the companies occupational health to look and see if there is anything else they can do to support me but when I questioned further they did admit its also to find out my prognosis.
All I can say is good luck with that, brittle asthma is by definition difficult and unpredictable. Don't like their chances of getting a concrete prognosis!!
Has anyone else had their work do this?
My work wrote to my GP after I saw occupational health as they had more questions to ask as to what measures should have been put in place to protect myhealth and safety, and considering the job I was in they should have known the answers as they instruct everyone else on H & S! To be honest GP wrote back and was very little help. In my case it was not a problem as work already knew all my medical details... but I can understand why you are worried.
I have also gone through Occupational Health process at work, although it can be a difficult and stressful time hang in there because generally they are there to help you and advice your employer as to what else can be done to support you and your condition.
Total sympathy, I also have been referred to occ health on a number of occasions and am being monitored for sickness levels. The added stress really doesn't help the asthma. I know occ health are supposedly there for the employee, but I have to say I am deeply suspicious and feel myself that they are working to the employers agenda.
Are you a member of a union? My union have been most helpful in clarifying points for me and I won't hesitate to involve them should this go down a disciplinary route.
Feejay
Don't talk to me about HR and OH.
I have had my job for over 20 years and in that time I have had a fair bit of time off due to asthma but usually it was just a case of a few days at a time.
That was until January 2011 where I was off sick for a period of 5 months which included 3 hospital admissions and 40 plus days in hospital.
After numerous visits to OH I was allowed back to work on a part time basis for 3 months before returning full time.
All was going well until November since when I have had numerous admissions and spent majority of 4 months in hospital where I also suffered from a blood clot.
Touch wood things are ok at the moment and have avoided costa for a couple of months. I still have a number of bad days but as I say, things are improving. My Asthma nurse, my consultant, my GP along with myself feel that I should now be back at work. Nobody is certain whether I will be able to carry out my full duties as half of my job is office based ad the other half is physically demanding.
I few weeks ago I was sent to OH who agreed that I would benefit from a return to work ad he felt that I was well enough to do so.
I fully expected to return to work but my MD and HR prevented me from doing so claiming that they ""have a duty or care"" and do not accept what the doctor from OH (or for that matter my GP and consultant) say, this is without HR or my MD meeting me in person.
They have now employed the services of an independent ""expert"" to review my work place and to provide a written report to the company before they decide whether or not to let me return.
Some may say that my employer is just trying to help / protect me and are maybe being a little over cautious, I on the other hand disagree and fear dor my future.
Unfortunately I am not in a union and so don't have backing from that source.
That sounds dreadful Yorkie.....all I can say is that my union have been most helpful with interpreting the Equality Act (which now covers asthma...used to be disability discrimination act). Most unions will cover you straight away so if you are considering joining one I would say it might be helpful for you.
I agree with you about the fearing for the future....I just think employers are out to get rid of you if you have higher sickness as you cost them more....and that they pay lip service to the law 
Thanks for your replies, I am thankfully in a union and will be getting them more involved now as I am getting concerned about where my work is heading with this.
Yorkie, that's terrible! I really hope you get things resolved and your work realize what they are putting you through.
X
Angelica - do not go to any more meetings without union representation, get them involved and up to speed asap.
I lost my job due to illness, but thanks to work going about it in a sneaky and underhanded (and illegal) way the union negotiated a payment of 4 months pay for me.
In my situation, they wanted rid of someone to reduce the wage bill I think, and I was an easy target thanks to my sickness. I didn't make it easy though, thanks to the union.
Hope things go ok x
Thanks piglet, I rang my union rep today and bought her up to speed with what's happening and she gave me some excellent advice about what I need to do about my medical notes etc.
She's also told me to let her know if I have any more meetings etc.
I shall wait and see what happens.
X
thats very poor form by your employer I'd have thought. I can tell you - from being a manager myself - what we were taught as regards sickness.
Basically what I would advise - of course with my usual provisos of advising you to get proper representation and legal advice!! - is that the one way to put yourself in an unassailable position is to remind them that technically you have a disability - which covers you in legislation. You CANNOT legally be discriminated against or suffer detriment as a result of this. HR told me that in cases like that it can be an appropriate thing to do to accept that someone with disability is more likely to need extra sick periods etc. Whatever you do, never refuse any help they put your way and don't act as if you just have had a bad run etc. You may not like the term, but legalwise you may qualify as do all of us asthmatics technically.
Of course company policy and common practice dictates that they must harangue anyone with recurrent sickness; bear in mind the LEGAL reason for doing this is to ensure that they aren't damaging your health - and to see if there's anything they can do to HELP. It should never be the case that you are on a kind of trial. It can feel intimidating especially if you feel they want the right to pry into your condition - but you are being genuine so have nothing to fear.
Remember the law is on YOUR side, let them have their HR processes - but please ensure you don't let them become, or see them as adversarial. These things kick in automatically. If they do fire you for asthma then grin to yourelf - you should be able to take them to the cleaners for that, just make sure they put it in writing!!
Good luck
Angelica, I'm glad to hear that you seem to have a supportive union. Hope you can get things sorted with their help. x
Another school rant
Offices & Meeting Rooms
