asthma at work

[selyab]

Hi i have been off work on two seperate occasions this year 10 days in march and 5 days in november my employer thinks this is excessive and i am undergoing a disciplinary for thisould you please let me no your views as i think its not realy that bad

[Hidden]

Hi i have been off work on two seperate occasions this year 10 days in march and 5 days in november my employer thinks this is excessive and i am undergoing a disciplinary for thisould you please let me no your views as i think its not realy that bad

no way ask you gp do yuo a letter this is not write by law you can have 7 days off sick with out even telling you work when you go back for 2 days you can have another 7 days it the law!! or go to work let them call 999 see how he fills then or go see you gp as see if your meds can be uped and sing you off for a week

hope u r ok maty let me no how u get on

[Hidden]

These timescales are not excessive... Do you have a human resources department where you work as they might be able to help or your union. It might also help to get a supporting letter from your GP or consultant.

These times seem fairly short to me... When I was working I had periods of 1, 3 and 6 months off with occupational asthma. I was never disciplined for it just had return to work interviews and my work had direct contact with my GP and saw occupational health.

[Hidden]

Wow! I can't believe your work are treating.those as excessive!!

Since December.last year I've had half the year off due to my asthma, I'm now (since mid oct) signed off long term sick .

I would seriously urge you to speak to hr and seek advice from yojr union if you have one or if not citizens advice as malawi said.

Don't go in to a disciplinary hoping to get this sorted yourself as I'd have thought that if the wanted an open discussion about your sickness (which I've had many informal meetings between me, management and hr) they would ask for an informal meeting first.rather than straight into a disciplinary.

Not saying this to cause alarm, just best to be pre warned!

Good luck.

[Annista]

That's appalling! I generally don't have more than the odd day off, but some years ago I had 10 weeks off (all my remaining holiday + 4 weeks sick leave) and only went back when the company had to put me onto SSP, which didn't cover my outgoings. I was still too ill to walk across the the room without needing to sit down for 10 minutes and I spent the next 3 months sitting at my desk doing nothing. I had a similar experience more recently but this time I was coughing all the time so not only was I doing nothing but I was making a lot of noise at the same time. Both times the company was very understanding and paid me for doing nothing for months and has been very supportive when I have to dash off half way through the day if I can't breathe due to external dust/chemicals - our office is in the middle of farmland so this happens reasonable regularly.

I know how lucky I am to be working for a small company that does it's best to help me deal with my asthma and I hope you are able to get your employers to understand what you are coping with and how it affects your whole life. Good luck.

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This is no way excessive absence. Do you have occupational health. When I went back to work in 2010 after 7 months absence due to asthma, my occ health dept really laid it on the line on my behalf and stated that my absence would most likely be covered by the disability discrimination act (now equality act) and they stated that as part of the ""reasonable adjustment"" they would have to allow me more time off sick. Whatever you do, don't go to hearings/tribunals etc on your own, take someone in with you as you need to be supported. Best wishes.