Hi all,diagnosed with asthma & bronchiectasis Oct this year after living with symptoms for the past year, causing lengthy absences when unwell with a respiratory infection, causing me to go over 10 days/3 absences policy.
Work allowed me and occupational health assessment and a further absence with COVID, that took me out for 2 weeks, has now led me to a stage 1 absence procedure.
Has anyone ever had issues at work with this? How did they overcome this? Or were there any adjustments made to the absence monitoring?
I feel totally lost. I work in a college where exposed to many germs, but I love my work there. I have had my COVID and flu jab as soon as diagnosed (this Oct).
I haven't absorbed what each diagnosis means yet, but all I seem to know is that it's making illnesses longer and causing issues! Very frustrating
Any advice would be greatly appreciated
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Jeb2012
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it sounds like the main priority is to have the asthma diagnosed. If the risk is losing one's job, you can look for a private consultant who could give you an appointment in a few weeks, with spirometry, blood work etc. Documenting visits to the AE is also important, as evidence for asthma (the consultant may state in the letter that it's been going on for a while).
Thankyou for this. It has been diagnosed (I think my initial wording caused confusion - apologies) but only 2 months ago. So we've just hit flu season too - my worst time of year. I've had COVID and flu jabs and doing all I can to try and prevent illness
Hi, I cannot help but you could copy and post on the AsthmalungUK forum as well as there are many with bronchiectasis there, some with asthma and some without. I believe it's also the employers duty to accommodate your health issues- once you've got on the right the treatments/inhalers you should improve. With my asthma I've a propensity to chest infection from the slightest snuffle so take lots of vitamins to boost immunity and use all precautions as during covid pandemic & carried hand gel for 12 years (and can open just about any door with my elbows)! Practice at the very least The Huffing Technique to keep mucus out of your lungs. Ob and try to have a bronchiectasis consultant not just a plain respiratory one - most are at teaching hospitals.
The occupational health review should have recommended that you're covered by the Equality Act 2010 and what reasonable adjustments were required to make the working environment safer for you and to accommodate your disability. It's normal practice to give you a copy of that review and recommendations, so have a look at what it says and what the employer was advised to do in order to accommodate your disability.
If you're in a union, you're entitled to have representation at all meetings that are part of the sickness absence protocol. If you haven't got a union representative, then a trusted colleague or friend can attend. Choose someone who is happy to advocate for you.
The stage 1 meeting should be an opportunity for you and your manager/HR to explore ways to support you and make any necessary changes in the workplace and/or duties, including the possibility of working from home or more flexible working hours. Are management aware of your definitive diagnosis and ongoing medical care? This is an opportunity to educate them and help them understand why flare ups occur and the additional treatment required, and why things aren't easily resolved. They should appreciate that it takes time to find the best mix of treatments, and you were only diagnosed in October. I would also stress that you're also on a steep learning curve to understand your condition.
Overall, the employer's need for patience, flexibility and support is paramount. If necessary, another occupational review may be necessary if you think the first hasn't delivered sufficient advice for your employer.
I know these formal meetings, that are triggered by sickness absence, feel daunting and accusatory in nature, but they're designed to explore opportunities of improving support for you. Having a union rep or similar with you to remind management of that goal can be very helpful. Having an advocate takes any idea of dread out of the process.
Thank you so much for this reply. I like the point of explaining to them about why flare ups occur.I have a union rep attending. Many thanks! Really appreciate this. Jenny
The above link should take you through to the definition of a disability for work.
It sounds like you have a good argument that your asthma is a disability. This hopefully has been verified by your meeting with occupational health.
You need to take somebody like a union rep with you to any meeting. Alternatively an experienced family friend. If you do not have a decent union rep I would talk to an employment solicitor.
I would be very politely assertive in the meeting and ask up front if a stage one absence meeting is the correct place to discuss the position. You have been diagnosed with asthma for only two months, so your medicines will probably not be balanced yet. Any adjustments to your work place agreed with occupational health since your diagnosis, will not have had time to embed. So a stage one absence meeting seems premature and unnecessarily stressful for you.
I would give them a written statement, keep a copy, at the beginning of the meeting, saying you love your job, setting out your disability, current treatment options, and the job adjustments you would like to discuss them making. I assume you might need to work in your own office and from home a lot.
Ask your union rep to take notes at the meeting.
Only after they have put the adjustments for your disability in place, your medicines have settled and you have seen the effect, can you reliably talk about your absence level for the future, ie it can easily another three months before you can talk about absence reliably.
You are ill, quite likely disabled, your employer should be voluntarily asking to work with you on how to make work easier for you.
Thankyou so much for this response. It is really helpful. Gave me some good ideas. And yes, it does feel premature, given I've only been diagnosed past 2 months, and getting settled with meds. I really like the idea of doing a statement too. Thanks again Jenny
Even if the medication you are receiving is the right one for you, and the right dosage, you are only just starting to experience the full effect after 2 months. And you may end up having to change meds/doses before you get the asthma under control which will cause further delays - I had to try three different inhalers/strength of dose before the fourth one which I've now been on for two years. Plus you've had your diagnosis right at the start of flu/cold season, meaning it's going to be harder to get everything to calm down if you're constantly having to fight off germs too!
Can't add to the advice you've already been given re the meeting, but as a general health tip - start using your own mug for drinks unless you know mugs have been through a dishwasher. A nursing friend told me it's one of the best ways of cutting down on cold and flu bugs as the germs survive ordinary hand-washing. I get some very strange looks when I turn up clutching my own mug, but I have had far fewer respiratory bugs since I started doing this. Also be scrupulous about washing hands, especially before touching your face.
Just a thought, you could look up on the NHS website to relevant information on bronchiectasis - perhaps asthma too - print off some copies for your employers. The reason being when we say bronchiectasis the novice listener will hear bronchitis which most realise is a chest infection. Bronchiectasis is a completely different ailments we have to lean to live with and as Poobah says in his excellent reply is a huge learning curve along with asthma. The NICE guidelines for asthma and particularly bronchiectasis are useful to know.
Good luck and I'm so pleased you have a union rep with you for the meeting.
This happened to me back in 2017/18 was put with occupational health. Up to that time my work attendance was almost 100% since 2000. When all of a sudden bronchiectasis took hold, Working in an open plan office was impossible, many adjustments were made but looking back now I still believe I would have suffered a great deal. I was 60 then and voluntary redundancy were asked for and that was the time I left work. I did miss my work and colleagues, but it was the best outcome. I hope you find some way around this, I also had a good union rep who supported me through it too and an understanding manager.
Working among people,it's worth using viral blockers eg coldzyme throat spray + vicks rescue nasal spray.carry & use handgel,and if yr working with someone who has sniffles,cough etc,do yr best to keep yr distance,open a window, consider a mask,perhaps get a sm air purifier in yr working area
I have had asthma for many years and worked full time throughout.
I tried as much as possible to keep my sickness times to a minimum - even taking annual leave to cover it at times. I never really thought about it much until a routine occupational health review, when they picked up on how bad my asthma was.
They were absolutely great… they got me referred to a top Occy health respiratory cons in London and (long story short) have instructed my employer on all the adjustments that they need to make to accommodate me at work. Along with this I now have a higher threshold of sick allowance at work.
My (long winded!) point is don’t be afraid to get your Occy health dept involved. Initially I was very concerned about losing my job if I went to them with issues. However they have been my best advocates and I have seen doctors and gotten advice that I wouldn’t otherwise have had access too, because of them.
I couldn’t /can’t afford to loose my job, but they have been lifesavers.
Thanks for this. I have had an occ health review and they said they would advise to relax the policy whilst I get better, but then it wasn't in the letter they sent out. Though they did advise that further absences were likely
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Tips/alternatives for a refusing 4 year old?!?!
Can’t take much more :-(
Lung specialist referral
