I was finally dismissed 😳

I actually got dismissed yesterday! I had breeched the attendance policy I have been off so many times with respiritary issues although I was off for a foot injury with a “not fit for work note” this last time. I know they are allowed to do this but it’s unfair as I do have a fit note every time I’m off. So my my wonders are ......how will I find work after being dismissed and do I have to tell them about my respiratory issues ?

[Badbessie]

There are a number of issues here both legal and personal. Firstly do you belong to a union? If so seek advice from them or Citizens Advice about your dismissal. Secondly as you where dismissed you can claim a number of benefits. Perhaps a call to the BLF benefits advisor would help you. Lastly as your health is affecting your ability to work perhaps you should look into PIP but that would very much depend on how your conditions affect your daily life.

[Hidden]

Dear Nik

That’s awful I am so sorry. I would go to the Citizens Advice Bureau.

I was a teacher.. in the union NUT and fought it but the school and council made my life difficult so I resigned. I was 57. I had to find supply teaching, night class education, babysitting. I ended up with 3 jobs to make ends meet..

Best wishes and very good luck x

Fran

[Yatzy in reply to Hidden]

Oh dear, Fran. So sorry you were put in that position. I ended up on temporary contract work, though reneging on a contract due to ill health was very difficult, so I spent several nightmare nights in perfumes hotels before I finally gave up the day job! 🙀😿 Then I took to summer marking of test papers from home....but guess what, they wanted me to train others in hotels....nearly died one night, I swear! Ended up sitting all night in a steamy bathroom on an armchair dragged in from the bedroom....took me back into safe oxygen levels, but I wasn’t very lively the next day!!

So sorry for you, Nik. But I have worked on both sides of the absence problem....it’s so difficult from both perspectives. But HyperCat is right, check your rights under employment law....they’re very clear and strong in a tribunal situation. Good luck!

[Hidden in reply to Yatzy]

Oh my goodness Penny 💕

what an end of career we have had..😃

I have a problem with perfume too. I am doing all my own washing by hand because last time they washed my clothes with this strong washing powder and probably a softener.. I literally feel sick with the smell of Lenor etc

You know in the end they did me a favour..Supply teaching was fine apart from phoning 3 or 4 agencies by 7 am and going here and there. I certainly didn’t have the responsibility of a head of department anymore, or preparing or marking! So that left me time for the adult education classes, and adults were so much more motivated to learn languages than children. Although kids brightened my day and I cried when I left my form. No, it was good experience and in the end the same schools asked for me so it got easier.

Babysitting was something else..going to celebrities’ houses for an agency, dealing with totally spoilt children, watching Sky, which I didn’t have at home, and falling asleep exhausted in front of the telly!

Well it makes fun memories when you tell the stories.

Well that’s me off to the eye clinic 🤞🌸💕

[Yatzy in reply to Hidden]

Yes,Fran, we widened our experiences due to our health problems, but not a comfortable life style overall. I really valued getting to know and progress (excuse the Americanism, as you’re a language expert! ) individual children.

However, I found children are children wherever you work with them! I eventually got a lot of pleasure chatting with different children each week on their learning experiences!! Exasperated sometimes too by the lazy teaching some staff get away with....that bit made me angry! These are the small group that give us all a bad reputation, quite unjustly! Teaching is hard and requires tremendous physical and mental energy.....if done well, it can have miraculous results.....but I’m on my soap box again!! 😬😵😮🙄

Hope the eye clinic visit is a good one 👀 and you’re seeing better very soon. Love 🌹💕💙🌸 xx

[knitter in reply to Hidden]

Here's another Supply teacher.....I had to work around my three daughters asthma attacks....and then mine.

[Hidden in reply to knitter]

Yes it is a tough world out there, worse when you are sick but we had to make do, and we did my dear Knitter, we did xx

[hypercat54]

Hi I am so sorry to hear this. The same thing happened to me when I worked for the DWP as I had time off for depression and a severe chest infection. I was on a final written warning and transgressed it by 1 day. They hated sick people so I knew they would take the opportunity to dismiss me.

Did they follow the law all the way down the line? Did they give you reasonable adjustments at work because of your illness. These could have been extra breaks, extra sick leave, different duties etc. These would all have been subject to business needs though. If they broke the law at all then you would have a case against them and could take them to a tribunal.

If you want to fight it then find solicitors who deal with employment law - many of them will offer a free half hour and will give you lots of info.

Now as far as being dismissed goes it can be tricky to find other work so it might be a good idea to try and work as a temp to build up a good work history etc.

Most employers will ask why you left your last job and will also get a reference so you will have to tell them you have been dismissed and why. If they don't ask then you haven't got to. Also if they ask you directly whether you have respiratory problems then you can't lie and have to say yes. If they ask merely do you consider you have any disability which would affect your work then you can say no.

Good luck and I hope you find another job soon. x

[hypercat54]

Oh I would tell your doctor what has happened and ask for a sick note. This means you could claim ESA. If you apply for JSA you might get turned down as you were sacked. Even if the sick note is just for a few weeks then you would be able to claim JSA with no problems. x

[tomc]

On what grounds are they dismissing you?

You are supposed to get two verbal warnings one written warning HOWEVER, I think you have been unfairly dismissed and you need to use your Union, CAB, Even the Jobcentrea+ advisory service, you could also try to seek unfair dismissal on grounds of your disability.

Did they make you redundant or just say BYE BYE... Did you have prior warnings if so how many do you have ant written warnings for bad attendance did you always have unfit to work notes from your doctor CAN YOU make a case for Personal Independence Payments.. due to your breathing affecting your capability to do the wok.

There's a lot as others have said that may be open to you, don't get downhearted get clued up and act.

OH, and keep all papers related to your breathing another has just popped into mind Disabilities rights again the Jobcentre +.

[Clamdigger]

I would go to the labor board ..

[Kristicats]

Sorry to hear this Nik72 . Please look into it as suggested by all. It’s a worry for many of us that work. I’m still nursing ( 40 years)and really worry re the winter months as I had to take some sick time twice last winter. I’m in the frontline for picking up anything that’s going around too specially in the winter but love my job. Let us know how you get on. Do you have an occupation health dept at your place of work?

[sibkev]

did they send you to see doc from work cus if not they have to take your sickmote as proof therefore shld not sack you lots of works dont know they cant sack you without see there doc

[B0xermad]

I know how you feel nik72 I worked in a school and my health deteriorated as to being off for a couple of months only to go back struggling until I was asked to go for an assessment to be fit for work dropped down to half days 3 a week until finally myself doctor and head collectively said I wasn't able to continue with work any longer. I applied for was and pip and with a few hiccups got the benefits in place but took 3 months .please don't give up try to let them know how your health is on very worst days and get some help and advice from citizens advice .regards boxermad

[B0xermad in reply to B0xermad]

Employment support and pip

[Dubba61]

That's sad Nik. I worked as a TA n the New school administrators put, all TA jobs up for Tender. I had to re-apply, but didn't get the job I'd done for 8 years! Ended up doing Zero hour cleaning work, and Care work, exhausting, n which made my Lung condition considerably worse. Suggest you apply for PIP as there are few jobs about for Folk with our condition. Google luck 😊✌️🌻

[Hidden in reply to Dubba61]

Thanks for your reply, was wondering what sort of jobs are out there for people like us ? Doubt I would be eligible for pip as on good days I’m very very good, it’s when infection sets in I get ill meaning time off.

[Dubba61 in reply to Hidden]

Yes, I can understand that. My infections take Months to clear. I wish you luck finding a new job. 👍😊

[Patchpoppy2]

Nik72. I've been there. Along with my Asthma and Bronchiectasis I have Epilepsy and was having up to 5-6 blackouts daily. My H.O said I had had too much time off, although I had had paramedics to my place if work many times. This itself was stressful, which didn't help, but eventually I was signed off unfit for work. That was 5 years ago and have not worked since. It's been a round of having to prove illnesses to get benefits. Feel penalised for being ill. Good luck with everything.

[juney_99_antique]

Nik72, badbessie is giving you some good advice here. As an ex Citizens Advice worker I suggest your first port of call should be there! I get so incensed at the terrible inequalities that go on in this country nowadays that I do have to curtail my writings, as my daughters tell me, before I am arrested! Just please go to CAB!

[Offcut]

If you have told them on the application that you have lung issues etc. then it can be helpful to get an intervention under equality laws. I had the same when I was off work for 5.5 months due to resperitry failure. They were going to give me a written warning for time off work! I spoke to the Equality Commission who told me they would prosescute them if they did as I had told them on the application I had heart and lung issues. They did not in the end as they found out what trouble they would be in if they did?

It was short lived victory as they made me redundant in the end.

Never feel that you should not tell them as it shows you are honest and it was becuase of the lack of support from them not your work ethic. If they cannot support those with health issues they are not worth working for!

Be Well

[Susan1200]

I feel so sorry for you, sorry to say but I think if your sick working for a British firm , you don't have much of a chance, there's no loyalty in this country , that's my Opinion.

I wish you all the best 🐘