Working with COPD

[CarlB]

i hope you think I am not being nosey .However my Employer terminated my employment due to my condition.I am interested to find out how other people cope and what kind of jobs they do.Also how do they get to work etc

[Hidden]

When you were working did your employer not try to give you another job e.g not lifting, not working in a dusty place? Because I have a feeling they just can't finish you. I would have looked into this further !

My employer changed my hours to 20hrs a week instead of 40 they knew I couldn't manage, I did on call for them also to make up my money. Earlier this year I stopped doing the on call - didn't want or need the stress! They are good and understand when I am off I really am ill I don't take sick off lightly I just couldn't do the job until infection was cleared. I use my car to get to work park right outside the office and yes I do get DLA if I couldn't park there I couldn't get in to work. I can only walk 5-10 yards and that is with using oxygen. Val

[CarlB in reply to Hidden]

Hiya Val my employers were pretty good to me as regards my illness.The only job that I could do was an office based one,and there was nothing available.The company business was fitting kitchens on new built properties (on Building Sites) and manufacturing the kitchens would have exposed me to dust and heavy lifting.I was paid 12 weeks pay for my 12years service so I thought that was reasonable of them.

[Hidden]

Yea it's a pity the office based job wasn't available, suppose if my office job hadn't of come up they would have found something for me? I sort out the training for the staff also, I want to keep working for as long as I can it gets me out keeps me in touch with the carer's. So admin is ok I do hope you get the DLA it makes such a difference I tried for the care middle rate but was knocked back, I am attending the Freeman hospital to see if transplant might be an option? Still 12 weeks pay doesn't go far and ESA isn't that much do re apply asap Val.

[Hidden]

i have been very lucky - my company gave me an office job ( the current position i am covering does not really exist so i'm doing this and "floating" until something more permanent comes up) they have had a disabled parking spot put right outside the door(even though i don't ave a blue badge yet) found a room for me to be in private to use my nebuliser if i need to and changed my hours from shifts to 9-5, (its a 24 hour operation) - my pay hasn't changed - they have been great. i know they are meant to do this but i had a very physical job Similar to that of a prison officer and they could easily have sacked me as i will never be able to go back to the position i was employed to do. I thought i would hate the office work but i actually love it and the people i work with are great. i think i have been really lucky, especially considering the financial climate, it would have been easier to use "unfit for purpose" but they didn't.

[Hidden]

There doesn't seem to be many who are working then Val