Advice on Asthma vs Work

Hi All, i have just signed up after discovering that my childhood asthma, which i thought i had grown out of, has come back badly!

i was taken to hospital on saturday night suffering a severed asthma attack, i have been put back on inhalers and steriods.

i am currently having trouble with my work and the time off i have had, im approching 5 days off now, as i was ill before i had the attack, and work are giving me grief about having time off, my doctor will give me a certificate after 7 days off. i was wondering if any one has any good advice on how to deal with the pressure from work, in regards to both this time off and any future relapses. im going to have to have a lot of time of for doctors apps in the next month, they want to see me regulary because of the hospital spell and to monitor the steriods, and i am worried about the future difficulties i may have from work.

any advice you can give me would be great!

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Hi Becky

I don't want to give you bad advice so I will say what I'd do and you can let me know if it works for you.

Personally I'm shocked and disgusted that your work are hassling you about time off for such a major illness. I do understand that companies and employers need people to work or the jobs don't get done but the simple fact is that if you are ill and you go to work, chances are that you will only make it work (particularly if your work involved being around any of your triggers).

If you are a member of a union, I would suggest that you speak to your union rep, this type of harrassment is unacceptable as far as I'm concerned. I would also explain to your employer that the stress they are causing you by digging you up for being on the sick is making it worse (if it is). As for the doctors cert, for the first (i think) week off, you don't need a doctor's certificate, a self certification will do and you should be able to get them from your doc's receptionist (I am speaking from Scotland, I don't know if the rules are the same in England in case you are from England). After a week, you would certainly need a doctor's line but in any case, your doctor should be acting entirely in your best interests.

I think you should just do the best you can and if your employer isn't happy about it, let them sack you, you would have more than adequate grounds for a tribunal. Whatever you do, I wish you only the best and hope you have a speedy recovery.

Please keep us posted.

David xx