Bit of advice needed please.

[EvieJo]

Hi all, firstly, I apologise, this post may be all over the place. Will try to keep it simple as possible. I’ve been off work this week with my asthma symptoms (on steroids at moment which are helping). My manager is keen for me to be back at work by next week (in a hospital, so I know they’re already short etc ). I am currently awaiting a referral to see consultant (good knows when that’s likely to be). There is a lot of stress at work, coupled with wearing masks 9hrs a day. I cope with masks ok for short periods I.e shopping etc but some days at work are terrible, largely because of the high workload/time pressures and long hours etc. When Im under control it’s not as bad but at the moment, all of it feels pretty torturous to be honest. Im keen to be back because I don’t want to let people but down but at the same time, Im worried - especially if I have to go off again. Im worried about my job in the long term. For years I was under really good control and it barely affected my work life. Just feel really depressed at the moment and don’t know what to do. I suppose I’m just wondering if anyone else has ever been in a similar situation.

Sorry to moan.

X

[twinkly29]

Hi, and glad the steroids are helping, that's good!

My advice would be to stay off til you feel it's more stable. It's more likely to continue to improve that way and to stay improved. Upsetting it before it's stable is likely to set you back.

In addition to the above, it's also then only one absence rather than potentially more if you have to be off again because you went back too soon.

Could you phone your GP today or tomorrow to discuss how you are in relation to work next week?

[Bevvy]

The worse thing you can do is return to work early before you are well. This could lead to another absence which may go against you. Rather than simply staying away whilst unwell.Your manager should not be pressuring you to return to work and could be viewed as harassment.

Are you in a union? Could well be worth speaking to them. Am sure your place of work is under pressure as so many are. That doesn’t excuse treating you badly.

You don’t say what your occupation is but is there any possibilities of having breaks from wearing a mask? I have had 2 hospital appointments in last few days and both times noticed non clinical staff not wearing face masks properly!! I was horrified to say the least. But am sure you could be given breaks in the circumstances. Occupational health may be helpful to you in giving advice to your managers….

[EvieJo in reply to Bevvy]

Hi thanks both for your replies, I am clinical, so no real respite from the masks. Occupational health have been involved last year as I was originally shielding until Aug 2020, then I was redeployed for awhile. Basically the attitude now is if you can’t do your job I.e not fit then they will just get rid of me. (A colleague recently told me this was said in the open by a senior member of staff - who shouldn’t have been discussing my personal information with other colleagues anyway). It has led me to feel very undervalued (despite fact I have worked in the dept many years but new staff have come in). Don’t think they care at all. I understand they have a service to run but seem to give me no consideration at all. Feel like whatever I do will be wrong 😕

[Bevvy in reply to EvieJo]

Am absolutely horrified by this but sadly is all too common from management. Not just with people with health conditions but anyone managers deem don’t “fit”.I definitely would involve the union if you are a member.

[twinkly29 in reply to EvieJo]

I would try to avoid mask wearing as an issue, assuming I'm right in thinking you're managing it generally, just can't at the moment because of your asthma? Because the problem at the moment is your asthma flare. If things were properly settled, it's likely you'd be ok wearing the masks as you presumably have been. So focus on the asthma flare not being stable enough to return to work maybe, because even if covid wasn't a thing (oh wouldn't that be nice!) it doesn't sound like you're fit enough to be back at work.

[Poobah]

I agree with everyone else about not returning to work too early. You're covered by the Equality Act 2010 in respect of your asthma, it being considered a disability (as you were shielding it's severe and qualifies as a disability) and disability is a protected characteristic. Any sick leave relating to a disability is usually discounted in order to avoid accusations of discrimination.

If you're in a union or a member of the RCN please talk to your representative about the current pressure on you to return to work while ill and also raise your concerns about the misconduct of a manager talking about your personal information with colleagues. Discussing your case to anyone outside of the direct management chain or HR is a misconduct issue and far more serious than your sick leave record.

As for the mask, can you contact occupational health and request suitable protective masks that don't exacerbate your asthma? After all, your employer wants you at work and they are responsible for your safety and welfare in the workplace, and as such, should provide reasonable adjustments in order to meet their legal obligations.

It's difficult to take on managers and employers when we're well, let alone when we are ill, and so it's always prudent to seek support from our representatives who should do the heavy lifting whenever necessary.

I hope you feel better soon and are able to address the workplace challenges.

[ChrissieMons]

You’ve got some excellent advice here. I can only add that you make the most of your time off to wind down. You are understandably very stressed. Perhaps you can talk in confidence to a colleague about how you can manage at work when you go back. Look after yourself and relax as much as possible. You do an important job and even if some person doesn’t appreciate you, I bet lots of others do.

[Jinnty89]

As everyone else has said to you correctly, and I fully agree with them, having worked as a union rep in a hospital, your manager is not allowed to contact you himself under no circumstances, the only ones to contact you is occupational health, as it is their job for health of you and the patients you may be looking after, eg if you start to cough, you may stumble back and trip or step on something or someone, and then their is the issue from that. OC, can ask you when you think you might be going back, but they cannot insist you go back before you are well and able. As for someone discussing you, as stated above, this is extremely serious issue, but you do not state if they were actually discussing the reasons why you are not at work, something only that is confidential, or if it was just a general remark. If it was something that was confidential, then I urge you to take the matter further, as this is an extremely serious case, if it was them saying this in general, it is still completely wrong, and you should discuss this with your senior manager or HR, as this is no longer tolerated in today’s work environment. It is classed under a few descriptions. Good luck and please wait until you are ready, no one else can dictate when that is but you. Stay safe.