Job lost

[Bobbypink]

Hi I just lost me job. After 11 years on the council. On ground of capability. I going to appeal on the decision. This is second time I lost me job to the ills. As anyone got any advice of me.

[ColdNoodleSoup]

I don’t know your situation, but generally it’s good practice to seek legal advice from a lawyer regarding employment issues. I’ve heard generally if a lawyer is involved, employees are much more successful at obtaining higher severance. Employers don’t want a scandal! Wish you the best of luck!

[Juliauk10]

So sad that you’ve been treated so badly! I had exactly the same issue a few years ago after working for local authority for over 20 years. They did everything possible to take me down the capability route but unison got the occupational health doctor involved and I was medically retired. I’d really like to help with any advice I can give you so please message me if I can help.

[Roses-are-blue in reply to Juliauk10]

Hi, what happens when you are medically retired? Do they make you a one last payment?

[Juliauk10 in reply to Roses-are-blue]

They pay you a monthly pension for life. If your job was with the council as you said you will have been paying into a pension. When you’re medically retired that pension is just paid early. You need to get the support of your GP, Occupational Health Doc & any other medical professionals involved with your health.

[Hidden]

Are you in any Unions as they will help or go and see your Citizens advice first if you have to see a lawer ask how much they charge most give the first half hour free.

[sian35]

If you are in union they can usually help. Sorry to hear of your difficulties.

[Jules6663]

My daughter who was diagnosed only two weeks ago is also having problems, they are obviously trying to bully her out and have offered totally different working shifts than she feels best able to do.

Rebecca is in contact and we are waiting to hear her opinion.

Do most people struggle to work ? Whether on treatment or on a flare it’s very frustrating.

[MsGelfling1]

Get a lawyer. I think it's against the law to fire someone because they are sick.

[tomsk22]

Use the unions they are better suited to this type of issue and they are free if your a paying member. I was in the same situation a couple of years ago. I am an engineer and the utility company I worked for offered to change my role to telesales! I can’t repeat here where I told them to shove their offer and fought them all the way. My body was giving up my mind wasn’t. In the end I decided that I didn’t want to stay with a company that put so little value in my contribution. So I left after fighting them for full medical retirement and winning! You may not be capable of carrying out your old job but if you want stay they have got to try to accommodate you under the equal opportunities act. And the council would hate to be dragged through the courts or the press coverage that these sort of cases garner.

[Jaxxi]

Hi. I've had 2 careers mashed by the illness. Last time in 2009 I got horribly depressed, kept trying to get back into work and failing. Then a lovely councillor suggested I try and focus on things I could do instead of what I couldn't. So I became an artist. No money in it, but it gave me a new path and an identity that wasn't centred on illness and a lost past life. I went on to get a degree in Fine Art and am now studying for an MA in Landscape Architecture. There is quite a bit of help in higher education for disabled people if you know how to access it.